Living

Notes:

The Sabine County Reporter
March 26, 1997, Page 10

James Edward Clark

James Edward Clark, 67, of Houton, died Tuesday, March 18, 1997, at his residence.

Clark was born May 8, 1929, in Hemphill as a son of the late Daniel and Arie (Alford) Clark and was a roughneck.tool pusher in the oil field industry. He had formerly lived in Pineland before moving to Houston 41 years ago. He was a member of the Memorial Baptist Church and a U. S. Army Veteran.

Survivors: a son, James Daniel Clark of Houston; two daugthers, Ann COZART of Houston and Sande NUGENT of Clarksville, Tennessee; a brother, Corbet Clark of Pineland; a sister, Geraldine McKINLEY of Arlington; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held March 21 at the chapel of Starr Funeral Home Inc. in Hemphill with Bro. Richard Bass officiating. Interment followed at Hemphill City Cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, February 2011)

James married Ercel Annice Cannon before 1953. Ercel (daughter of Jason Nathaniel "J N" Cannon and Bessie Register) was born on 16 Apr 1930 in Wichita County, Texas; died on 12 Feb 2002 in Cumberland Furnace, Dickson County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ercel Annice Cannon
Date of Birth: 16 Apr 1930
Gender: Female
Birth County: Wichita
Father's Name: Jason N Cannon
Mother's Name: Bessie Register
Roll Number: 1930_0002

Her daughter, Valinda, writes that her parents were both of Hemphill, Texas.

John W. Clark instead shows her as Annice CONNOR.

Notes:

When he registered for the draft during the first World War, he was a resident of Hemphill, Texas and employed as a laborer at a Saw Mill in Hemphill, Mr. H. M. Maund being shown as his employer. He indicated he was married, tall, slender, with blue eyes and sandy hair.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 1, Hemphill City
West Street
Enumerated 17 Apr 1930
ED 202-2 SD 19 Sheet 8A Stamped 22
Clark, Daniel W Head M W 39 M@23 Tx Tx Tx Laborer Sawmill
Clark, Ara F Wife F W 33 M@18 Tx Tx Tx
Clark, Jesse L Son M W 12 Tx Tx Tx
Clark, Corbitt Son M W 10 Tx Tx Tx
Clark, Geraldine Dtr F W 6 Tx Tx Tx
Clark, Basil Son M W 3 Tx Tx Tx
Clark, James Son M W 11/12 Tx Tx Tx

Daniel married Arie Frances Alford on 18 Jul 1914 in Sabine County, Texas. Arie (daughter of Jesse Powell Alford and Emma Elizabeth Rice) was born on 1 Jul 1895 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 23 Jul 1968 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDNJ-HTL
Name: Arie Frances Clark
Death Date: 23 Jul 1968
Death Place: Hemphill, Sabine, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 73 years
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 01 Jul 1895
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Jesse Powell Alford
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Emma Rice
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Housewife & Mother
Place of Residence: Hemphill, Sabine, Texas
Cemetery: Hemphill Cemetery
Burial Place: Hemphill, Texas
Burial Date: 24 Jul 1968
Additional Relatives: X
Film Number: 2137147
Digital Film Number: 4029823
Image Number: 1506
Reference Number: cn 59074
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/MMPB-JQY/p1
Name: Jason Nathaniel Cannon
Death Date: 16 Oct 1972
Death Place: Jasper, Jasper, Texas
Gender: Male
Race:
Death Age: 78 years
Estimated Birth Date: 1894
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Marital Status:
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Henry Albert Cannon
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Durden
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation:
Place of Residence:
Cemetery:
Burial Place:
Burial Date:
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2242193
Digital Film Number: 4169872
Image Number: 1953
Reference Number: 84098
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976

World War II Draft registration cards, on the same website, show he was born in Hemphill on 7 Jan 1894. The 1920 census instead shows his place of birth as Louisiana.

