Polk Co. IAGenWeb

CLARKSON, JAMES S. — Mr. Clarkson, or "Ret," as he is better known to nearly every one acquainted with him, was born at Brookville, Indiana, May 17, 1842, and was a graduate from the printing office of his father, beginning his trade when so young that a pile of boxes were necessary to raise him to a level with the "space box." He came to Iowa with his father and worked on the farm in Grundy county until the tocsin of war sounded, when he offered his services, with his brother, to the Union army, but was rejected for physical disability, from over work in a steam saw mill the prior winter. He continued his labor on the farm, and while his father was a member of the State Senate was the sole manager thereof. His natural inclinations were averse to agricultural life and toward journalism. He thought he saw a good investment in the Eldora Ledger, and consulted his father about it. His father squelched his ambitions dream with the remark that if he had no higher aspiration than that he had better stick to the farm and wait for a better opportunity. He came to Des Moines in May 18, 1866, and took a "case" on the Register. Six weeks after he was promoted to assistant foreman of the composing room, and three months after to the foremanship. About this time J. M. Dixon, who was the city editor of the Register, retired. Mr. Palmer, the editor, started east to find a successor to Mr. Dixon, leaving the paper in charge of Col. J. N. Dewey, and "Ret" as his assistant. While en route Mr. Palmer found a copy of his paper, and scanning its local page, was satisfied, returned home, and "Ret" was retained as assistant editor, which position he occupied until Palmer was nominated for Congress, when "Ret" became sole editor. When visiting his father in 1869 he suggested to him the purchase of the Register establishment. The suggestion was promptly acted upon. The purchase was made for thirty-thousand dollars cash, and the establishment passed into the hands of the father and sons December 4, 1870, under the firm name of the Clarkson Company. In 1871 the father retired from the firm and assumed editorial control of the agricultural department. "Ret" from the outset has been the managing editor, and has become one of the best in the West, as well as one of the most popular. He possesses a versatile, well-stored mind, thinks and puts his ideas on paper with great rapidity in a style of chirography most execrable, and the horror of compositors. He writes on soft print paper with pages about seven by nine inches square, beginning at the northwest corner, each line growing shorter to the right until at the bottom of the page the line will be about three inches long, inclining to the northeast corner at an angle of thirty degrees. There is a jubilee in the news-room when a fresh compositor tackles a "take" of his copy. He will retire to his case with visions of a "fat take" and thick "leads," industriously interviews it about five minutes, when the silence of the quiet night is broken with "Here! See here, foreman; what the h— is this? Looks like an inscription from the Egyptian obelisk!" With the help of the old stagers he worries through one or two lines and is ready to trade off. He is a diligent student, and possessing one of the most valuable and extensive libraries in the State, he has eminently fitted himself for his vocation. He is of nervous, lymphatic temperament, genial and social, but not loquacious. He is decidedly positive in character and possesses indomitable will, which never yields, even to the most adverse circumstances. He is a warm, tenacious friend, and a hard hater. An enemy he may forgive—but forget, never. He is naturally inclined to combativeness, and woe to the person who becomes a target for his trenchant pen when dipped in gall. He is a firm, fast friend of his adopted city, and loses no opportunity to advance her interests and prosperity. He has filled several public trusts with great fidelity and success. He was appointed postmaster of Des Moinea two terms, and resigned on account of impaired health, caused by over work. He is at present an active and influential member of the West Side board of school directors. He has an abiding faith in railroads as a means of developing a city, and so believing, he took hold of the Des Moines, Knoxville & Albia road when it was practically a dead letter, and by persistent individual effort secured its completion. He inaugurated the Milwaukee, Marion, Marshalltown & Des Moines railroad project, was made president of the company, and spent several months in the field to secure its success, furnishing the means from his own pocket to survey and locate the route, and to him alone will be due the credit of acquiring so valuable and important an addition to the railroad facilities possessed by the city. His familiar soubriquet, "Ret," was a signature assumed by him in newspaper correspondence. The compositors adopted it and soon it became universal among his friends. He was married December 26, 1867, to Miss Anna Howell, of Pella, daughter of Dr. J. G. Howell, a most estimable woman, possessing those graces of mind and heart which endear her to a wide extended circle of friends. Two children have blessed this union: Hallie and Coker F.