CLARK, William Edward ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

  General Notes:

William was the oldest of seven children and only son born to Andrew and Lola Tobin Clark. He assisted his father in the operation of his store while a youth.

When William Edward Clark was dating his wife Grace Evans Clark, he sent her a postcard from Rio Grande to Vinton, Ohio. It is mentioned because it is still in possession of Linda Coate Dudick in the Clark Document File, and because it was so formal, not written on except for William Edward Clark's initials. His future bride obviously saved it as a special memory.

During their marriage and lifetime together, he operated a small grocery store in Rio Grande and worked as a carpenter-building many complete homes totally by hand in his Rio Grande community. He also did some farming which helped his daughters feel little effect of the Depression. In the 1930 census for Rio Grande, Ohio, he is listed as a mechanic by trade. They owned their home which was valued at $1600.00 at the time. He owned one of the first cars in Rio Grande and ran a kind of "Taxi" service. (C-687)

William Clark was a member of the Raccoon Fox Hunters Association. A newspaper clipping in his Memorial book, states that a hunt was dedicated to W.E. Clark, who was one of the "leading fox hunters of Rio Grande." (CL-191a) Another newspaper clipping in Washington's Birthday, 1949 reported that Bill Clark's dog took the lead among 45 hounds and 150 hunters. (CL-DOC) He was also a member of the Simpson Valley Methodist Church in Rio Grande. (CL-DOC)

A transcription of a newspaper article in the GALLIPOLIS (O.) DAILY, dated approximately Feb. 19, 1958 follows. The original is in possession of Marcena Clark Coate.

William Clark of Rio Grande Dies Wednesday
William (Will) Edward Clark, 74, a lifelong resident of the Rio Grande community died in Holzer Hospital at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. He had been a patient at the hospital since Sunday. He was born at Rio Grande, the eldest of seven children born to the late Andrew and Lola Tobin Clark, on Dec. 7, 1883. He assisted his father in operation of a store in the old Clark home on the college corner in the village. Later (it became the property of) Rio Grande College and is used for dormitory purposes. In later years he was engaged as a carpenter and built several homes in the community.

His marriage to the former Grace Evans took place on April 7, 1909, and three daughters along with the wife survive, Mrs. Charles (Wanda) Getz, Mrs. Paul (Avanell) Sunderhaus and Mrs. Albert (Marcena) Coats, all of Hamilton. A grandson, Robert Hall, was reared in their home.

Other survivors are six sisters, Mrs. Edith Henson of Rio Grande, Mrs. Mary Lewis and Mrs. Nellie Cottrell, both of Columbus, Mrs. Sophia Liggett of Detroit, Mich., Mrs. Lola Merriam of Adrian, Mich., and Mrs. Wilbur Alban of near Thurman.

Clark was a member of the Simpson Chapel Methodist church at Rio Grande and of the Methodist Men's brotherhood and the Raccoon Fox Hunter club.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Simpson Chapel church. Rev. George Holcombe will officiate and burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery under the direction of the Steve Thomas Funeral home. The body will lie in state at the church for one hour before the service. Friends may call at the funeral home in Thurman after 6 p.m. Thursday and until the funeral hour. The family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Gallia County chapter, American Heart society. (CL-53b) ⁸

  Noted events in his life were:

• Will, Mar 27, 1951, Gallipolis, Gallia, OH, USA.

• Probate, Mar 7, 1958, , Gallia, OH, USA. ¹⁰

William married Grace EVANS, daughter of David O. EVANS and Margaret S. MORGAN, on Apr 7, 1910 in Gallipolis, Gallia, OH, USA. (Grace EVANS was born on Jul 19, 1887 in Raccoon Twp., Gallia, OH, USA,⁹ died on Sep 4, 1974 in Hamilton, Butler, OH, USA ⁹ and was buried on Sep 6, 1974 in Rio Grande, Gallia, OH.)

  Marriage Notes:

My mother definitely remembers her mother showing her where they were married in Galipolis, Oh. The marriage certificate might say Rio Grande, Ohio instead.