CIVIL WAR MAJOR VRC PRESIDENT ARTHUR COMMISSIONER PENSIONS CLARKE LETTER SIGNED!

Description

Here’s a U.S. Department of the Interior Letter Signed by a Civil War Officer and Commissioner of Pensions regarding the Invalid Pension Claim of a Veteran of the 2
nd
NH Infantry!
MAJOR OTIS PERCIVAL GRANGER CLARKE
(1827 - 1888)
UNITED STATES COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT CHESTER A. ARTHUR
-&-
CIVIL WAR UNION MAJOR FROM RHODE ISLAND IN THE VETERAN RESERVE CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
!
Maj. Clarke was Deputy Commissioner of Pensions in the Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur administrations.
He was promoted to Commissioner by President Arthur (1884-1885) just in time to be raked over the coals by the new Democratic Congress, whose majority believed that the Pension Bureau had shown extreme partisan bias during the 1884 elections
, attempting (unsuccessfully) to sway the vote from Democrat Grover Cleveland to Republican James Blaine.
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HERE’S A LETTER SIGNED BY ‘O. P. G. CLARKE’ ON ATTRACTIVE “
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. PENSION OFFICE
” LETTERHEAD,
1p
., DATED AT WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 19, 1880 CONCERNING “…
THE INVALID PENSION CLAIM OF GEORGE C. COBURN,
*
LATE OF THE 2 N.H. VOLS
….”
THE LETTER REQUESTS MEDICAL TESTIMONY WITH RESPECT TO THE DATE OF HIS FIRST TREATMENT FOR RHEUMATISM.
*
NOTE: GEORGE C. COBURN (1839-1891) enlisted in the Union Army on May 22, 1861 as a Private.
He was born in Warner, New Hampshire, was 22 years of age at enlistment and resided in Littleton, NH.
On June 5, 1861, Coburn was mustered into “
G”
Co., 2
nd
New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry.
He was wounded-in-action at the infamous battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863!
He died on June 10, 1891 at Lisbon, NH.
…
The document measures 8” x 10” and is in very fine condition.
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BIOGRAPHY OF O. P. G. CLARKE
Major O. P. G. Clarke
, US Commissioner of Pensions, was born on Oct. 27, 1827 at Brookfield, Oneida County, New York.
He had a large circle of friends in the Pension Office, where he spent so many years of his life.
He entered the U.S. Pension Office as an ordinary clerk and rising by promotion through the various grades finally became U. S. Commissioner of Pensions.
His war record, which was an honorable one, gave him prominence in Grand Army circles, while his qualities of mind and heart enlisted the respect and affection of all those who came in contact with him.
Major Clarke was a graduate of Clinton College, and was educated as a lawyer, but never practiced his profession. His tastes led him to pursue the study of art, and he became a pupil of William Hunt. The war put an end to his art studies, but he always retained his early love, and painted at intervals. A number of his paintings from his brush now adorn the walls of his home.
Clarke was a member of the National Lodge of Masons, the Burnside Post, G.A.R., and the Loyal Legion. He was also a valued member of the board of trustees of the Reform School.
Clarke died on Feb. 4, 1888 in Washington, D. C. and is buried in the Congressional Cemetery (Plot: Range 78, Site 317)
Source:
The Evening Star, February 6, 1888, The Late Major O.P.G. Clarke, A Sketch of his Career
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OBITUARY OF MAJOR CLARKE
The Evening Star, February 6, 1888
The Late Major O.P.G. Clarke
A Sketch of his Career—The Funeral Will Take Place Tomorrow
The funeral of Major O.P.G. Clarke, who died Saturday, will take place tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from Ascension church. The services will be under the direction of the National Lodge of Masons, the Burnside Post, G.A.R., and the Loyal Legion. The deceased was a member of all these organizations.
He was also a valued member of the board of trustees of the Reform School. Major Clarke had a large circle of friends in the Pension Office, where he spent so many years of his life.
He entered the office as an ordinary clerk and rising by promotion through the various grades finally became Commissioner of Pensions.
His war record, which was an honorable one, gave him prominence in Grand Army circles, while his qualities of mind and heart enlisted the respect and affection of all those who came in contact with him.
His death was an unexpected blow to his friends. Stricken with paralysis on Tuesday evening, those about him had reason to hope that the result would not be fatal. Saturday morning he passed away.
He had looked forward to a visit to a daughter who had recently married and who had gone to New Mexico to live, and he expected early in the spring to spend several months on the ranch. Instead of receiving the joyful intelligence that her father was preparing to start for New Mexico she was informed that he was dead.
A kind father and a loving husband, he leaves a widow and five children to mourn their loss. Mrs. Boca, one daughter is living in San Mateo, N.M. His son, William P., is in San Francisco. The other children—Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Stearns and Joseph P. Clarke—are residents of this city. Major Clark was about sixty years of age. His brother Lucius P. Clarke is still living at Morrisville, Madison County, New York, and a sister is residing in the immediate vicinity.
His father, Joseph Clarke, was the founder of Clarksville, in New York state. Major Clarke was a graduate of Clinton College, and was educated as a lawyer, but never practiced his profession. His tastes led him to pursue the study of art, and he became a pupil of William Hunt. The war put an end to his art studies, but he always retained his early love, and painted at intervals. A number of his paintings from his brush now adorn the walls of his home.
The flag on the Pension building was placed at half-mast today as a mark of respect to the memory of Major Clarke, and the employees in the Pension Bureau held meetings to take appropriate action in regard to the death.
The board of trustees of the Reform School will hold a meeting this afternoon to take appropriate action in reference to the death of Major Clarke, who was a member of the board.
The Evening Star, February 7, 1888
The Late Major Otis P.G. Clarke
Funeral Services This Afternoon—Resolutions Adopted by the Reform School Trustees
The funeral of Major O.P.G. Clarke took place this afternoon from Ascension church. Burnside Post, G.A.R., National Lodge of Masons, and the Loyal Legion attended in a body. There was present a large representation from the Pension Office. The services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Smith, The Assistant rector of Ascension parish. The remains were borne to the hearse upon the conclusion of the services, and the funeral cortege proceeded to the Congressional Cemetery. The burial services of the Masonic order and of the Grand Army were read at the grave, concluding with the sounding of "taps" by the drum corps of the Loyal Legion.
The pall-bearers were as follows: Dr. T.B. Hood and Wm. H. Webster, of the Loyal Legion; N.G. Ellis and M.C. Baxter, of National Lodge, F.A.A.M.; J.E. Mason and D.J. Evans of Burnside Post, G.A.R.; Fred. Mack and F.G. Butterfield, of the Pension Office.
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