JAMES EDWARD "JIM" CLARK
Birth: 1849
Death: 4 Mar 1928
(age approximately 79 years)
Jim Clark 1926
James Edward “Jim” Clark was born in Wood County, Texas in 1849. He was the son of Robert Alexander “Elic” Clark and Mary Ann Edwards. Jim’s grandfather, James C. Clark, was born in Glasco, Scotland in 1887. He came to the United States in 1807 and was a schoolteacher in the early days of Van Zandt County, Texas.
Jim’s family moved to Parker County about 1861 where his father Elic bought property in Springtown, just south of Goshen.
Jim married Lena Dobbs in 1879. They had a daughter in 1881. Her name was Mable and she only lived about three weeks. Lena and Mable died within 2-3 weeks of each other. It is believed that they are both buried in unmarked graves at Springtown Cemetery in Parker County, Texas.
Jim then married Eliza Ann “Anna” Dobbs in 1882. Anna was a cousin of Jim’s first wife, Lena. Anna was born in 1866. She was the daughter of George Barnard Dobbs and Laura Ann Price-Dobbs. Anna’s parents came from Young County, Texas around 1866 where her father George Barnard Dobbs purchased 160 acres just north/north east of Clark Cemetery. However, by the time Anna was four years old the 1870 census shows her living with a nearby Aunt and Uncle, William M. Dobbs and wife, Nancy Ann Mitchell-Dobbs. It is likely that Anna’s parents died sometime between 1866 and 1870 and are probably buried in Clark Cemetery but no evidence has been found as of yet.
Jim’s family moved to Parker County about 1861 where his father Elic bought property in Springtown, just south of Goshen.
Jim married Lena Dobbs in 1879. They had a daughter in 1881. Her name was Mable and she only lived about three weeks. Lena and Mable died within 2-3 weeks of each other. It is believed that they are both buried in unmarked graves at Springtown Cemetery in Parker County, Texas.
Jim then married Eliza Ann “Anna” Dobbs in 1882. Anna was a cousin of Jim’s first wife, Lena. Anna was born in 1866. She was the daughter of George Barnard Dobbs and Laura Ann Price-Dobbs. Anna’s parents came from Young County, Texas around 1866 where her father George Barnard Dobbs purchased 160 acres just north/north east of Clark Cemetery. However, by the time Anna was four years old the 1870 census shows her living with a nearby Aunt and Uncle, William M. Dobbs and wife, Nancy Ann Mitchell-Dobbs. It is likely that Anna’s parents died sometime between 1866 and 1870 and are probably buried in Clark Cemetery but no evidence has been found as of yet.
Jim, Betty, Will & Mary Annie
On July 25, 1884 Jim and Anna had their first child. His name was William Alexander “Will” Clark. Will would later grow up and marry Annie Ethel Mullinax. It was in this same year that Jim and Anna donated 3 acres of the land Anna had inherited from her parents to the Godfrey Chapel Methodist Church.
Their second child was born in June of 1886. Her name was Mary Annie Clark. She would later grow up and marry Thomas Walter Moughon.
In 1887 Jim and Anna designated a homestead of 382 acres, part of which Anna had inherited from her parents.
Anna was in poor health. In 1890 Jim and Anna decided to move west for her well being. They made it all the way to Benjamin, Texas where Anna died and was buried. Jim then returned to the homeplace adjacent to Clark Cemetery in Parker County with his two children.
Jim then married his 3rd wife Margaret Elizabeth “Betty” Clendening. Betty was the sister of Kate Clendening. Kate was married to Jim’s brother Thomas C. Clark.
Betty was born December 1, 1856 in Tennessee. She was the daughter of Thomas B. Clendening Jr. and Sarah Jane Hutchison. Betty was a good stepmother to Will and Mary Annie.
Jim supported his family by farming. But farming in Parker County was often difficult with so many Indians around at that time. But it was nothing new to Jim. The following story took place when Jim was only 13 and living in Stephens County, near Fort Davis. It is from "West Texas Frontier" by Joseph Carroll Mcconnell:
"About 1862, Hol and James, sons of R.A. Clark, who lived on the Clear Fork of the Brazos in Stephens County, across the river from Miller's Valley, started one night to stake a horse about one quarter of a mile north of their residence. When they had gone about three hundred yards, James Clark saw the form of an Indian to the west, standing in the dim skylight forty steps away. Timothy Broomfield was expected over to the Clark home that night to go to a wild turkey roost a short distance up Huffstuttler's Creek. So the Clark boys thought, perhaps, the horseman was he.
Consequently, they called three times, and when no answer was returned, Hol fired, killed the horse the Indian was riding, and the report of the gun so badly scared James' horse that he ran fifty or sixty yards before he could be controlled. Hol hurried on toward the house and when James was able to turn his horse, he too started toward the Clark ranch. When James crossed where the savage's horse fell, he saw the Indian leaning against a tree. This Indian was now screaming almost every breath. No doubt, he was calling for aid from his comrades, for other savages soon came with a horse and carried him away.
