Biography

EDGAR SCOTT CLARKE

Burial register ID: 16193
Surname: CLARKE
First name: EDGAR
Middle names: SCOTT
Gender: Male
Age: 89 Years
Cause of death: Unknown
Burial type:
Date of death: 04-Aug-1941
Date of burial: 06-Aug-1941

Block: 84
Plot: 1
Inscription:

On Monument:-

ERECTED BY

JOHN McLEAN & SONS, CONTRACTORS

AND THE TUNNEL WORKERS OF OTIRA TUNNEL

IN MEMORY OF

STEPHEN WOOD

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

SON OF JOSEPH & ALICE E. WOOD,

OF OTLEY, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND AND NEPHEW

OF EDGAR S. CLARKE OF CLAREWOOD

WHO DIED IN GREY RIVER HOSPITAL

ON JULY 10th 1911.

THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT IN THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

AGED 23.

On Plaque:-

THIS PLAQUE WAS

LAID BY THE DESCENDANTS

OF

EDGAR AND ALICE

CLARKE

WHO ATTENDED A FAMILY

REUNION MAY 1987

Bio contributor: Les Williams

Edgar Scott Clarke (c.1852-1941)

Edgar Clarke was born in Rawdon, Yorkshire, England. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1879 aboard the ship Taranaki and lived here for 62 years.

Upon his arrival Edgar settled at Woodhaugh where he established a flock manufacturing business. For over 50 years he played a prominent part in church life. In the early 1890s, under the influence of Bishop Neville, church services were started in Mr Clarke’s flockmill. Not long after, the Church of the Holy Innocents was built. Mr Clarke was a church officer from the time it opened in 1894 until his death. He was also secretary of the church committee from its inception and for many years treasurer and also Synodsman. Despite increasing deafness and other infirmities, Mr Clarke remained a regular church goer until the time of his death in his 90th year.

In addition to his church activities Mr Clarke took a keen interest in civic and other affairs. He had been Maori Hill Town Clerk from 1882-1893, also Mayor of the Borough from 1914-1915, as well as serving as a councillor. He was also a JP and a Past Provincial Grand Master of the Oddfellows.

Mr Clarke’s death was a great loss to the church in Woodhaugh. His funeral service, held at Holy Innocents, was attended by a representative gathering.

Reference: Above the Belt: a History of the suburb of Maori Hill by Jane Smallfield and Brian Heenan (for the Maori Hill Charitable Trust), Otago Uni Print 2006.
Edgar Clarke
Source: Les Williams


Edgar and Alice Clarke
Source: Les Williams

There are 5 Interments in this grave:

Surname First names Age Date of death Date of burial
CLARKE ALICE JANE BARBER 89 Years 17-Jun-1940 18-Jun-1940
CLARKE CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH MAY 2 Years 22-Oct-1886 24-Oct-1886
CLARKE EDGAR SCOTT 89 Years 04-Aug-1941 06-Aug-1941
CLARKE RASTRICK BRADSHAW C 4 Months 14-Nov-1883 16-Nov-1883
WOOD STEPHEN 23 Years 10-Jul-1911 12-Jul-1911