Indiana Authors Books

CLODFELTER, NOAH J.: 1853-1901.

What could be a more appropriate recognition than a biographical sketch, perhaps composed or at least partially dictated, by the man himself, from a contemporary county history? Mr. Clodfelter's reads:

"Noah J. Clodfelter, a Poet:

• 'Blessings be with them, and eternal praise,
  1
• Who gave us nobler loves and nobler cares,
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• The poets, who on earth have made us heirs,
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• Of truth and pure delight by heavenly lays.'
  4

"It is with the utmost satisfaction that the biographer places before the reader of this record a brief notice of the talented gentleman whose name appears at the opening of this article. In these practical days the poetic fire with the gentle, dreamy temperament belonging to it, comes too seldom to the notice of the world. When among us is born one of the gifted, the life of this individual holds superior interest, as the existence of a different kind of being.

"The subject of the present sketch was born in Alamo, Ind., Dec. 14, 1853, and he has been affectionately and proudly named 'The Wabash Poet.' He is scarcely conscious of the time when his thoughts did not run in rhythm, some of his published poems having been the emanations from the pen of a lad of only seventeen years. Perhaps the best known and most ambitious book of poems is the one entitled Early Vanities. This is to be found in the most of the larger libraries, and although it has received slashes from the critics, Mr. Clodfelter can point even now to the critics of Shakespeare.

"Our subject has not confined his pen to poetry, his novel, "Snatched from the Poor House," having been kindly received, and having had a sale of over four hundred thousand copies. His first publication took place in 1886, since which time he has contributed to the papers and periodicals over the country. His residence is at 'Knoll Cottage,' a beautiful home erected at a cost of over $20,000.

"Probably more will be heard from this western poet in the future. Inspiring themes are not lacking, and the valley of the Wabash has many spots beautiful enough to encourage the poetic flame."

(The reader may, if he wishes, consider the "four hundred thousand copies" of the novel Snatched from the Poor House, to be a misprint or a mis-quotation of Mr. Clodfelter.)

From Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain Counties, 1893.

• The Fates, or, the Dance on the Lethe. By Formose Puer [pseud.]. New York, 1882.

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• Early Vanities. New York, 1886.

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• Snatched from the Poor House. Philadelphia, 1888.

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• In Stony Places: A Story of the Mines in the Great Coal-Mining Region of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 1892.

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• The Gotham of Yasmar: A Satire. Buffalo, N. Y., 1897.

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