Charles Alfred Clark1

b. 16 May 1854, d. 5 September 1931
Charles A. Clark (cropped)
photo courtesy Jim Faris
FatherJames Alex Clark2 b. 21 May 1825, d. 28 Oct 1889
MotherMary Elizabeth Clark2 b. 9 Aug 1830, d. 13 May 1901
Birth16 May 1854 Charles Alfred Clark was probably born on 16 May 1854 near Glade Spring, in Washington County, Virginia.1,3,4,5,6 
Marriage26 Feb 1879 He married Florence Virginia Rosenbalm, daughter of Adam Rosenbalm and Hettie Jane Sharp, on 26 Feb 1879 in Washington County.2,7 
Cens-18804 Jun 1880  A year after their marriage Charles and Florence were enumerated in the Glade Spring District of the county. Their infant son Walter [Benjamin] was also listed, along with a cousin, Manerva I Clark, age 17.8 [or 12] 
  They may have already been living on the land Charles would inherit in 1889 from his father James. It was described as the east side of James Clark's farm, much of which he had inherited from his father James Clark (d. 1871). The land sat south of the Old Stage Rd., north of the Middle Fork of the Holston River and just east of present day Prices Bridge Road (which was not in existance at that time).9 
Land-Buy24 Jan 1894  In Jan. 1894 Charles and Florence purchased 128 acres of land from John Breckenridge Clark and Dollie Clark [John and Charles were first cousins once removed]. This land fronted the Old Stage Road on the north and reached Charles and Florence's other land on the south.10 
  Sitting on the land near the Old Stage Road was the home in which John Breckenridge Clark and Dollie Clark had raised their family. Although "updated" with wood siding, the inside of the home revealed it's log cabin origins. It is believed to have been the home originally built by John Breckenridge Clark's parents John B. Clark and Mary Beattie in the early 1800s. 
Cens-19001900 The 1900 census enumerated Charles and Florence residing in the home with their 3 sons. Charles's mother, Mary (Clark) Clark also lived with them (see photo of family and home below).6 
  Besides being a farmer, Charlie (as he was known in the family) was an experienced carpenter, a craft he passed to his sons Claude and Ray. Around 1909 the men built a new home for the family fronting the Old Stage Rd. 
Cens-19103 May 1910  This may be where Charles and Florence lived at the time of the 1910 enumeration. The household included their sons Ray and Ben, as well as Ben's wife Lena, and his two young sons.11 
  Around 1912 a second new home was built a little further east for Ben and his family. 
Cens-192020 Jan 1920  Charles and Florence shared their new home with son Ray and his wife Lula (Snodgrass).12 
Death5 Sep 1931 Charles died at Glade Spring on 5 Sep 1931 at age 77. He had been ill with the flu which developed into pneumonia.13,14 
Burial He was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County.4 

Research Comment:

Manerva Clark and Charles Alfred Clark were cousins according to the 1880 census , but I have not been able to identify her parents.

Related Links and Images:

Click on the camera icon for a photo of Charles and his family taken at the home they purchased from John Breckenridge Clark and his wife Dollie in 1894.15
See Clark Homes on the Old Stage Rd for photos of the old home as well as photos of the home Charles built around 1909-1910.15
Charles's headstone and family monument
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Florence Virginia Rosenbalm b. 25 Feb 1859, d. 15 Mar 1946
Children
ChartsDescendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Descendants of James Clark and Isabella Breckenridge
Last Edited14 Oct 2013

