James CLARKE

                   OLIVE BATCHER, 2423 HAMILTON DR., AMES, IA 50014; BOOK, 1995, PG 93
    Ordained pastor of 2nd Baptist Church of Newport, an office he held for 35
years until his death. The Baptist Church held services in private homes until
1697 when a church was built. In 1707, James deeded the land he had bought in
1697, and with money saved from contributions by the members, built a church.
    For many years between 1698 and 1713, James was a sealer of weights and
measures, and packer and gauger. On 27 FEB 1712, he complained to the Assembly
that 'the weights and measures of this Colony do not agree with neighboring
governments, and proposed that there should be measures of brass of copper
procured, which will not be so subject to variation as those of wood which we
now have for the standards of the government". James held several governmental
offices indlucing attorney general, treasurer, and recorder