Fannie CLARK

February 8, 1859 - March 4, 1934

*Obituary
Benton County Record & Democrat
Thursday, March 8, 1934

MRS. FANNIE P. CLARK DIES OF PNEUMONIA

Mrs. Fannie Peel Clark, member of two prominent Bentonville families, died at her home here at 4:20 o’clock Saturday morning, March 4, 1934, after a brief illness of pneumonia. She was 75 years of age, 65 of these years having been spent in this city.

Mrs. Clark, the daughter of the late Col. Samuel W. Peel, former member of Congress from this district and Mrs. Mary Berry Peel, was born in Old Carrolton, Carroll County, Arkansas, Feb. 8, 1859. She was one of a family of nine children.

In 1869, Mr. Peel and his family moved to Bentonville. He engaged in the practice of law. She was married in 1878 to Dr. Chas. W. Clark, a pioneer of Bentonville citizen. He was the son of James Clark, who built the old Eagle Hotel in the ‘50’s that was torn down and replaced by the present Hotel Massey about 1908. Dr. Clark died in 1888.

Funeral services for Mrs. Clark were held Sunday afternoon at the First Presbyterian Church, the pastor, Rev. A.W. Henderson, assisted by Rev. R.S. Hayden of the M.E. Church, South, conducting the services. The services were largely attended and the floral offerings many and beautiful. A choir composed of Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Pickens of Eureka Springs, Mrs. J.H. Morgan and Dr. R.O. Pickens sang, “Rock of Ages,” “Saved by Grace” and “In the Sweet Bye and Bye.” Pallbearers were: Chas. D. Haney, L.C. Crouch, Harry Jackson, John Applegate, R.S. Whitlock and Perry Arthur. Burial was made in the Bentonville cemetery.

Mrs. Clark is survived by three daughters, the Misses Kate and Kellar Clark of the home, and Mrs. Stanley Lester of Tacoma, Wash., also by two brothers, D.W. Peel, of Bentonville and Frank Peel of Fayetteville, Mrs. Alice Vance of Pierce City, Mo., and Mrs. Kate Anderson of San Benito, Texas. Three grandchildren survived, Mrs. James O’Brien and Mrs. Ray Krupp, of Klamath Falls, Oregon and Mrs. David DeMille of Kansas City and five great grandchildren, Carolyn and Ruth Fowler, Katherine and David DeMille, Jr., and Betty Louise Krupp, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mrs. Clark was a descendant of true pioneers on both sides of her family, who have lived in Arkansas as territory and state for more than 100 years. Her grandfather, John W. Peel was a prominent county and probate judge in Independence County. His father, Thomas Peel emigrated from England to the United States, descendant of a line of artists and peers. He was an officer in the Revolutionary war under Gen. George Washington. He later migrated to Kentucky, the family moving to Arkansas in 1815. Her father, Col. Sam W. Peel was a member of Congress from 1883 to 1893, when he was defeated by the late Col. Hugh Dinsmore. He served during the administrations of Presidents Arthur Benjamin Harrison and Cleveland. He was attorney for the Five Civilized Tribes and Loyal Creek Indians. While in Congress he worked to get the Cherokee strip thru and in person made payment of several million dollars from the government to the Cherokee Indians.

Her uncle, Senator James H. Berry, the 14th governor of Arkansas, came to Arkansas from Alabama in 1848, settling where Berryville is now located near Old Carrollton. In 1869 he came to Bentonville, forming a law partnership with Col. Peel, his brother-in-law. Also a statesman he was elected governor in 1882, became U.S. Senator by appointment in 1885, succeeding Senator Garland of Arkansas, who was appointed Attorney General, the first Arkansan ever to hold a position in the United States Cabinet.

Contributed on 7/17/23 by judyfrog
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Record #: 1493012

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