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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jackson County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Col. J. W. Clark, a prominent planter and stock raiser of Glass Township, Jackson County, was born in Madison County, Ala., in 1833. His parents were Thomas and Esther (Moore) Clark, natives, respectively, of South Carolina and Alabama, who had seven children, of whom J. W. was the third. Thomas Clark, who was also a farmer, removed to Madison County, Ala., in an early day, where he operated a large plantation and spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1849; his widow survived until 1855. The paternal grandfather of our subject, who was also named Thomas Clark, was a soldier of the Revolution, and died in Alabama, at the advanced age of one hundred and twelve years. His wife lived to be one hundred and eight years old. Col. J. W. Clark was reared and educated in his native county. He learned the blacksmith’s trade, and his first experience at farming for himself was in his native State. In 1857 he went to Gibson County, Tenn., where he was employed as an overseer until November, 1860, when he removed to Jackson County, Ark., locating near the present site of Swifton, on what is now known as the Harris place, where he remained one year. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-first Arkansas Mounted Riflemen, spending the early part of that winter in Central Arkansas, recruiting soldiers; the following March he went to Memphis. He was made major of the First Regiment, promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and subsequently became colonel of the Thirty-second Arkansas Infantry. He took part in the battles of Richmond, Murfreesboro, Perryville, Mansfield, Dickens’ Ferry, Pilot Knob; was with Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri; thence south in Arkansas, to Fayetteville; thence to Jacksonport, where, June 5, 1865, he surrendered the Forty-fifth Arkansas Infantry. At the close of the war Col. Clark returned to Jackson County. December 25, 1864, he was married in Calhoun County, to Mary S. A. Moore, daughter of Leroy and Mary (Culp) Moore, of Alabama, who removed to Calhoun County at an early day. The father died some years ago, but the mother now resides in Jackson County. Mrs. Clark died in 1879, and January 1, 1882, Mr. Clark married the widow of Dr. A. J. Jones, whose maiden name was Lavina Elizabeth Heard, a daughter of Bailey and Margaret (Milner) Heard, natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. Mr. Heard still resides on the homestead in White County, upon which he settled in 1851, owning considerable land in that county. His wife died in 1874. After his marriage, Col. Clark bought a timber tract of 200 acres, upon which he erected a house and cleared and improved some of the land. He now owns 120 acres, of which about ninety acres are under cultivation. He devotes considerable attention to stock raising, especially cattle. He also raises cotton largely. He is an active Democrat, has been magistrate and notary public, and brought before the county court the petition to form Glass Township, which he named. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

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This family biography is one of 144 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jackson County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Jackson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Jackson County, Arkansas family biographies here: Jackson County, Arkansas Biographies

View a map of 1889 Jackson County, Arkansas here: Jackson County, Arkansas Map

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