WILLIAM M. CLARK, son of Thomas and Betsey (Robinson) Clark, is a well-to-do farmer of Marshall County, Tenn., and was born in Giles County June 22, 1822. He was allowed to follow his own inclination in regard to schooling, consequently his education is very limited indeed. After working one year for wages he purchased seventy-five acres of land, largely on credit, and by the sweat of his brow has increased his farm to 375 acres. Two sons and one daughter are the results of his marriage with Mary Jones, which took place in 1849. After her death he married Betsey White, and two children have blessed their union. Mr. Clark and his first wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South; his present wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In former days our subject was a Whig, but is now a Democrat. His parents were North Carolinians by birth, and shortly after their marriage came to Giles County, Tenn., and followed farming for a livelihood. The father was twice married, his second wife being Nancy McCandless. Nine children were born to his first union and three to his last. The father was a Whig and died when about forty-five years old. (Goodspeed’s History of Marshall County, 1886)

William M. and Mary JONES Clark are on the 1850 Giles County, TN Census in District 17 (Cornersville), HH1157-1157. He is listed as 28, born TN, Farmer, $800, and Mary is listed as 17, and also born in Tennessee. Also in their household is Mary, age 3. In HH1159 is A.P. CLARK, 26 M TN, farmer, $1,600, Frances CLARK, 22 F TN, and Wm. C. CLARK, 5 months. In HH1160 is Polly JONES, 50 F NC, $500. Thomas and Betsey ROBINSON Clark were apparently both deceased by 1850 when Nancy McCANDLESS (Farmer?) Clark is found in District 16, p. 419, HH 176-176, age 53, born NC, with Jasper N.M. FARMER, 22, J.Y.M. FARMER, 21, Burrous N. CLARKE, 14, all born in TN, and Nathan FARMER, age 78, born NC. (not on 1812). See Marshall County, TNGenWeb for more Marshall County Goodspeeds’ biographies.