Lena Mary Copenhaver1

b. 7 October 1881, d. 7 March 1963
Lena (Copenhaver) Clark, abt 1909 (cropped)
photo courtesy Jim Faris
FatherFrank Buchanan Copenhaver2
MotherElizabeth Margaret Snodgrass2 b. abt 1860
Birth7 Oct 1881 Lena Mary Copenhaver was born on 7 Oct 1881 in Virginia.3,4 
  Lena and Ben first lived in the home Ben's father Charles purchased from John Breckenridge Clark in 1894. The structure had been built around 1818 by John Breckenridge Clark's father, another John B. Clark. 
Marriage12 Apr 1905 She married Benjamin Walter Clark, son of Charles Alfred Clark and Florence Virginia Rosenbalm, on 12 Apr 1905 in Washington County, Virginia.4 
  Ben's brothers Claude and Ray were skilled carpenters. Around the time of the 1910 census they, along with their father, built two new homes for the family near the old John B. Clark home on the Old Stage Road. The first one to be completed was built for Ben's parents, Charles and Florence Clark. 
Cens-19103 May 1910  Charles and Florence's 1910 household included Ben and Lena and their two young sons as well as Ben's brother Ray. As the 1910 census did not record street addresses it is impossible to know if the extended family was living in their new home or in the older John B. Clark home.5 
  Regardless, by 1912 a home had been built for Ben and his family. Ben's son Ernest later recalled that Ben modeled the home after his father's home and used wood from the old home [referring to the original John B. Clark structure] in its construction. Ben and Lena raised two sons and a daughter in their new home, while Ben farmed land first settled by his great great grandparents, James Clark and Isabella Breckenridge in 1807.6,7,8 
Death7 Mar 1963 Lena died on 7 Mar 1963 in Sullivan County, Tennessee at age 81.1,4 
Burial She was buried in the Charles A. Clark square at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County.3 

Related Links and Images:

See Clark Homes on the Old Stage Rd for photos of the home where Ben and Lena lived in the first years of their marriage; also photos of the home Ben built for his family about 19129
Around 1908-1909 Ben and Lena were photographed with their two young sons, Garland and Ernest
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
Lena and her daughter Mildred
Lena's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Benjamin Walter Clark b. 24 Dec 1879, d. 26 Jul 1950
Children
Last Edited4 Apr 2012

Citations

  1. [S2847] Mrs. Lena Mary Clark, (obituary) undated & unidentified newspaper clipping.
  2. [S2803] Jim Faris, "James Clark Family Information," e-mail to D. Powell, 1 Nov. 2011.
  3. [S54] Virginia Historicial Society of Washington County, High On A Windy Hill Vol II, p. 43. Stone reported to read: Lena C. Clark, 1881-1963.
  4. [S2803] Jim Faris, "Date questions," e-mail to D. Powell, 16 Jan. 2012.
  5. [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.
  6. [S2827] "Brief Survey Form", (1992), Ernest Clark house, file: 095-233, Department of Historic Resources, Richmond, Virginia.
  7. [S238] Ben Clark household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 149, sheet 9B, dwelling 157, family 160, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2010. Household includes: Ben Clark, 40, farmer; Lena, wife, 37; Garland, son, 13; Ernest, son, 11; Mildred, dau, 5; all b. VA/VA/VA; Old Stage Rd.
  8. [S639] Ben W. Clark household, 1930 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 96-7, sheet 2B, dwelling 29, family 31, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2010. Household includes: Ben W. Clark, 51, marr at 25, farmer, rents farm for $6; Lena, wife, 48, marr at 22; Garland, son, 23; Ernest, son, 21; Mildred, dau, 15; all b. VA/VA/VA.
  9. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Jim Faris.
  10. [S238] Ben Clark household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 149, sheet 9B, dwelling 157, family 160, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2010. Household includes: Ben Clark, 40, farmer; Lena, wife, 37; Garland, son, 13; Ernest, son, 11; Mildred, dau, 5; all b. VA/VA/VA.