James Alex Clark1

b. 21 May 1825, d. 28 October 1889
FatherJames Clark2 b. 21 Mar 1789, d. 6 Aug 1871
MotherAnn Ryburn3,4 b. 4 Oct 1792, d. 21 Dec 1869
Birth21 May 1825 James Alex Clark was born on 21 May 1825 in Washington County, Virginia.5,4 
  Although James is the first for whom a middle name can be identified, his father, grandfather and great grandfather were also named James Clark. 
Childhood  James grew up on his parents farm which included land on both sides of present day Prices Bridge Rd. (which did not exist at the time). The tract sat south of Rt 11 (the Old Stage Rd.) and north of the Middle Fork of the Holston River. 
Marriage25 Aug 1853 James married his second cousin Mary Elizabeth Clark, daughter of Robert Clark and Jane Berry, on 25 Aug 1853 in Washington County.6 
Cens-186011 Jul 1860 James and Mary first appear together on the 1860 census. Also enumerated with them were two sons, Charles, age six, and William, age 1.7 
  A third son had been born to the couple in 1857 but died at 4 months of age. In 1861 a daughter Margaret was added to the family. A headstone in Old Glade Spring Cemetery indicates the couple lost an additional child in infancy but does not provide a name or date.8 
Cens-187028 Sep 1870 In 1870 James was reported to own land worth $2,000. James and Mary's 3 children, Charles, William and Margaret were also enumerated as was a housekeeper, Sally Larimer.9 
Cens-18805 Jun 1880  Ten years later son Charles had married, but William and Margaret still lived at home with their parents. Also listed in the same household that year (but enumerated with a different family number) was a 68 year old widow, Katherine Mason. Six Mason children, ranging in age from Mary (18) to Ida (2) were listed with her.10 
Exec-Devisee15 Mar 1870 James Clark Sr., James Alex Clark's father, wrote his will on March 15th, 1870. He left James the west end of the family farm; if James also wished to own the east half he was to pay $25 per acre for it. He was to allow his sister Martha several rooms in the house and was to provide her with firewood. James Sr. left land and other assets to the children of his other son Mathew R. Clark, but instructed that James A. Clark was to manage it for the children despite the fact that Mathew was still living.2 
Will10 Jan 1889 James wrote his own will on January 10th 1889. He left his wife $1,000 as well as household and kitchen furniture, and a bay mare. The east end of the farm was deeded to son Charles A. and the west end to son William N. Clark with the provision that their mother was to take her board at William's table.11 
Death28 Oct 1889 James died of liver disease on 28 Oct 1889 near Glade Spring, Washington County, Virginia, at age 64.5,12,4 
Will-RecdNov 1889 His will was recorded in Nov 1889 with William N. Clark taking the oath of executor and posting a bond in the amount of $6,000.11 
Probate Recd20 Aug 1891  Settlement records for James included $80 for tombstones for James and his daughter.13 [probably Margaret who had died the year before her father] 
21 Aug 1891  However Campbell continued to care for the Clark family. In 1889 when James A. Clark (son of James Clark Sr.) died it was Campbell who dug his grave.14 
Burial James was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County.5 

Research Comment:

The Compiled Confederate Service Records for Co. D of the 37th Infantry contain a single folder for a James A. Clark. There are 3 cards in the file which actually appear to represent two different men. One card is for a James A. Clark who was present on April 9th, 1865 when Gen. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. The two other cards are for a Jas. A. Clark who was captured near Petersburg on March 25th 1865, held prisoner at Pt. Lookout, Maryland and released on June 10th, 1865 after taking the Oath of Allegiance. That document described James as 6ft, 1 3/4 inches tall with a florid complexion, red hair and hazel eyes.

It is possible one or these entries represents James Alex Clark, however, there appears to be no family history of his having served during the Civil War. Thomas M. Rankin's 37th Virginia Infantry (H.E. Howard, Inc, 1987) further clouds the issue by listing 3 James A. Clarks. The book states 1 died in 1895 and 1 lived in Fowler, Virginia after the war (the statements are not specifically sourced).

