James Clark (1811 - 1888)

Born 27 May 1811 in West Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Mahala Morgan (Folden) Clark — married 15 Feb 1841 in Monroe Co. WV

Descendants

Died 19 Jan 1888 at age 76 in Rocky Gap, Bland, VA

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Biography

Biography

Excerpt of letter from R. George Lawson, Jr. to his grandfather Samuel Harvey Clark, dated 11/30/1971, page 2:

"I have a copy of James Clark's Last Will that I copied at the State Arcives. It was in the early Giles County records that were turned over to the archives when Bland County was formed. (1861). In the will he mentioned Eliza Belle Jones and left her a sizeable legacy. Well I looked for her for about a month with no success. The only record I found or the only time I could even find her name mentioned was in the Will. Finally I asked Nannie (Kidd) who she was and she told me this story of how Grandfather Clark was on his way back from the mill at Bland and this little girl about six years old stopped him on Brushy Mountain and wanted to go home with him. When he told her she would have to ask her mother she said "You have flour in that wagon and we ain't had no bread for three days." Well he gave her a poke of flour and the next time he came by several weeks later the little girl was waiting for him. The few things she had were tucked under her arm and she said her mother said she could go home to live with him. She dearly loved Grandfather Clark and there was nothing she wouldn't do for him. After he died she stayed on with Mahala at least till she was twenty or so but I don't know what ever happened to her."

Family oral history says that James was a cooper as well as a farmer.

Considerable research was made at the courthouse in Union to establish proof that James Clark was indeed the younger son as set forth in Ralph Clark's will. However, by close study of court records and several transactions that are recorded. There can be no doubt but what he is the younger son set forth in the will.

Descendants of Ralph Clark (1768-1829) of Monroe County, (W) VA Author: Thomas N. Clark Publication: Preliminary Copy 11/30/1999 Text: Monroe Marriage Bond J-4141

Sources

• From a letter dated 8/13/1971

from Haskell D. Shumate Clerk, Monroe County, Union, W.Va to George Lawson In 1845 James and Mahala Clark sold land on Bergens Run, a branch of Indian Creek in Monroe County, VA (Now W.VA), to Isaac Foster Jr. recorded in Deed Book "P" at page 645. A statement in the Deed "being a part of 150 acres granted Raplh Clark by patent, date Aug. 2 1796"

James Clark (1817 - 1888). Youngest son of Ralph and Betsy Clark. He married Mahala Morgan Folden (1824-1907) on Feb.15, 1841 in Monroe County, WV. She was from Greenbriar County. In March 1845, James sold the home place he had inherited from his father. Sometime between 1845 and 1850 James and Mahala moved to Giles County. In 1860 he purchased 117 acres of the North Fork of Kimberling Creek in that area of Giles that was later to become Bland County. He is listed in the 1850 census of Giles County. Census lists: James, 33, Farmer Mahala, 25, housewife Mary Ellen Ralph W. John L. Rufus Winton George W. Also listed in the household are: Hezekiah Williams, 55, Mahala's mother. Her Great Grandchildren remember her as "Aunt Kizzy" there is a gravestone on the Clark cemetery in Bland Co. (The part originally in Giles Co.) listing a Kazira with no dates. She was said to have married a Williams after coming to Giles in 1845. Caroline Folden, 16, Mahala's sister

The 1880 Federal Census Lists James as still being in Bland County, Rocky Gap James Clark,Head of Household ,62 Mahala M.,Wife, 55 J.H.,son,22 Elizabeth A.,daughter,17 Kesiah Williams,Mother in Law, 93 Caroline F.Sister in Law, 45 Eliza B. Jones, Boarder, 10

Marriage recorded in Monroe County, File Jacket 4141. In the file jacket along with the marriage bond is a hand written note as follows: "Here of this day give from under my hand to you to let James Clark have license". Signed Kisiar Folden. Date of the Bond is Feb. 15, 1841.