Mary Bassett Clarke


Mary Bassett Clarke was a 19th-century American writer.

Early life and education

Mary Bassett was born in Independence, New York, November 18, 1831. She was the daughter of John C. Bassett. a well-to-do farmer of western New York, and Martha St. John Bassett. She was the seventh in a family of twelve children who lived to maturity. She was educated in Alfred University. Although ill-health limited her opportunities, she was graduated from the university in 1857.

Career

At the age of fifteen, she began writing for publication, under the pen-name "Ida Fairfield," in The Flag of Our Union. With some interruption by ill-health, she continued many years to be a contributor to that paper, to the Rural New Yorker, as well as local papers and periodicals. For several years her writings, both prose and verse, were principally given to periodicals issued by the Seventh Day Baptists, of which religion she was a member. A collection of her poems, Autumn Leaves, was published in 1894.

Personal life

She married William L. Clarke on September 8, 1859, and removed to Ashaway, Rhode Island. He served as president of the Missionary Board, and as a Massachusetts State Senator. The Clarke's had three children: Ada Augusta, John Thomas, and Charles Welling. She died August 2, 1908.

Selected works

Attribution

*