Bonnie Hyden, a granddaughter, writes that "Grandpa was born in Rainbow, Louisiana...if I remember correctly. He was a prize fighter in his younger days...and quite good, from what Dad says. He ended up in Galveston, Tx at one point. One day he was in a small cafe where a man started a ruckus...which Grandpa finished for him and threw the man out! Grandpa was not a big man...he just had all the right moves. ;-) The owner of the cafe was a Greek man and he was impressed with Grandpa...so he hired him. This started Grandpa in the cafe business. Somehow, he ended up in Lufkin, Texas where he met Bessie Register...Grandma Cannon. The Registers were a fairly "well-to-do" family in Lufkin and they didn't take too kindly to Grandma taking a shine to Grandpa! As I hear, the Registers NEVER cared for Grandpa...and the feeling was mutual. Dad says that Grandpa had lived a fairly "free" lifestyle and loved to dance. Grandma was a devout Nazarene and therefore dancing was a BIG no-no. For her...Grandpa gave up bars, dancing and all his wild ways. At some point they moved to Hemphill, Texas where Grandpa opened up a cafe on the town square. Grandma was always in poor health and having all those kids didn't help any. She was in and out of hospitals, and such facilities. I've heard she was hospitalized when she gave birth to Aunt Marguerite and was sedated to the point that she did not remember the birth...and didn't believe that was her baby! Dad says that he has one memory of them all sitting down at the table for supper, as a family. Grandpa was always working at the cafe; Grandma was always sick. Gramdma passed away when Dad was 12. The older kids were big enough to go out on their own but Dad and two younger brothers were pretty much on their own...they thought. Dad says now that he realizes everyone in town was watching them and would report to Grandpa on their activities and whereabouts, although he didn't know it then. Which was cause for some confusion when they'd come to the cafe or home and Grandpa would give them a switchin' for some supposed secret...yet wrong deed! lol

Grandpa was a man of rigid yet right principles and he didn't mind at all standing up for what was right. One story says that he ran a preacher out of town because he was teaching from some "new" Bible which, apparently, didn't quite line up with the one Grandpa had. My favorite story, from Dad, concerns two men who had been out all night drinking and decided to stop in to the cafe for a bite to eat. Upon entering the cafe they got loud, vulgar and disruptive running off most of Grandpa's customers. This did NOT sit well with Grandpa Cannon! The two men seated themselves at the counter and ORDERED a steak meal. Grandpa silently went into the kitchen, slapped two steaks on the grill, turned them over and then slapped them into the plate...about that fast. He finished their dinners off with cold, day old mashed 'taters and whatever vegetable he had sitting there...waiting to go into the hog slop. He then took the plates to the end of the counter and slid them down the counter to his "customers". Dad says that Grandpa consider sliding a plate to a customer the height of rudeness. The two men took one look at their plates and didn't like what they saw. But...when they looked up at Grandpa to "protest"...they were looking straight into the barrel of his .45 which he kept under the counter. He ordered them to eat their dinners...every last bit...then he made them pay and told them to get out and don't EVER come back. When the men got to their truck, they were a bit "aggravated" so they figured they'd teach J.N a lesson. (That's what everyone around here knew Grandpa by). The men retrieved their shotguns from their truck and commenced to shooting out the large picture windows of the cafe! Grandpa answered them back with his .45 and actually wounded one of the men. That convinced the other man that Grandpa wasn't up for being bullied and he put his gun down. The wounded man was rushed to the local dr and the Sheriff stopped in to the cafe to question Grandpa. Grandpa asked the Sheriff, "Did I call you?" The Sheriff replied, "Well no, J.N. But hell! You shot a man! I have to get a statement from you." Grandpa stated, "There are only two reasons you need to be in my establishment. 1) to eat. 2) if I call you. I didn't call you. So, are you here to eat?" Sheriff, "No...but...J.N....we have to clear this up!" Grandpa, "It's clear. They ran off my customers, they trashed my place. I shot what I was aiming at and the whole thing came to an end. Now...if you're not eating, I think it best you leave." And...the Sheriff left. BUT...Grandpa then went everyday and visited the man he had shot, taking him free meals (since hospital food wasn't any good, he said) and they were good friends after that.

