Our Ancestor William Richard Clark (1841-1921)

We find William Richard Clark listed in the 1850 Federal Census, as an 11 year old living in Walker County, Alabama with his parents Henry Clark, 44 (b South Carolina.) and his mother Elizabeth Clark, 36,(b Georgia). Both of the parents’ birthdates pre-date Alabama’s statehood. State boundaries were wildly changing immediately before Alabama Statehood, so we don’t know how far the parents were from their birthplace. William Clark lived with brothers Josiah 18, James A 14, Jerrymiah 12, and sisters Mary 16, Margaret 9, Milly 7, Martha 3, Sarah 6 mos. All the children were born in Alabama. They had a 54 year old named Millie Williams living with them who is listed in 1850 as a “spinster”, but in 1860 is a “domestic”, Millie Williams can neither read nor write and was born in South Carolina. By the 1860 census, John, 8 had been added. Millie Williams is now listed as 75 years old. The father, Henry’s occupation was listed in 1850 and 1860 as a farmer. Henry Clark, William Richards’ father, appears in the 1880 census living with Elezbeth, 65, Margret A Clark, 38, and Marg S. Clark 14, Mary Clark 13 and Annie E Roggers, 5. (What happened to Margret’s husband? The war? Why is the youngest called Roggers and the other kids Clark?) In 1860, we find William Richard Clark, born in Dora near the Forks of the Sipsey and Mulberry Rivers, enlisted at Jasper as a Private in Company G, 26th Alabama Infantry under Captain B.M. Long. In March, 1865, he transferred to the Cavalry and was cut off at Milledgeville, Ga, while in the escort party to Jefferson Davis. He later escaped and made his way home. By the 1880 Census, 39 year old WR Clark was living with his wife, Elizabth M Clark 30,and Richard L. 14, Marion Y. 12, Elizabeth D. 10, Arrena 7, Robert RG 5, Joseph R 2. By 1900, the household included Richard 58, Elyzabeth 52, Nauder 18, Vander 15, Chalmer 13, and Mardie 10. In the 1920 census, William Richard Clark, 77, was living with his son 33 year old Chalmer in Dora. A next door neighbor is Marg Rice, 52, Her mother, 72, lives with them. Her name is Margaret Clark. My guess is that she may be William Richard Clarks sister. William Clark died the next year, on April 7 of 1921. He is buried in a Church of God cemetery on the opposite side of Highway 78 from Dora, but on the same road as I recall. Maeola Smith has found his grave one year for us. His wife, Elizabeth Matilda Rice Clark (per Mama's Bible) had earlier passed on 20 April 1919.