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- The William Clark Family:
William Clark came to Texas in 1835 with his wife, Caroline Bland Clark, from Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. They came along with all of her family; her brothers, John and Peyton Bland (sometimes spelled Payton), her mother, Elizabeth Johnson, and her stepfather, Dick Johnson.
In Orange County, Clark received a section of land from the Lorenzo de Zavala grant. This parcel extended towards present day Mauriceville. He later purchased part of the adjacent Theron Strong Survey and put it in his wife's nam. It was said to be a very unusual thing in those days for a woman to have property in her own name. This property extended from near Adams Bayou on the west to Jack's Island on the east, then southward nearly to the present I-10 freeway.
William and Caroline Clark built a log cabin on what is now Clark Lane (naed later for another family of Clarks). At that time, however, it was situated near the trail that led to Newton County. They had three children, Oliver, Robert (obrn in Orange County on October 3, 1840) and Rachel. The elder Clarks lived in the log house for the rest of their lives. They were buried nearby in the Block Cemetery.
At their deaths, the William Clark Survey was left to their oldest son Oliver Clark, whose descendants still live in the Mauriceville area.
Caroline Bland Clark's property was left to the younger son, Robert F. Clark. Caroline died without leaving a will, and since her estate had $600 indebtedness against it, Clark had to sell the land to pay it off.
Both Oliver and Robert Clark were conscripted for servcie in the Confederate army, but Oliver refused to to and eventually was used as a scout to lead Confederate troops through the swamps of the Sabine River. Robert agreed to go, and served in the Southern army until he co tracted pneumonia and was treated in Atlanta. During his absence, his wife and baby died; they are buried in the Wilkinson Cemetery near Mauriceville.
After the war, Robert married Ozea Gilbeau of Breaux Bridge Louisiana. Their first child, Cloey Belle, was born in Orange County on September 27, 1869. Three years later, in 1872, Robert built a home of finished lumber on the Newton County road. This house was sold about 1904, to the Heard family and is still lived in by the Heard family members. Old oaks att he front of the house were planted by Cloey Clark when she was a small girl.
Other children born to Robert and Ozea Clark included four sons: Will Oliver, H.D. (Dick), Campbell, and Burnett; and a second daughter, Alice. The three younger sons were shot to death as young men during Orange County's lawless era, and Alice died of a stroke at age twenty-six. Will did not marry, but stayed at home to look after his parents and the farm, a common custom in the Victorian age. Robert Clark died on December 16, 1922 and Oea Clark on June 19, 1927. Their landholdings were left to Will and when he died on October 30, 1941, he left the property to his surviving sister, Cloey.
Cloey Clark and Alvah Payne of Bryan were married in the first Clark home on the old Newton trail on January 4, 1892. They raised four children, Clara Payne (Heard), Carrie Payne (Heard), Robert M. and Harrison.
Allie Payne died on April 28, 1934, and Cloey Payne in 1953. Their property was divided among their children and most of it was sold. However, 12 acres of the original Caroline Bland Clark land is still in family hands, specifically those of Jeanette Heard Robinson.
Appendix, pg 231
SLR Clark, William (James of Maryland & Ester Cumstock of New England)
b 15 Dec 1800 bt 5 Feb 1807 higher up at Prairie du Chicot Noir, residence of a Mr. Loysel. Pats: Patrick Clark of Ireland & Rachel Melon. Mats: William Cumstock of New England & Rachel Alredge of New England. Spons: James Andrus & Rachel Clark. Fr. Michel Bernard Barriere (SM Ch.: Folio E, #53) and (SM Ch.: v 6-A, p 21)
Clark, Guillaume (James of Maryland & Ester Cumstok of New England b 15 Dec 1800
(SM Ch v 7 #119, St.Martin of Tours Church)
Clark, William m 2 Apr 1821 Rebecca Burney (Opel. Ct. Hse.: Mar. #10)
1850 Jefferson Co Census:
William Clark age 50, saddler, born LA
Caroline age 37, born LA
Althian Wadsworth 19, LA
Mary C. Wadsworth 2 TX
Rachel Clark, 12, TX
Robert Clark 9, TX
Oliver 18, LA
Elizabeth J. 17, LA
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