Citations

  1. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 23. Transcription reads: Charles Alfred Clark, b. 16 May 1854 near Glade Spring to James A. and Mary Clark.
  2. [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.
  3. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 70-85. States he was born in 1852, but this disagrees with the county birth record and was also before his parents marriage.
  4. [S54] Virginia Historicial Society of Washington County, High On A Windy Hill Vol II, p. 42. Stone reported to read: Charles A. Clark, 1852-1931.
  5. [S2273] Research of Jack Hockett, Montreal, Canada; Mr. Hockett abstracted the following information from the Washington Co., Virginia death records as viewed on microfilm at the Library of Virginia: WCV, Glade Spring: Charlie A. CLARK, w m, mar to Mrs. C. A. CLARK, b 16 May 1852, 78/03/20; d 06 Sep 1931, influenza-pneumonia, s/o Jas. CLARK, WCV & Nary CLARK, WCV; C. J. CLARK, Glade Spring, VA, inf; bur Old Glade Spring.
  6. [S574] Charles A. Clark household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 108, sheet 18A (p. 78 stamped), dwelling 315, family 322, viewed online at Genealogy.com, April 2003, image 35 of 70. Charles A. Clark, 45, b. May 1855, married 22 yrs, farmer; Florence, wife, 36, b. Feb. 1864, married 22 yrs, mother of 3 children, all living; Benjamin, son, 20, Dec. 1879; Claude, son, 17, Apr 1883; Ray, son, 11, March 1889; Mary, mother, 69 wid, Aug. 1830, mother of 5 children, 3 living; all b. VA, all parents b. VA.
  7. [S2824] Adam Rosenbalm Bible (New York: The American Bible Society, 1844). The second entry on the Marriage Record page reads: "Charles A. Clark & Florence V. Rosenbalm was Married February the 26th 1879 by the Reverend A.L Hogshead."
  8. [S165] Chas A. Clark household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 10 (57B stamped), dwelling 79, family 80, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 10 of 54. Charles A. Clark, 26, farmer; Florence B., 21, wife; Walter B., 5/12, b. Jan, son; Manerva I, 17, cousin; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  9. [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.
  10. [S2826] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 51: 433.
  11. [S237] Charles A. Clark household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 116, sheet 15B, dwelling 284, family 296, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 30 of 36. Recorded data includes: Chas A. Clark, marr once for 32 yrs, farmer, owns home; Florence V., wife, 45, marr 32 yrs, mother of 3 children, all living; Ben W., son, 31, married 5 yrs, first marr; Ray D., son, 20, sgl; Lena M., dau-in-law, 28, married 5 yrs, first marr, mother of 2 children, both living; Garland F., grandson, 4; Chas E., grandson, 2; all b. VA.
  12. [S238] Ray Clark household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 149, sheet 9B, dwelling 155, family 158, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2011. Household includes: Ray Clark, 30, farmer, owns home; Lula, wife, 34; Charles, father, 66; Florence, mother, 57; all b. VA; resid on Old Stage Rd.
  13. [S2803] Jim Faris, "Date questions," e-mail to D. Powell, 16 Jan. 2012.
  14. [S2273] Research of Jack Hockett, Montreal, Canada; Mr. Hockett abstracted the following information from the Washington Co., Virginia death records as viewed on microfilm at the Library of Virginia: WCV, Glade Spring: Charlie A. CLARK, w m, mar to Mrs. C. A. CLARK, b 16 May 1852, 78/03/20; d 06 Sep 1931, influenza-pneumonia, s/o Jas. CLARK, WCV & Nary CLARK, WCV; C. J. CLARK, Glade Spring, VA, inf; bur Old Glade Spring.
  15. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Jim Faris.
  16. [S574] Charles A. Clark household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 108, sheet 18A (p. 78 stamped), dwelling 315, family 322, viewed online at Genealogy.com, April 2003, image 35 of 70. Charles A. Clark, 45, b. May 1855, married 22 yrs, farmer; Florence, wife, 36, b. Feb. 1864, married 22 yrs, mother of 3 children, all living; Benjamin, son, 20, Dec. 1879; Claude, son, 17, Apr 1883; Ray, son, 11, March 1889; Mary, mother, 69 wid, Aug. 1830, mother of 5 children, 3 living; all b. VA, all parents b. VA.