James C. Clarke (March 4, 1823 – December 9, 1902) was an American politician and railroad executive from Maryland. He served as a member of theMaryland House of Delegates andMaryland Senate, representingBaltimore County.

James C. Clarke was born on March 4, 1823, in Unity,Montgomery County, Maryland, to William Clarke.^[1][2]

In 1840, Clarke became a track repairer on theBaltimore and Ohio Railroad. In 1842, he became a locomotive fireman for the railroad and held this role for 12 years.^[1] In 1851, he was superintendent of construction of a double track betweenMt. Airy andPoint of Rocks. In 1853, he became assistant supertintendent of transportation.^[2] In 1854, he became superintendent of theCentral Railroad of Ohio. In 1855, he became superintendent of the northern division of theIllinois Central Railroad. He was promoted to general superintendent of the Illinois Central in 1857.^[1] In 1859, Clarke moved toFrederick, Maryland, and partnered with Ephraim Albaugh and Michael Keefer to form a wholesale and retail grocery name under the name Clarke, Albaugh & Co. The store was located on the southwest corner of Market and Patrick streets.^[2] In 1861, he became superintendent of theNorthern Central Railway. After four years, he left to manage an iron furnace in Ashland,Cockeysville, Maryland.^[1][2]

Clarke served as a member of theMaryland House of Delegates, representingBaltimore County, in 1867.^[2][3] He was elected as a Democrat and served as a member of theMaryland Senate, representing Baltimore County, from 1868 to 1872.^[1][4] He served under GovernorOden Bowie as brigadier general of theMaryland National Guard.^[2]

From 1870 to 1872, Clarke was president of theChesapeake and Ohio Canal and served for two years. In 1872, he was elected as president and general manager of theErie Railroad system. He served for three years. He then became general manager of the Illinois Central Railway. In 1876, he was elected president of theChicago, St. Louis and New Orleans Railroad. In 1880, he was elected president of the Illinois Central. He remained as head of the Illinois Central railroad system until 1865. He remained engaged in that work until 1887. Around 1889, he became president and general manager of theMobile and Ohio Railroad. He remained in that role until March 1, 1898, and was succeeded byEdward L. Russell.^[1] In March 1898, he prospected railroads inGuatemala.^[5]

Clarke lived for a time at a house on East Church Street in Frederick.^[2] He owned an estate near Frederick until the end of his life. He lived inMobile, Alabama, the last 25 years of his life.^[1] He was friends with Baltimore mayorFerdinand Claiborne Latrobe andBaltimore Sun publisherArunah Shepherdson Abell.^[1]

Clarke married Susannah Shaffer, daughter of Peter Shaffer. They had three sons and two daughters, Horace W., Wendall Bowman, Charles S., Virginia and Sarah. His wife died in 1892. His daughter Virginia married railroad executiveEdward Turner Jeffery.^[2][6] He died following heart trouble on December 9, 1902, at the home of his daughter in Chicago.^[1][2] He was later buried with his wife in May 1903 inMount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick.^[1][7][8]

Clarke Place, a road near Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, was named in his honor.^[1]

• Media related toJames C. Clarke at Wikimedia Commons

• 1823 births
• 1902 deaths
• People from Montgomery County, Maryland
• Politicians from Frederick, Maryland
• Politicians from Mobile, Alabama
• Baltimore and Ohio Railroad people
• Illinois Central Railroad people
• Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
• Erie Railroad
• Members of the Maryland House of Delegates
• Democratic Party Maryland state senators
• Maryland National Guard personnel
• Burials at Mount Olivet Cemetery (Frederick, Maryland)
• 19th-century American business executives in rail transportation
• 19th-century members of the Maryland General Assembly

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