If one looks hard enough, one usually can find any number of remarkable individuals in a town’s history; the entirely unsung people who are the backbone which keeps the town running.
One such individual in Bakersville around the turn of the last century was Edgar Clarke. Here is a short biography of him taken from ‘Where Walk the Souls of Heroes’ written by Neal E. Yates:
“Edgar was eight years old in 1867 when scarlet fever deprived him of the ability to walk for the rest of his life. He got about by a two-wheeled seat and a small sled….
A remarkable man, ‘Eddie’ Clarke was a watchmaker and school teacher, taught organ and violin, and conducted a 16-piece orchestra in 1896. He was the librarian, registrar of voters, and state representative from the 2nd District. He also served as Bakersville’s postmaster; the post office was in his home from 1893 to 1906 and hosted Bakersville’s first pay telephone. …He died in 1934 at age 77.”
New Hartford Historical Society 