Related Links and Images:

James's will
James's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Mary Elizabeth Clark b. 9 Aug 1830, d. 13 May 1901
Children
ChartsDescendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Descendants of James Clark and Isabella Breckenridge
Last Edited14 Oct 2013

Citations

  1. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 59. Charles A. Clark, 25y, sgl, b & resid Wash. Co. VA, farmer, s/o Jas Alex & Mary E. Clark and Florence V. Rosenbalm, 20y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Adam & Hetty J. Rosenbalm; 26 Feb. 1879.
  2. [S705] James Clark will (recorded 1871), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 18: 18. The will was dated 15 March 1870 and recorded at court on 28 Aug. 1871. Son, James A. Clark was executor; James C. Porterfield and James P. Clark witnessed the will.
  3. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 9.
  4. [S12] D.E. Brown, Unfiled Death Records of Washington Co. VA, Entry #413: James A. Clark, d. 28 Oct. 1889 near Glade Spring of liver disease at 64y 5m 7d; parents James & Annie Clark, b. WCV, farmer; spouse Mary Clark, reported by Wm N. Clark, son.
  5. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 177. James A. Clark, 21 May 1825-28 Oct. 1889.
  6. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 60. James A. Clark & Mary E. Clark; 25 Aug. 1853.
  7. [S234] James A. Clark household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 463 (added script), dwelling 713, family 690, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 101 of 361. Reported data includes: James A. Clark 34, farmer, owns personal prop val $1,400; Mary 30; Charles 6; William 1; all b. VA.
  8. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 177. Stone reads: infant of J.A. & M.E. Clark.
  9. [S635] Jas A. Clark household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 72b (stamped), dwelling 270, family 276, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 144 of 426. Data includes: Jas A. Clark, 45, farmer, owns real estate valued at $2,000; Mary E. 40, keeping house; Charles A. 16, farmer; Wm N. 12; M.J. (f) 9; Larimer, Sally, 29, housekeeper; all b. VA.
  10. [S165] James A. Clark household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 12 (58D stamped), dwelling 107, family 108, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 12 of 54. James A. Clark, 55, farmer; Mary E. 49, wife; Wm N., 21, son; Margaret J., 20, dau; all b. VA; all parents b. VA. Also in the home, but listed with a separate head of household number were: Katherine Mason, 68, mother; widowed, father b. PA; Mary, dau, 18; Henrietta, dau, 16; Lucy, 14, dau; Bette, 11, dau; James E., 7, son; Ida, dau, 2; all b. VA.
  11. [S712] James A. Clark will (1889), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 23: 368. The will was dated 10 Jan 1889 and proved in court in November 1889. James named his son, William N. Clark, as his executor.
  12. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 73. This source states James died in 1899 but that is in conflict with the county death records, his headstone, and the year in which his will was recorded at court.
  13. [S714] James A. Clark settlement (recorded 1895), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 25: 114. William N. Clark presented charges to the court which included $80 for tombstones for decedent and daughter; also payments to Mary E. Clark, as well as payments to Charles A. Clark and Wm N. Clark.
  14. [S714] James A. Clark settlement (recorded 1895), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 25: 114.
  15. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 59. Charles A. Clark, 25y, sgl, b & resid Wash. Co. VA, farmer, s/o Jas Alex & Mary E. Clark and Florence V. Rosenbalm, 20y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Adam & Hetty J. Rosenbalm; 26 Feb. 1879.
  16. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 176. Record states: Robt. W. Clark, 4 or 11y, d. 8 Apr 1857 of inflammation; parents Jas A. and Mary Clark.
  17. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 177. Robert Walter Clark, s/o J.A. & M.E. Clark, 7 Feb to 4 Jun 1857.