| dc.description.transcription | Joseph Addison Clark (christened Zachariah but changed by himself after reading The Spectator) of Scotch Irish Colonial descent, was born in Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois, November 15, 1815. He was the son of Thomas Dyson Clark, of colonial ancestry, who had moved to the Mississippi Valley from North Carolina. Then Dyson Clark, with his family, lived three or four years near "The Falls" on the Ohio River, and later in Hopkins County, Ky. From there they moved about 1824 to Columbia, Tenn. At Col. J.A. was associated in school with William Polk and Polk's cousins the Walkers. While living in Columbia the boy was taken by his father to Nashville to attend the celebration when General Lafayette visited that city. In 1826 the f. went to Mexico, thence to Texas. In 1827 (the) Clark with his mother & 2 sisters & brother moved to Selma, Ala, where J. A. at the age of twelved years, served as tutor to numerous cousins and other children of the comty. At that time he also becomes associated with Carter and (George) Bonnell, editors of The Argus. Connection with Bonnell in the newspaper business continued for several years at Mobile, Ala, Columbus, Miss., and later in Austin, Texas, where in 1841 they were employed as state printers, and engaged in the publication of the "Topographical History of Texas. In 1833 Clark read law privately, but being under legal age for license to practice, he continued the study of law at the University of Ala. In 1836 while soliciting sales for Forbes (prospective) History of Texas, Clark met William B. Ocheltree in Livingston, Sumpter Co., Ala., with whom he was later associated in Texas. In 1837 he edited a newspaper in Aberdeen, Miss., whence he went to Louisville, Ky., thence to Cincinnati Ohio, to acquire a printing press where he conferred with Senator Daniel Webster. Joseph Addison Clark of colonial ancestry (Scotch-Irish descent) was born in Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois, November 15, 1815, the son of Thomas Dyson Clark, who had moved to the Mississippi Valley from North Carolina. With his family, J. A. lived three or four years near the falls on the Ohio River, then in Hopkins County, Ky, moving about 1825 to Columbia, Tenn. Here he was taken by his father to Nville when Genl Lafayette visited Tenn. where he associated in school with William Polk and his cousins the Walkers. In 1827 moves to Selma, Ala, where he serves as teacher of numerous cousins. At twelve years of age, J.A. becomes associated with Carter and (George) Bonnell, editors of the newspaper, The Argus. Connection with Bonnel continues for several years at Mobile, Columbus, Miss. and later in Austin, Texas as State Printers in 1841, and the publication of the Topographical History of Texas. In 1836 Clark meets Wm B. Ocheltree in Livingston, Sumpter Co. Alabama; reads law, enters Univ of Ala to study law and engineering. He received the news of the Battle of San Jacinto at Clinton, Miss, where he was soliciting sales of Forbes (prospective) History of Texas. Again edits newspaper at Aberdeen, Miss. whence he goes to Louisville, Ky, thence to Cincinnati, O., to acquire press. At Cincinnati he meets Daniel Webster. In 1837 C joined his mother in Jessamine Co., Ky where he teaches school two years, at Liberty and Mt Pleasant & Bonnell. Aug. 15, 1839, with his mother and two sisters he starts from Louisville to Texas; fifteen days by boat to New Orleans, thence via schooner Louisiana, Capt Auld to Matagorda, Texas, whence, after the death of his mother and the marriage of his elder siser to Mr. Ferguson, he and his younger sister proceeded to Austin via a 5 yoke ox team freight wagon, where he renewed association with George Bonnell, placing his sister in Ruters College at Rutersville. After a business trip back to the "States" in 1840, Clark taught school at Merose, which _____ he laid out. He was employed in Feby 1841 to survey land lines in Shelby and Nacogdoches Counties. On Jan 21, 1842 he marries Esther (Hetty) D'Spain of French Huguenot stock and an adherant of the Church of Christ. Chiefly thru his wife's influence he was turned from agnosticism to Christianity, after which, "to defend the faith against sectarianism," he added to his activity of teacher, lawyer, surveyor, that of preaching the gospel. In the autumn of 1842 he moved to Paschal (now Titus) County, where his first son Addison (q.v.) was born. In 1844 the Clarks were living at Waskom in Harrison where the second son, Randolph (q.v.) was born. He then moved to Rusk, Cherokee County, where he edited the Rusk Pioneer, a Whig paper, and joined formed law partnership with Rufus Chandler. Later the paper was moved to Palestine, and published by him as The Truth Advocate. Here a son, Thomas Marshall, (q.v.) & Ida was born. In the late 1840s he was living in Galveston, and became associated with Willard Richardson in publishing the Galveston News. In 1852 the family returned to Palestine, and when the Civil War broke out their home was Kentuckytown, Grayson Co.. He then moved to Johnson County, and at the close of the War he was postmaster at the frontier town of Fort Worth. In 1873 he joined with his sons in founding AddRan College, at Thorp Spring, where he died. | |
