My Genealogy Hound

John Oliver Clark was born in Van Buren Township, Newton Co., Mo., January 10, 1861; son of Frederick Oliver and Rebecca (Ramsour) Clark, both of whom are natives of Tennessee, he of the western part and she of the eastern. Ephraim Clark, grandfather of John Oliver, and a merchant tailor by trade, was a native of North Carolina, of old stock in that State. He with his family left Tennessee at an early date and settled in Missouri, on Shoal Creek, where he reared his family and was engaged in tilling the soil. He died in 1886 at a ripe old age; his widow is still living and resides with her son, Perry Clark, a substantial farmer, residing in Gainesville, Tex. Frederick Oliver Clark learned the black-smith trade when young, and served in the Federal State Militia of Missouri during the late war. In 1865 he located in Newtonia, Newton Co., Mo., and here carried on wagon-making and black-smithing until his death, which occurred in 1881. He was buried in full honors with the Odd Fellow Society, of which fraternity be had been an honored member for many years; his widow is now residing in Newtonia. Of their family, two sons and two daughters are now living, and are named as follows: Lavina, (wife of J. E. Whaples, of Newtonia), John O. and James A., black-smiths, and Mary E. (wife of George Hewlett, of Newtonia). John O. learned the trade of his father, and after the latter’s death has carried on the business. He married Miss Sallie E., daughter of Dr. W. L. Hancock, and this union resulted in the birth of three daughters: Fannie, Della and Gertrude. Mrs. Clark is a member of the Baptist Church.