William Robert CLARK (VETERAN CSA)

PRIVATE
Company D 2 Arkansas
Civil War Confederate
November 7, 1846 - April 18, 1926*

*Obituary
Benton County Democrat
Tuesday, April 19, 1927

CLARK, William Robert - William R. Clark, born in Bentonville in 1846, died at his home in this city about 7:30 Monday evening, April 18th. With the exception of two years in Eureka Springs, two years in the Confederate army and the past five years at Seattle, Wash., his entire life had been spent in Bentonville. Funeral services have not been definitely arranged but will probably be held from the M.E. Church, South Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. In 1866 he married Miss Martha Elzey, a daughter of another pioneer family and she was also born in this county. To them were born eight children. Following the death of his wife he later married another, a sister, Miss Frona Elzey, who survives him. Mr. Clark has been in ill health since his return from Seattle a few months ago. He was a lifelong member of the M.E. Church, South. Mr. Clark was related to many of the best pioneer families of Bentonville.

*Obituary
Benton County Herald
Thursday, April 21, 1927

William Robert Clark, Confederate Veteran, native of Bentonville, and one of the few survivors of Bentonville's early days, died at his home here at 8 o'clock Monday evening, April 18, 1927, aged 80 years. Mr. Clark's parents, James W.{?}. and Jane Dickson Clark, were of old Tennessee families who were among the first pioneers of Northwest Arkansas. His father had come as a young man from Tennessee to Fort Smith by steam boat and from Fort Smith reached his goal, the Arkansas Ozark Plateau, by walking the hundred miles and more over the Boston Mountains, in those days only a tortuous foot and horseback trail marking what is now a scenic highway. Here at Bentonville the elder Clark established and for many years operated the historic Eagle House hotel, made famous by its part in the days of the War Between the States, and by the distinguished guests it sheltered throughout the years of its existence. Here also James T.{?}. Clark met and married Miss Jane Dickson. William R. Clark, their son, was born in the "Old Eagle House" on November 7, 1846. A boy of less than 14 years of age at the beginning of the war, he was too young to enlist but like other children, women and the aged men, too old and feeble to shoulder a musket, he even then had many thrilling experiences and suffered much for his allegiance to the South. When General Siegel and his Northern troops were driven from Bentonville by the Confederates the day before the historic Battle of Pea Ridge, General Siegel having had his headquarters in the Eagle House, Mr. Clark was taken along by the Northern soldiers but succeeded in escaping into the woods near the old mill spring in east Bentonville. Later he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served under Gen. Stand Watie with honor and credit to himself and his Southland. He was a member of Colonel Adair's regiment, General Cooper's command and General Stand Watie's division. On November 25, 1866 he married Miss Mattie D. Elzey. To them were born nine children: Amy, Albert, Arthur, Mable, Robert, Bessie, Minnie, Charlie and William. Of these four survive their father. After the death of his first wife he married her sister, Miss Safronia Elzey who survives him and to whom her nieces and nephews have always been like her own children. Following the war Mr. Clark engaged in farming for a number of years, managing his father's estate. Later, working for himself, he turned his attention particularly to fruit growing and became widely known as an authority on horticulture, and was employed for some years by the U.S. government at one of the Indian schools. About seven years ago Mr. and Mrs. Clark moved to Spokane, Wash., living near their son, Charlie Clark, and family. Although far away from home they made a large circle of friends there through their likeable personalities and Mr. Clark, with the other two or three Confederate Veterans of that city were the heroes and special proteges of the Spokane Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy. A few months ago his health failed and he and Mrs. Clark returned home. In the year 1874 Mr. Clark became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South here at Bentonville and ever lived a faithful and consistent Christian life. He was also a veteran member of the local Lodge of Odd Fellows and their funeral honors were accorded him. Mr. Clark's grandfather, Major John B. Dickson, had a brilliant military career which included service under General Andrew Jackson and participation in the Indian Wars and in the Battle of New Orleans and other important engagements in the war of 1812. His great-great¬grandfather, Joseph Dickson, was distinguished both as a statesman and warrior in the period of the American Revolution and also in the history of Masonry, holding important offices in the Masonic Lodges of the days of Washington and Lafayette. With exception of but a few years Mr. Clark's long and useful life was lived in Bentonville, the town he loved and that loved him for his many virtues, among which were his undaunted spirit and energy. Besides his wife he is survived by two sons, Robert J. of Joplin; Charles T. of Spokane, Wash., two daughters, Mrs. F.B. Freeman of Tulsa and Mrs. Frank Lyman of Los Angeles, Calif., three brothers, Oscar Clark of Rogers, Ark.; Charles and Parsons Clark of Neosho, Mo. and the following grandchildren, George Clark, an artist and illustrator of New York City, Arthur Clark, Amarillo, Texas, Clark Bryan, Manhattan, Kan., Mrs. Harold Smith and Misses Irene and Claflin Bryan, all of Oklahoma City. The funeral services were conducted by the pastor, the Rev. W.T. Thompson, at the M.E. Church, South and interment made at the Bentonville cemetery.

*Obituary
Benton County Record
Friday, April 22, 1927

The funeral services of W.R. Clark, who died at his home here Monday night, were held at the Methodist church on Wednesday afternoon. Rev. W.T. Thompson had charge of the services and interment was made in the City Cemetery. Mr. Clark is survived by his wife, Mrs. Frona Elzey Clark and four children, Mrs. F.B. Freeman of Tulsa; Mrs. Frank Lyman of Los Angeles; R.J. Clark of Joplin and Charles T. Clark of Spokane, Wash. Also three brothers, Oscar Clark, Rogers; Carson Clark and Charles Clark of Neosho. William R. Clark was born in Bentonville in 1846. With the exception of nine years spent his entire life here. During the Civil War he was in active service of the Confederate Army for two years. In 1866 he married Miss Martha Elzey. After her death he married Miss Frona Elzey, a sister of his first wife. A short time ago he returned home from Seattle after spending five years in the state of Washington. Mr. Clark's father, James W. Clark, built the old Eagle hotel and operated the same before and during the Civil war.

Contributed on 7/9/08 by wfields55
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Record #: 35156

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