I only have a handful of personal memories of Grandpa since we lived out of state, but in his later years he operated a fruit stand at the corner of the square. I remember stopping by there once and never in my short life had I ever seen such."

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Texas, Angelina County, JP #1
Enumerated 14 Day Jan 1920
SD 326 ED 4 Sheet 2A
Lufkin and Burke Road
29-29
Cannon, Jason Head M W 26 M La Ala Ala Farmer
Cannon, Bessie Wf F W 25 m Tx Tx Tx
Cannon, Hilie Mother F W 51 Wd Ala Ala Ala
Caoon, Jessie Sister F W 16 S Tx Ala Ala
Cannon, Mixon Br M W 12 S Tx Ala Ala
Cannon, Rosie Sister F W 10 S Tx Ala Ala

Jason married Bessie Register. Bessie was born on 17 Jul 1895 in Texas; died on 3 Dec 1942 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Shown by Rose Diane Stanley as a daughter of Benjamin Franklin Register and Sarah Jane "Biddie" Massingill.

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Hemphill Beat 1, PO Hemphill
Enumerated 20 Jun 1870
Page 9
68-68
Clark, R. Lewis 31 M W Farmer 310 200 Tx
Clark, Mary D F W Keeping House Tx
Clark, Eliza F. 11 F W Tx
Clark, Elizabeth A 8 F W Tx
Clark, Lewis N. 4 M W TX
Clark Unice C 2 F W Tx
69-69
Clark, PP 25 m W Farmer $--- $200 Tx
Clark, Elizabeth 32 F W Keeping House Miss
Clark, Mary L/R? 3 F W Tx
Clark, Sam H. 1 M W Tx

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr. No 1
Page 16D SD 1 ED 85
Enumerated 26 and 28 Jun 1880
156-157
Clark, Paschal W M 25 Farmer Tx Ga NC
Clark, Elizabeth C W F 33 Wf Keeping House Miss Miss MIss
Clark, Mary L W F 12 Dtr Farm Laborer Tx
Clark, Sam H W M 10 Son Farm Laborer Tx
Clark, Jane I. W F 8 Dtr Tx
Clark, William H W M 5 Son Tx
Clark, Ruth C. W F 3 Dtr Tx
Clark, Elias E. W M 2 Son Tx

1900 Census
Not located

Paschal married Elizabeth "Betty" C. Wallace in 1867 in Sabine County, Texas. Elizabeth (daughter of Thompson "Finn" Wallace and Mary Etta "Polly" Vardeman) was born between 1846 and 1848 in Mississippi; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the time of the 1880 census, Elizabeth and Pascal Clark were living next door to her mother, Mary (Vardeman) and step-father, Henry White.

Notes:

Could he also have married Tabitha Eason? Kathy Casagranda shows that Tabitha EASON married a Jesse Powell ALFORD on 12 Mar 1891 in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. However, based on his date of marriage to Emma Rice, and the subsequent children born to them, it appears unlikely.

His tombstone is inscribed "In Memory of-Only son of Rev. N. B. & Frances Alford-We have drained the bitter cup of grief and prayed to give thee up without one murmured word of pain. Father they will be done. Take back our darling one. We try to pray, in vain."

Jesse married Emma Elizabeth Rice on 18 Dec 1890 in Sabine County, Texas. Emma (daughter of Matthias J. Rice and Millbury Cook) was born on 9 Apr 1866 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 28 Oct 1907 in Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated 27 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 68 Sheet 13A Stamped 134
206-210
Alford, Mrs. Emma Head W F Apr 1866 33 Wd 4/4 Tx Miss Tx Farmer
Alford, Alif Dtr W F Dec 1891 8 S Tx Tx Tx
Alford, Adron Son W M Jun 1892 7 Tx Tx Tx
Alford, Ara Dtr W F July 1894 5 S Tx Tx Tx
Alford, Jessie Son W M Dec 1899 2 S Tx Tx Tx