Florence Virginia Rosenbalm1,2

b. 25 February 1859, d. 15 March 1946
Florence (Rosenbalm) Clark (cropped)
photo courtesy Jim Faris
FatherAdam Rosenbalm1 b. 20 Oct 1829, d. 2 Apr 1863 or 2 Apr 1864
MotherHettie Jane Sharp1 b. 25 Jun 1829, d. Sep 1890
Birth25 Feb 1859 Florence Virginia Rosenbalm was born in Washington County, Virginia, on 25 Feb 1859, although the 1900 census reported her birth information as Feb. 1864.1,3,4,5,6 
Name Other  Florence's full name was recorded in her father's Bible as Mary Virginia Florence Rosenbalm. Her entry in the Washington Co. Birth Register used Mary F.V. Rosenbalm. However Florence herself did not use "Mary" and at some point an unknown person scratched that part of her name from the Bible entry.1 
Cens-186021 Jul 1860  The 1860 census for Washington County listed Florence (recorded as Mary) as a 1 year old living in the household of Adam Rosenbalm [her father] in Washington County.7 
  A few years later Adam died from injury or illness related to his participation in the Civil War. Mary's mother remarried in 1867 but Mary was not recorded with her mother and stepfather in 1870. 
Marriage26 Feb 1879 She married Charles Alfred Clark, son of James Alex Clark and Mary Elizabeth Clark, on 26 Feb 1879 in Washington County, Virginia.2,8 
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 17.9 [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).10 
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.11 
  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).12 
  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.13 
  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).14 
Death15 Mar 1946 Florence died on 15 Mar 1946 at age 87.15,4 
Burial She was buried in the Charles A. Clark square at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County.4 
See Florence's birth and marriage entries in her father's family Bible (1st and 2nd camera icons). Her year of birth, initially recorded as February 25, 1859, was erroneously changed to 1862. Her name had also been originally entered as Mary Virginia Florence however "Mary" was scratched out
Click on the camera icon to see the full image from which the small photo at the top of this page was cropped
Florence and her half-sisters on the day of Florence's 85th birthday celebration
Click on the camera icon for a photo of Florence, Charles and their children (circa 1898) taken at the home they purchased from John Breckenridge Clark and his wife Dollie in 189416
See Clark Homes on the Old Stage Rd for photos of the old home as well as photos of the home Charles built around 1909-1910.16
Four generations: Florence (Rosenbalm) Clark (far L), daughter-in-law Lena (Copenhaver) Clark (far R), Lena's daughter Mildred (Clark) Faris (middle) holding James Faris
Mary's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Charles Alfred Clark b. 16 May 1854, d. 5 Sep 1931
Children
Last Edited14 Oct 2013

Citations

  1. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 124. Mary F.V. Rosenbalm b. 25 Feb. 1859 to Adam and Hetty Rosenbalm.
  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.
  4. [S54] Virginia Historicial Society of Washington County, High On A Windy Hill Vol II, p. 42. Stone reported to read: Florence V. Clark, 1859-1946.
  5. [S2824] Adam Rosenbalm Bible (New York: The American Bible Society, 1844). The second entry on the Births Record page below the entries for Adam and Hetty Rosenbalm reads: "Virginia Florence Rosenbalm Was born Februry 25th 18_." [the year originally read 1859 but had been written over in pencil to read 1862]
  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. [S234] Adam Rosenbalm household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 125 (original script), dwelling 921, family 884, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2010. Household included: Adam Rosenbalm, 30, farmer, owns land worth $1,170 and pers. prop of $800; Hettie, 30; Mary 1; Mary E. Sharpe, 39, spinster, owns land worth $250; all b. VA.
  8. [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."
  9. [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.
  10. [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.
  11. [S2826] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 51: 433.
  12. [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.
  13. [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.
  14. [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.
  15. [S2803] Jim Faris, "Date questions," e-mail to D. Powell, 16 Jan. 2012.
  16. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Jim Faris.