(original source unidentified)
The gentleman whose name introduces these few brief paragraphs is a respected and prosperous citizen of Pailo, Bledsoe county, and was born and spent the greater part of his life in this county.
Mr. Clark was born about six miles above Pikeville, February 21 , 1819, the son of Charles and Hannah (Denton) Clark. Charles Clark was a son of Norris Clark, and moved to the Sequatchie valley from Sevier county, and settled where L. T. Billingsley now lives. Norris Clark was a native of County Down, Ireland, and died in Bledsoe county, Tenn., at a very old age. Charles Clark, our subject’s father, was among the first blacksmiths to locate in the valley and operated a shop there for many years. He died there at a very old age. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clark were the parents of a family of thirteen children, four of whom are now living: Jonas, the subject of this sketch; Francis, a blacksmith of Warren county, Tenn.; Bird is a farmer and blacksmith on Rocky river, in Warren county, Tenn.; and Bird’s twin brother, Jacob, on the west side of Waldens Ridge, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume. The deceased are: Jonathan, who died in the vicinity of his birthplace; Isaac N. died on Brush creek, Sequatchie county; James died at Tanbark, Bledsoe county, Tenn., and was postmaster at that place at the time of his death; William died in Missouri; Nancy first married Larkin Swafford, and after his death, she was united in marriage to Thomas McKinney, and both died near Tanbark; Tobitha went west with her husband soon after their marriage; Jerusha died at the old homestead; Clarrissa was the wife of James Clendennin, and died in Van Buren county; and the other died in infancy.
Jonas Clark, the subject of this sketch, began to learn the blacksmith trade in his father’s shop when he was so small that he had to build a scaffold to stand on in order to reach the anvil, but learned the trade perfectly in all of its branches. Later he conducted a shop six miles above Pikeville, until 1860, when he moved down the Valley, nearer to the city. One year later he bought his present home and since that time has worked at his trade in connection with farming, milling, stock-raising, etc., and has also done some gunmaking. Our subject taught his brother, Jacob Clark, the trade of blacksmithing, and also his sons, Joseph and Charles E., who now have charge of the business. Mr. Clark was county sealer of Bledsoe county before the war, and for most of the time since the war he has been a member of the county court. Since the establishment of the post office at Pailo in 1875, he has been its postmaster.
May 25, 1850, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Mary B. Acuff, who was born February 15, 1825, a daughter of James Acuff, and died March 11, 1896. To this union were born seven children, three of whom are now living, and of whom we have the following record: Sallie, born April 14, 1857, is the wife of John McReynolds a farmer living near Chickamauga Station; Annie Jane, born November 17, 1858, and died August 8, 1880: Joseph, born December 16, 1860; James H., born December 29, 1862, and died January 29, 1863; Charles E., born November 28, 1864; and lda E., born February 24, 1870, and died March 16, 1888. Joseph Clark married Ader, the daughter of Jacob Clark, who was born in Bledsoe county, Tenn., and they have become the parents of five children: Ethel, Dallas, Robert, Hettie and Mabel. Charles E. married Florence Merriman, also a native of the Sequatchie valley, and a daughter of Margaret Merriman. They also have a family of five children: Pearl, Cleo, Clyde, Charles and Sallie Popy. Politically our subject is identified with the Democratic party, and some of the members of his family are members of the Christian church.
Jonas Clark is listed on the 1880 census of Bledsoe County as follows:
Clark, Jonas 61 h Farmer TTT Mary 56 w Keeping house TTT Anna J. 20 d TTT Joseph 19 s works farm TTT Charles 15 s works farm TTT Ida 11 TTT