Only Hol Clark had a gun, and although he was only fifteen years of age, this frontier boy exemplified a steady nerve. James was still younger.
Later on during the same night, Jasper DeGraffenreed, John Selman, Elic Clark, and Hol started back to the wounded Indian. But the citizens soon discovered other savages were now around him, so they turned back toward the Clark ranch for fear of being ambushed in the dark.
Note: Author personally interviewed James Clark himself, who was with Hol when he shot the Indians."
Their second child was born in June of 1886. Her name was Mary Annie Clark. She would later grow up and marry Thomas Walter Moughon.
In 1887 Jim and Anna designated a homestead of 382 acres, part of which Anna had inherited from her parents.
Anna was in poor health. In 1890 Jim and Anna decided to move west for her well being. They made it all the way to Benjamin, Texas where Anna died and was buried. Jim then returned to the homeplace adjacent to Clark Cemetery in Parker County with his two children.
Jim then married his 3rd wife Margaret Elizabeth “Betty” Clendening. Betty was the sister of Kate Clendening. Kate was married to Jim’s brother Thomas C. Clark.
Betty was born December 1, 1856 in Tennessee. She was the daughter of Thomas B. Clendening Jr. and Sarah Jane Hutchison. Betty was a good stepmother to Will and Mary Annie.
Jim supported his family by farming. But farming in Parker County was often difficult with so many Indians around at that time. But it was nothing new to Jim. The following story took place when Jim was only 13 and living in Stephens County, near Fort Davis. It is from "West Texas Frontier" by Joseph Carroll Mcconnell:
"About 1862, Hol and James, sons of R.A. Clark, who lived on the Clear Fork of the Brazos in Stephens County, across the river from Miller's Valley, started one night to stake a horse about one quarter of a mile north of their residence. When they had gone about three hundred yards, James Clark saw the form of an Indian to the west, standing in the dim skylight forty steps away. Timothy Broomfield was expected over to the Clark home that night to go to a wild turkey roost a short distance up Huffstuttler's Creek. So the Clark boys thought, perhaps, the horseman was he.
Consequently, they called three times, and when no answer was returned, Hol fired, killed the horse the Indian was riding, and the report of the gun so badly scared James' horse that he ran fifty or sixty yards before he could be controlled. Hol hurried on toward the house and when James was able to turn his horse, he too started toward the Clark ranch. When James crossed where the savage's horse fell, he saw the Indian leaning against a tree. This Indian was now screaming almost every breath. No doubt, he was calling for aid from his comrades, for other savages soon came with a horse and carried him away.
Only Hol Clark had a gun, and although he was only fifteen years of age, this frontier boy exemplified a steady nerve. James was still younger.
Later on during the same night, Jasper DeGraffenreed, John Selman, Elic Clark, and Hol started back to the wounded Indian. But the citizens soon discovered other savages were now around him, so they turned back toward the Clark ranch for fear of being ambushed in the dark.
Note: Author personally interviewed James Clark himself, who was with Hol when he shot the Indians."
North Side Baptist Church 1926 (Weatherford)
When Jim got older he and Betty moved into Weatherford on Hanover Street. He divided his land between his two children. Will continued to farm and raised his six children on the same land that he had grown up on. Will would eventually donate part of that land to Clark Cemetery which had already been used as a burial ground for almost 100 years. Mary Annie had died so her husband Tom Moughon had received her land.
It is also believed that Jim had became blind in his older years. His grandson, Odis, would often tell of how he would sit at Jim’s feet and listen to his stories when he was a little boy.
Having once lived near Goshen and donating land for the Godfrey Chapel it is likely that Jim was a member of that church. But once moving to Weatherford Jim became a member of the North Side Baptist Church. There is a group photo taken in the mid 1920’s hanging in the lobby of the church. Jim can be seen sitting in a chair in the front row holding a cane.
Jim died in 1928 after a long battle with cancer. He is buried in Clark Cemetery on land that was once part of his farm. His wife Betty died in 1940 and is buried next to him.
Written by Tammy Clark Brown (great great granddaughter of Jim Clark)
Photo of Jim Clark family Courtesy of Kerry Knox Crawford (great great granddaughter of Jim Clark)
Photo of JIm & North Side Baptist church courtesy of Beckie Knox
It is also believed that Jim had became blind in his older years. His grandson, Odis, would often tell of how he would sit at Jim’s feet and listen to his stories when he was a little boy.
Having once lived near Goshen and donating land for the Godfrey Chapel it is likely that Jim was a member of that church. But once moving to Weatherford Jim became a member of the North Side Baptist Church. There is a group photo taken in the mid 1920’s hanging in the lobby of the church. Jim can be seen sitting in a chair in the front row holding a cane.
Jim died in 1928 after a long battle with cancer. He is buried in Clark Cemetery on land that was once part of his farm. His wife Betty died in 1940 and is buried next to him.
Written by Tammy Clark Brown (great great granddaughter of Jim Clark)
Photo of Jim Clark family Courtesy of Kerry Knox Crawford (great great granddaughter of Jim Clark)
Photo of JIm & North Side Baptist church courtesy of Beckie Knox
