The finding aid of the Sterling Benjamin Franklin Clark Diary C058779
John Davis
Society of California Pioneers
04/18/2018
101 Montgomery Street, Suite 150
Presidio of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94129
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Note
B-V-8g / B001643
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Title: Sterling Benjamin Franklin Clark Diary
Creator:
Clark, Sterling Benjamin Franklin, b. 1825
Identifier/Call Number: C058779
Physical Description:
1 folder
1 Diary
Date (inclusive): 1849
Abstract: This file contains the original, hand written in ink, diary of Sterling Benjamin Franklin Clark . Mr. Clark was crossing the
plains in 1849 at the age of 25 when he wrote this journal describing his travels.
Language of Material:
English
.
Mr. Clark was crossing the plains in 1849 at the age of 25 when he wrote this journal describing his travels. The documents
are in good condition and the hand writing is clear and legible for the most part. The diary also contains a photocopy of
a map created by a "16 year old schoolboy" charting Clark's original journey across the plains. This diary was also published
in 1929 as a book titled "How Many Miles From St. Jo?"
Sterling Benjamin Franklin CLARK
Born: 15 Sep 1824, Rutland, Rutland, Vermont, United States
Marriage: Rachel Hepburn MITCHELL in Jul 1852 in Hollidaysburg, Blair, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: 1 Oct 1852, California, United States at age 28"
California, Pioneer and Immigrant Files, 1790-1950:
Name: S. B. F. Clark
[Sterling Benjamin Franklin Clark]
Birth Place: Rutland, Vermont
Birth Date: 15 Sep 1824
Death Place: San Francisco, California
Death Date: 1 Oct 1852
Father: Caleb Ellis Clark
Mother: Cyrene Goodenow
Spouse: Rachel Hepburn Mitchell
Marriage Date: Jul 1852
Marriage Place: Hollidaysburg, Penna
Previous Residence: Vermont, New York, Penna
Residence: San Francisco, California
Index Card Year: 1910
Sterling married Rachel Hepburn MITCHELL in Jul 1852 in Hollidaysburg, Blair, Pennsylvania, United States. (Rachel Hepburn
MITCHELL was born in Sep 1833 in Hollidaysburg, Blair, Pennsylvania, United States)
The 1830 US Census for Rutland VT shows Caleb E Clark living there, but that Census only lists the name of the head of the
household. The 1850 US Census shows Sterling's siblings, all of whom were born in VT. And Caleb Clark, though born in NH,
is listed in Rutland VT from 1810 on. Seems likely that Sterling Clark moved to PA after leaving his VT family, and in PA
met and married Rachel Mitchell.
(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65347538/sterling-benjamin_franklin-clark)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Original Diary was given to the Society of California Pioneers in 1929 by James D. Phelan.
Existence and Location of Originals
The Society of California Pioneers, 101 MOntgomery St., Suite 150, The Presidio of San Franciscco, San Franciscco CA, 94129
The Sterling Benjamin Franklin Clark Diary. The Society of California Pioneers.
The Society's collection has photographs of Clark, his wife and child, as well as a locket with a daguerreotype of Clark inserted
inside, and also a letter written by him to Rachel - written in gold dust. Contact the Society for further information on
these items.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Frontier and pioneer life – California
Overland journeys to the Pacific
Pioneers -- California
Indians of North America -- Government relations