Ruben Thornton Clark 1825-1903

This entry is from the J.J. Watts collection. John J. Watts hailed from Warren, Maine and moved to the northern Ozarks of Missouri sometime after the Civil War. He was a circuit-riding Baptist Minister and his territory covered Phelps, Pulaski, and Texas Counties and parts of Maries and Dent Counties. He established a cemetery, Watt’s Lawn, which is located 1 mile West of J Highway, near the Pulaski County-Phelps County line. This collection covers 1878-1912.

Ruben Thornton Clark, was born in Hambersham Co., Georgia, Sept. 22d 1825, married Mary Caroline Giddens, Dec. 14th 1847 and died at Newtown, Pulaski Co., MO, May 19th 1903 at 2 a.m., aged 77 ys, ___ ms & 27 ds. Bro. Clark was of a family of 13 children, all dead but one, Mrs. Mararet, wife of Willis Giddens, surviving. Bro. & sis Clark had a family of 13 children, 10 of whom survive. Grand children 60, 48 living and 12 dead. Great grand children, 16 with 13 living. In the Spring of 1860 Bro. Clark obtained a Hope in Christ and joined the Baptist Church in what is now Logan Co., Ark. and died as he had lived in full hopes of immortality. 7 of his children were with him when he died, and 3 Amanda, Euell, and Thomas were out in the Ind. Territory, buried May 20th at 4 p.m. 1903. Burial service by J.J. Watts. A funeral sermon was preached at Hopewell Ch. Aug. 30th 1903 at 11 a.m., Sun., from Rev. 21X25, hymns No's on page 146 & 99.