Morris Brown Clark On Wagon
This is the infamous photo of Morris Brown Clark. I have learned the original was on a tintype
and by the time the copy was made...it had begun to decay.
Morris Brown Clark was born October 26, 1841 in Cookeville, Putnum Co., Tennessee
to Henry Blanton Clark and Martha Brown.
On June 9, 1861 at the age of 17 he enlisted in the Confederate Army as a bugler as a private
in Company K, 28th Tennessee Regiment. According to his Civil War Muster rolls by the time
he resigned on April 27, 1863 he was the Captain of the 28th Tennessee Regiment, Company G.
On August 22, 1863 he married Nancy Hughes Ragland of Nashville. She was the daughter of Dr. William
Hardin Ragland and Martha Biggers Hughes. Nancy and Morris moved to Chestnut Mound, Tennessee. Morris peddled
food and other supplies out of a wagon and had a mercantile, 'Clark's Mercantile' with his father Henry.
According to Smith County newspapers he shipped the largest shipment
that had ever been made from that part of the country.
Nancy and Morris had 10 children. The first two died at birth in September 1864 and 1867 in Sullivan Bend.
They were followed by:
Martha B. Clark b: 27 May 1869 in Sullivan Bend married Harrison Lee Glover 17 August 1884 in Chestnut Mound
William Henry Clark b: 19 Jan 1872 d: 13 Nov 1872 in Chestnut Mound
Lemuel Hardin Clark b: 26 Sept 1863 in Murfreesboro d: 25 Dec 1956 in Jennings, Louisiana married
Dora Belle Hulsey 10 June 1896 Fannin Co., Texas
Charley Morris Clark b: April 11, 1876 in Chestnut Mound, Smith Co., Tennessee.
Charley married Florence Sloan in Bonham, Fannin Co., Texas. They are my Great Grandparents.
John Beverly Clark b: 21 Nov 1878 Chestnut Mound d: Madisonville,
Texas married Flora Brown 17 Nov 1901 Fannin Co., Texas
Frances Ethel "Fannie" Clark b: 7 Jan 1881 Chestnut Mound d: 23 March 1958 Clovis, Curry Co.,
New Mexico married Wiley Jefferson Swinney 14 Nov 1897 Fannin Co., Texas
Infant who died at birth 1883 Chestnut Mound
Samuel Jones Clark b: 25 March 1885 Chestnut Mound d: 23 Aug 1925 Tulia, Swisher Co.,
Texas married Elzie Clestie Shannon 7 August 1907 Bonham, Fannin Co., Texas
In 1888 Morris loaded his family on a train and headed for Fannin Co., Texas. By 1896 he was
dissatisfied with Texas and wanted to return to Tennessee. However, on Jan 15, 1896 he passed
away at the age of 56 and is buried in the Smyrna Cemetery in Dodd City, Fannin Co., Texas.
Nancy's brother were:
William Hardin Ragland Jr. b: 22 Sept 1842 Smith Co; d: 6 April 1927 Cookeville, Putnam Co.,
Nancy Hughes Ragland Clark
Nancy married Morris Brown Clark 22 Aug 1863, and affectionately nicknamed him "Brud".
Nancy died in Tulia, Swisher Co., Texas on the 6 Oct 1922 of breast cancer and is
buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery next to a son Samuel Jones Clark.
Nancy Hughes Ragland Clark
Nancy Hughes Ragland was born 25 April 1846 in Sullivan Bend, Smith Co., Tennessee. She was the
youngest of 3 children born to Dr. William Hardin Ragland and Martha Biggers Hughes. When Nancy
was 2 years old her mother Martha died. Nancy and her two brothers went to live with their maternal
grandparents John Biggers Hughes and Nancy Hughes.
Dr. John Beverly Ragland b: 1 March 1839 Smith Co., Tennessee d: 6 March 1917
Oakland, Alameda Co., California married Mary Cordelia ?
Tennessee; married 1st 14 Jan 1865 in Putman Co to Ann Burton; 2nd 2 Sep 1879 Lizzie Lucetta
Butler; 3rd 17 Dec 1889 Lavina L. "Putty" Meyers.