The James Lindsey Clarke Family - Family Histories

   James Lindsey Clark was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on May 8, 1836. His father was born in Scotland and his mother in Ireland. He married Mary Elizabeth Franklin in Ft. Worth about 1871. She was born in Nacogdoches, October, 1847. Her father was born in Alabama and her mother was born in Tennessee. They had eight children, all born in Coleman County. On July 24, 1878, he bought 196.6 acres of land which lay partly in Brown County and in Coleman County, and lay on borh sides of the Pecan Bayou. James also bought 196.6 more acres of land on the banks of the Pecan Bayou on January 3, 1883. On December 5, 1883, he bought 220 acres. The old house which still stands on the bank of the Pecan Bayou, was probably built by James L. Clarke. In 1901, he purchased a ranch near Mertzon, where they moved. Mary Elizabeth died of pneumonia in Coleman County February 24, 1916 at daughter, Kate's, house; James Lindsey preceded her in death, no dates, both buried in Sherwood Cemetery near Mertzon. Their children:

     (1) Molly (twin) born about 1873, married Wade Golson sometime before 1900 (see James Golson). They lived on a farm now known as the Will Roberts place. Molly died here in childbirth, October 8, 1910, buried at Burkett.

     (2) James (twin) about 1873, was known as Buck. As a young child he went for a visit with his Aunt Jenny Olds, who lived in Oklahoma. While he was there, he became ill and died, buried in Oklahoma.

     (3) Laura Lou (1876) married John Henry Burkett (see John Henry Burkett).

     (4) Samuel S. (Sam), in August, 1879 near Burkett, never married. He was a teacher, and taught for a time in Texarkana. Date of death unknown, buried Sherwood Cemetery near Mertzon.

     (5) Catherine Cordelia (Kate), April 9, 1881 in Coleman County-November 11, 1947 in Coleman, married Ellis Boyle, February 26, 1875 in Hunt County - September 3, 1945 in Coleman, both buried in Coleman, on June 14, 1900. They lived in Burkett for many years. He was primarily a farmer, but may have been in the grocery business in Burkett. He left Burkett and moved in the big two-story house that Arvin Baucom bought. When they left this place, they bought a farm in the White Chapel community, later bought a home in Coleman. Their children: James Percy, April 11, 1901, Chester Arthur, December 1, 1902, Marvin Ellis, April 4, 1905, Clifford C., May 3, 1915, all born in Burkett; an infant daughter, stillborn September 22, 1924 in Coleman. Percy, Chester and Marvin fathered no children. Clifford married (2) Lillie Kelley, they had some children. None of these Boyle children now live in the county.

     (6) Callie Clarence, January, 1883-after 1935, buried in Hamilton, married (1) Cleta ? in Mertzon, they were divorced, (2) Mrs. Nita Long, who had three little girls After they left the ranch near Mertzon, they moved on a ranch in Hamilton County where he was engaged in farming and ranching. They had two children, Edwina and Callie Clarence, Jr.

     (7) Jennie Jenera, March, 1885 near Burkett, married A. E. Henry in Mertzon. Four children: Lindsey, Garland, Maybry and Margurite.

     (8) Texas Rosana, July 28, 1887 near Burkett, was about 14 years old when her parents sold their farm in Coleman County and bought a ranch near Mertzon. After her father died, she continued to live on the ranch with her brother, Callie Clarence. She never married and became a teacher. She taught in and near Mertzon about 8 years, and taught thirty years in San Angelo, retiring in 1958. Although she is now 96 years old, she lives alone in her own home in San Angelo.

(Images to be added)

Front: Clarence, James Lindsey [seated holding Gustavis Burkett, Mary Elizabeth,
girl in white behind the chair is Texas Rosana, Molly, Jennie,
Kate, Henry Burkett, Lou Clarke Burkett [seated], Sam;
2nd row: Wade Golson, and Ellis Boyle, woman in the door unidentified, 1896