Family Histories of Coleman County, Texas

The Clark Family
by Charlotte Laughlin

From A History of Coleman County and Its People, 1985 
edited by Judia and Ralph Terry, and Vena Bob Gates - used by permission
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      John Porter Clay Clark (September 3, 1846 - December 9, 1902) was born in North Carolina, the son of Walter Hogshead Clark and Rebecca England.  The family moved to Bandera County, Texas in the early 1860's.  During the Civil War, John Porter served in the Texas Rifles, a group of minute men who protected the settlers from Indians, under Jack Phillips. On July 26, 1866, he married Mary Jane Legatt (April 13, 1851-November 21, 1930), the daughter of William David Legatt (September 14, 1813-May 26, 1870) and Anna Tollet Roundtree Legatt (December 20, 1820-1906).  Anna married a Roundtree, had two daughters.  She was a widow at age 20.  The Clark children were:

     (1) Francis Mary (Frank), born February 20, 1868, married Ezekiel Charles Miller (see Laughlin).

     (2) Olive Mable (Ollie), born December 13, 1869, married J. S. Laughlin (see Laughlin).

     (3) William David (Bill), born October 22, 1871, died December 10, 1950.

     (4) Armintha Jane (Minnie), born January 23, 1875, died January 26, 1955.

     (5) O. T. (Taylor) (Dick), born January 21, 1877, died May 6, 1935.

     (6) Porter, born April 19, 1879 (see Porter Clark).

     (7) Clay, born April 19, 1879, married Doris Casey in Coleman County.  They had children that were born here, but died young, buried at Trickham.  They moved to Oklahoma, where he died in 1917.

     (8) Wilson Herbert, born September 8, 1881, died January 17, 1883.

     (9) Lola C., born November 18, 1883, died February 5, 1888 of diphtheria.

     (10) Roy C., born March 6, 1887, died February 5, 1888, also of diphtheria.

     (11) Joe Gordon, born April 22, 1890 (see Joe G. Clark).

     Around 1900, Mary Jane separated from her husband and went to live with the J. S. Laughlins.  She brought her mother, Anna, with her; both living out their lives in Coleman County, buried at Trickham.  After Ollie's youngest brother, Joe G., bought a farm in Coleman County, Mary Jane went to live with him, but Anna continued living with the Laughlins until her death.  The twins, Porter and Clay, lived with the Laughlins for a time, helping J.S. fence their 755 acres.


 
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