Clarke, George
Dates
- Existence: 1852-1936
Biography
George Washington Clarke was born in Shelby County, Indiana, on October 24, 1852. He attended Oskaloosa College in 1877 and received his law degree from the University of Iowa the following year. He established a law practice in Adel, Iowa. Elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, he served there from 1901 to 1909, the last five years of which he was Speaker of the House. A Republican, Clarke was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1908 and Governor in 1912. During his term Clarke supported the passage of a Workmen's Compensation Bill, a bill creating the State Highway Commission, and election reform measures. Leaving office in 1917, Clarke served as the Dean of the College of Law at Drake University in Des Moines. From 1918 until his death in 1936, George W. Clarke practiced law in Des Moines, Iowa.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
George Clarke Papers
Lawyer, state legislator, and Governor of Iowa . Subject files, campaign files, correspondence, and clippings relating primarily to his 1914 bid for re-election.