FRANK CLARK

This is a name borne jointly by two men, father and son, which has long been one of special distinction in the legal profession and in the public affairs of Florida.

FRANK CLARK, Sr., is best known through his long and faithful service as representative of the Second Florida District in Congress. He was born at Eufaula, Alabama, March 28, 1860, son of JOHN WISE and MARY EMILINE (KEILS) CLARK. He was educated in Alabama and Georgia, admitted to the bar in 1881 and in 1884 came to Florida and located in Polk County. For a number of years his home has been in Gainesville. While for many years one of the leading lawyers of the state, his record of public service is his chief distinction. He was for three terms a member of the Florida Legislature, was assistant district attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and United States attorney for the same district from 1893 to 1897. In 1900 he served as chairman of the Democratic States Committee. He was elected to Congress from the Second District in 1904, and his service has been continuous for over seventeen years, beginning with the fifty-ninth Congress. He is now a member of the Sixty-seventh Congress, and is one of the ranking members of the House of Representatives not only with respect to seniority, but to the ability and judgment he has brought to his service. October 8, 1884, he married MARY ELLEN MAYO of Bartow, Florida.

FRANK CLARK, Jr., son of the congressman, has also been somewhat active in public affairs, though so far he has kept quite closely to the valid work of his profession. He was born at Bartow in 1887, was carefully educated, being a graduate of the law department of the University of Georgia with the class of 1909. He received his collegiate education in the University of Florida, and began practice with Judge W.A. BLOUNT of Pensacola, one of the state's most distinguished lawyers and jurists. After one year he left Pensacola and took up practice in his home city of Gainesville. He came to Miami and established his office in this city in July, 1921, forming a partnership with his brother-in-law, JOHN M. MURRELL, under the firm name of Clark & Murrell.

During the World war Mr. CLARK was in the navy a little over a year. He held the rank of ensign and was assigned to duty as naval supply officer on the United States Transport Newton, carrying troops and supplies to France. Mr. CLARK represented the Gainesville District in the Florida Legislature in 1917. Since coming to Miami he has taken an active part in business and social activities of the city, is a member of the Elks and other organizations. He married Miss KITTY JAMES of Chester, South Carolina.

Transcribed from: The History of Florida: Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. II, page 162, 1923.

File contributed for use on the Official Alachua County FLGenWeb site, by Nancy Rayburn (naev@earthlink.net)