Joseph Clark was born May 13, 1853, in Palestine, Anderson Co., Texas, to Joseph Addison Clark and Esther "Hettie" DeSpain. Two of Joseph Clark's brothers, Addison and Randolph Clark, are well known as the co-founders of Texas Christian University. Their father is remembered as a newspaperman and minister.
   Joseph Clark was married on January 19, 1879, in Hood Co., Texas, to Martha Louise Scott, daughter of Thomas Jefferson Scott and Johannah Arrington. Joseph and "Mattie" Clark lived for a time near Thorp Spring, Texas. They are listed in the census for June 16, 1880, as living in Precinct 1, Hood Co., Texas. Mattie's parents, Thomas Jefferson and Johannah Scott, had moved further west to settle in Jones Co., Texas before the June 5, 1880 census. Joseph and Mattie Clark soon followed her parents to Jones Co. Both T. J. Scott and J. Clark are listed as original land owners for Jones Co.
   By the time the next census was taken on 6 Jun 1900, Joseph and Mattie were living in southeastern Jones Co., in Justice Precinct 2. Joseph and Mattie Scott Clark had the following children:

    1. Robert Thaddeus Clark, b. September 26, 1879, in Hood Co., Texas; d. April 16, 1969, in Stamford, Jones Co., Texas. Robert married Celia Victoria Owens on January 21, 1906.
    2. Frank Joe "Bud" Clark, b. April 1, 1883, in Jones Co., Texas; d. March 14, 1970, in Stamford, Jones Co., Texas.
    3. Thomas AddRan Clark, b. February 26, 1887, in Jones Co., Texas; d. June 29, 1896, in Jones Co., Texas.
    4. Anna Bonita Clark, b. June 21, 1895, in Jones Co., Texas; d. September 12, 1950, in Haskell Co., Texas. Anna married Roy F. Jones on May 15, 1915.

   Joseph Clark listed his occupation as "tinner" in the 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 censuses.
   Between 1900 and 1910 -- soon after the town of Stamford was founded -- Joseph moved his family from their farm in the southeastern part of Jones Co., to Stamford. By the time of the 1910 census on April 20, 1910, they were living in their new home at 408 East Campbell Street. Joseph also established a tin shop on South Swenson Street. His sons Thad and Bud worked with their father in his business. Mattie died April 15, 1930, and Joseph died on July 12, 1940. They are both buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Anson, Texas.
   After his parents' deaths, Bud Clark continued to live in the family home on Campbell Street. He also kept the metal shop open into the 1960's. The Clarks are remembered as master tinsmiths.

submitted by Cindy Radway