Sources: American Historical Collection at Ateneo (Bulletin July 2010)
The Spanish-American War (1898) and Philippine-American War (1899-1902) brought many Army Volunteers and Civilian Support Staff to the country. Some decided to stay seeing opportunities in business and civil service. They formed the foundation of American Business and Colonial Government.
This post gives a glimpse into the backgrounds and work of 28 men who achieved success; all pioneers in an Asian land. Not all who stayed prospered. One who did not was the legendary Met Clarke, proprietor of “Clarke’s Ice Cream and Soda Fountain” on Plaza Goite. Clarke saw a “Golden Opportunity” in a Mining Venture in the Benguet Mountains. A powerful typhoon wiped out the mine. Bankrupted, Clarke lost all his assets, pledged as collateral to the bank of Philippine Islands. Clarke returned to California a broken man and died soon thereafter. BB