Charles Lilburn Clark1

b. 8 May 1874, d. 11 August 1948
FatherJames Clark1,2 b. 15 May 1830, d. 10 Dec 1911
MotherMartha Ann Buchanan1 b. 25 Jun 1834, d. 14 Oct 1915
Birth8 May 1874 Charles Lilburn Clark was born on 8 May 1874 in Virginia.3,4 
  Charles grew up on the beautiful Smyth County land settled by his father in the years prior to Charles's birth. As the youngest sons in a family of 7 children, Charles and his brother Wilson were surrounded by 5 older siblings who remained single and lived at home well into adulthood.2,5,6 
ParentsDcd  Charles's father James died in 1911, followed by his mother in 1915. 
Marriage12 Nov 1916 He married Margaret McCutchan Buchanan, daughter of John Edward Buchanan and Anne Thompson, on 12 Nov 1916 in Smyth County, Virginia.7,8 
  Charles inherited the family home. He and his brother Wilson continued to operate the farm and cattle business begun by their father.9 
Cens-193030 Apr 1930  By 1930 Charles and Margaret's family included 5 children: John, Anna, Martha, William Milton and Charles Champ. One of the more interesting questions on the 1930 census asked each head of household if they owned a radio. Charles Sr.'s entry indicated that he was indeed the owner of a radio.10 
Death11 Aug 1948 Charles died on 11 Aug 1948 in Marion, Virginia, at age 74.3 
Burial He was buried at Rich Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Smyth County, Virginia.3 
  Charles's sons "Milt" and "Champ" continued to run the cattle operation their grandfather started. Eventually Champ's son Charlie also became active in the business. The original James and Martha Clark home which sits on Valley Rd is also still owned by James and Martha's descendants. Many members of this branch of the Clark family are buried west of the homestead in Rich Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery where Charles served as a church elder, as did his father before him.11,12 

Related Links and Images:

Charles's headstone
The Clark family home where Charles was raised, and where he himself raised his own family13
Descendants of James Clark recreate the above photo in 2003

Family

Margaret McCutchan Buchanan b. 8 Aug 1890, d. 30 Jun 1942
Children
  • John Edward Buchanan Clark12
  • Annie Eliza Clark12
  • Martha Emma Clark12
  • William Milton Clark12 (6 Mar 1924 - 1979)
  • Charles Champ Clark12 (30 Jul 1926 - 1994)
ChartsDescendants of James Clark and Isabella Breckenridge
Last Edited13 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S124] David Trimble, Buchanan and Gillespie, p. 87. The author cites the records of Benjamin W. Clark.
  2. [S521] James Clark household, 1880 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop sched., 84th District, ED 84, page 5 (78A stamped), dwelling 36, family 37, viewed online at Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 5 of 55. James Clark, 50, farmer, father b. PA; Martha 45, wife; John C, 20, son; Mollie B., 19, dau; Edgar S., 16, son; Eliza G., 13, dau; Nannie B., 10, dau; Wilson B., 9, son; Charles L., 6, son; all b. VA. all other parents b. VA.
  3. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 30 June 2001. Stone viewed by C. Ryburn Spring 2001 and recorded as follows: Charles L. Clark May 8 1874 - Aug 11 1948 (photograph provided to author).
  4. [S124] David Trimble, Buchanan and Gillespie, p. 87. The author cites the records of Benjamin W. Clark and lists the year of birth as 1872 however this disagrees with the year clearly indicated on Charles's stone (1874) and also disagrees with his age (6) on the 1880 census.
  5. [S682] J. Ca___ Clark household, 1900 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rich Valley district - Broad Ford precinct, ED 84, sheet 1A (p. 110 stamped), dwelling 4, family 4, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2007, image 1 of 27. Household includes: J. Ca___ Clark, 70, b. May 1830, marr 42 yrs, b. VA, father b. PA, mother b. VA, owns farm, no mortgage; M. Amy, wife, 65, b. June 1834, marr 42 yrs, mother of 7 children, all living, b. VA; parents b. VA; J. C__p__, son, 40, b. Jul 1859; M. Bell, dau, 39, b. Mar 1861; S. Edward, son, 36, b. Nov. 1863; E. Grace, dau, 33, b. Jan 1867; N. Buchanan, dau, 30, June 1869; W. Buchanan, son, 29, b. May 1871; C. Lee, son, 26, b. May 1874; all children b. VA [Note: the middle names are not consistent with other records].
  6. [S1138] James Clark household, 1910 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Ellendale precinct, ED 89, sheet 7A, dwelling 119, family 120, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2007, image 13 of 16. Household includes: James Clark, 79, marr #1, 52 yrs, owns farm; Martha, wife, 75, marr #1, marr 52 yrs, mother of 7 children, 6 living; Crockett, son, 51; Eliza, dau, 43; Nannie, dau, 40; Charlies, son, 35; Bird Gillespie, servant, 17; all b. VA.
  7. [S124] David Trimble, Buchanan and Gillespie, p. 49.
  8. [S1742] Judy B. Anderson, Virginia Connections - A Genealogical History of the Thompson-Ward Family, p. 75, citing Blakemore, p. 336 & 337.
  9. [S1665] Jim Ballard, "Test," e-mail to D. Powell, 8 Jan. 2007.
  10. [S693] Charlie L. Clark household, 1930 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Ellendale Precinct, ED 87-11, sheet 16-B, dwelling 274, family 386, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2007, image 13 of 14. Household includes: Charlie L. Clark, 55, marr at 42, farmer, owns farm, owns a radio; Margret, wife, 39, marr at 26; John E., son, 12; Anna, dau, 10; Martha, dau, 7; Milton, son, 6; Champ, son, 3 8/12; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  11. [S1665] Jim Ballard, "Clark and Buchanan," e-mail to D. Powell, 25 Jan. 2007.
  12. [S128] John A Blakemore, Buchanan - A Genealogical History, p. 336.
  13. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Jim Ballard.