John Daniel Clardy
Encyclopedia
John Daniel Clardy was a U.S. Representative
from Kentucky
.
during the Civil War
; two of them were killed in action.
The Clardy family moved to Christian County, Kentucky
in 1831. He attained his early education in the county schools. He matriculated to Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky
graduating in 1848. After teaching school for one year, he began studying medicine under Dr. Nicholas Thomas of Tennessee
. He enrolled at the University of Louisville
for one year before finishing his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
in 1851.
After graduation, Clardy returned to Kentucky and commenced practice in Long View, Kentucky. After three years, he relocated to Blandville, Kentucky
, where he remained until the beginning of the Civil War. During the war, he spent most of his time in New York City
as a member of the firm of Bacon, Clardy, and Company. He returned to Christian County in 1866, practicing medicine irregularly and engaging in agricultural pursuits. He purchased several tracts of land in Christian County and built his estate named "Oakland" into a five hundred fifty acre farm.
Clardy married Ann F. Bacon in 1854. The couple had three children – John F. Clardy, Fleming Cayce Clardy, and Fannie C. (Clardy) Prestridge. Clardy served as a deacon
in the Baptist
church in which he was raised.
gubernatorial nomination in 1891, but lost the nomination to John Y. Brown in part because his campaigning was hampered by his duties in the constitutional convention.
He was appointed as one of the State commissioners to the Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893.
In 1894, Clardy defeated Judge Samuel Vance and William McClain for the Democratic nomination to represent the Second District
in the U.S. House of Representatives
. He defeated the Republican
nominee, Elijah G. Sebree, by a majority of three thousand votes. He was re-elected once, serving in the Fifty-fourth
and Fifty-fifth
Congresses (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1899). He advocated for the free coinage of silver
as long as it could be kept on parity with gold. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1898.
on August 20, 1918 and was interred in Clardy's County Cemetery in Bells, Kentucky.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Early life
John Clardy was born in Smith County, Tennessee on August 30, 1828. He was one of six sons and two daughters born to John C. and Elizabeth (Cayce) Clardy. Three of Clardy's brothers served in the Confederate States ArmyConfederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
; two of them were killed in action.
The Clardy family moved to Christian County, Kentucky
Christian County, Kentucky
Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1797. As of 2000, its population was 72,265. Its county seat is Hopkinsville, Kentucky...
in 1831. He attained his early education in the county schools. He matriculated to Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown is a city in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 29,098 at the 2010 census. The original settlement of Lebanon, founded by Rev. Elijah Craig, was renamed in 1790 in honor of President George Washington. It is the home of Georgetown College, a private liberal arts...
graduating in 1848. After teaching school for one year, he began studying medicine under Dr. Nicholas Thomas of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. He enrolled at the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
for one year before finishing his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
The Perelman School of Medicine , formerly the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, was founded in 1765, making it the oldest American medical school. As part of the University of Pennsylvania, it is located in the University City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is widely...
in 1851.
After graduation, Clardy returned to Kentucky and commenced practice in Long View, Kentucky. After three years, he relocated to Blandville, Kentucky
Blandville, Kentucky
Blandville is a city in Ballard County, Kentucky, United States. It was founded in 1842 and named for Captain Bland Ballard, a hero of the War of 1812. Blandville was the seat of Ballard County from 1842 to 1881, when it was moved to Wickliffe. The population was 99 at the 2000 census...
, where he remained until the beginning of the Civil War. During the war, he spent most of his time in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as a member of the firm of Bacon, Clardy, and Company. He returned to Christian County in 1866, practicing medicine irregularly and engaging in agricultural pursuits. He purchased several tracts of land in Christian County and built his estate named "Oakland" into a five hundred fifty acre farm.
Clardy married Ann F. Bacon in 1854. The couple had three children – John F. Clardy, Fleming Cayce Clardy, and Fannie C. (Clardy) Prestridge. Clardy served as a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church in which he was raised.
Political career
Clardy was chosen as a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1890. He was a candidate for the DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
gubernatorial nomination in 1891, but lost the nomination to John Y. Brown in part because his campaigning was hampered by his duties in the constitutional convention.
He was appointed as one of the State commissioners to the Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893.
In 1894, Clardy defeated Judge Samuel Vance and William McClain for the Democratic nomination to represent the Second District
Kentucky's 2nd congressional district
Kentucky's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Located in west central Kentucky, the district includes Bowling Green, Owensboro, and Elizabethtown. The district has not seen an incumbent defeated since 1884....
in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He defeated the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee, Elijah G. Sebree, by a majority of three thousand votes. He was re-elected once, serving in the Fifty-fourth
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
and Fifty-fifth
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
Congresses (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1899). He advocated for the free coinage of silver
Free Silver
Free Silver was an important United States political policy issue in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Its advocates were in favor of an inflationary monetary policy using the "free coinage of silver" as opposed to the less inflationary Gold Standard; its supporters were called...
as long as it could be kept on parity with gold. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1898.
Later life and death
After his service in Congress, Clardy retired from public life. He died at his home near Hopkinsville, KentuckyHopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville is a city in Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 31,577 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Christian County.- History :...
on August 20, 1918 and was interred in Clardy's County Cemetery in Bells, Kentucky.