| Notes |
- "This is Hezekiah Texas Clark who was born in Collin Co., Texas on June 10, 1847. (His Death Certificate states that he was born June 10, 1848, but that is incorrect by one year. I have a copy of the Death Certificate.) At that time, this area was in the Peters Colony of Texas. It is generally that Hezekiah was married five times during his life, and outlived all five wives. We know that he was married at least four times. He was also a doctor. It is assumed that he became a self-taught doctor. That practice was not uncommon during that time frame. He served in the Confederate Army having volunteered in Belton, Bell Co.. (I have a copy of his application for a Confederate Pension.) Dr. Clark left Williamson and Bell Counties and moved to Mason and Llano Counties where he lived until about 1898 when he moved to Briscoe Co. for a short time and then to Swisher Co., in the Texas Panhandle. Dr. Clark died in Glasscock Co., Texas on January 2, 1932." (Written by Keith Reed)
H.T. Clark was on a 2 month leave from the confederate service in May and June of 1864.
Dr. Clark had been practicing medicine back in Llano & Mason Co., but when he came to Swisher Co., TX, he was examined by the 33rd Judicial District of TX Board of Medical Examiners, 18 Jan 1899, and they authorized him to work in the Medical Profession of the State of TX.
The following is a writeup from Swisher Co. History that concerns Dr. Clark.: Page 165
"Dr. H. T. Clark came from Mason County on August 21, 1898. He lived North of J.A. Ranch in Briscoe County near Beverly one year, then in 1899, moved to Swisher County. Most people lived in dugouts in Beverly but when
they got to Fanchon, Swisher County, there were very few dugouts. In these dugouts, a plague of fleas was caused by prairie dogs and rabbits. Rattlesnakes in the dugouts also were a constant fear of the settlers. The doctor had two sections of land, 1280 acres. His practice extended from Wayside to Tulia. When he left Tulia in 1915, the Trinity Methodist Church was built on his land. Their trading was done in Canyon, Texas. It took one day to go by wagon, then they bought supplies, spent the night in the wagon yard and started home early the next morning. Sometimes, it was midnight before they reached home. In coming from Mason County to the High Plains of Texas, it took from August 21, to October 9, 1898. In this wagon train were five wagons, a spaulding hack, a buggy, thirty head of horses, one stallion, a dog, and the wagon teams. A step-daughter, Mrs. Pete Raymond, drove the chuck wagon. She was second in line when driving. They made a ring with the wagons at night, and tied the wheels together. They put a few horses in the ring and hobbled the rest. The first Christmas after landing on the Plains, they went to Mrs. Jackson's house for a Christmas tree. They started home before night in a wagon. While there, it snowed, and blotted out all sign of the trail. They drove all night hunting their dugout, passed it several times and reached home about five a.m. the next morning. Mrs. Jackson had three girls and one boy and lived near the J. A. Ranch. The young people went to parties on horseback, and spent the night. Mrs. Raymond's husband, Pete Raymond, raised a huge melon crop but could not leave his other work to sell the melons, so he loaded a hundred melons on a truck and parked them by a bank. He put a box with a slit in the top for coins to be dropped in, and a price sign of ten cents. He went back that night, and there was ten cents for every melon. He did this until all of his melons were sold, making $400.00. Dr. Clark's house was open house for everyone and people imposed on the family. Some researchers say that Dr. Clark was married five times. His first wife, identity unknown, died very young, and they had no children. He and his second wife had four girls. His third wife was Nannie Hammon in Burnet Co., Texas, in 1881, and they had no children. His fourth wife was Elien Clary. She had seven children by her first husband, and with the doctor's four they had 11 children to start a
marriage. They married on April 1, 1888. They, in turn, had Homer, Coy, Emzy, and Elva Clark. Research is continuing to find the fifth wife of Dr. Clark and to fit her into this family. Mrs. P. M. Cox, the last of the family, lives at Hico, Texas. Mrs. Raymond was Mrs. Clark's daughter by her first husband. Dr. Clark was the youngest and the 19th child of his family."
In our county history book, WINDMILLING, published in 1978, in the section about doctors in Swisher County, it has this to say about Dr. Clark: Page 76 "H. T. Clark, M. D. - born June 10, 1847 near McKinney, Collin County, Texas, Doctors Certificate issued February 12, 1908 when he was sixty. He practiced at Wayside. He was the step-father of Alma Bell Clary. He was given a section of land, (640 acres), if he would come to Tulia."
Hezekiah also was in the Confederate army twice or even three times. He first enlisted in Little Rock, AR, or Bell Co. TX. as a substitute for Andrew Armstrong on 26 March 1862, was discharged on 20 Aug 1862 when Andrew Armstrong returned to duty. Hezekiah immediately enlisted as a regular soldier the 20 August 1862 at Little Rock, AR in Company A., Morgan's Squadron, TX Cavalry and was sent to Pine Bluff, AR. Here he was discharged on the 23 March 1863 at Pine Bluff, AR. for disability by reason of the examining board of Surgeons & by Maj. General Walker. (Taken from his discahrge papers of 1863.)
Hezekiah traveled back to TX. by way of Little Rock AR and finally to TX. Then in Dec. 1863, he enlisted again in Burleson Co., TX., Co. H. under 1st. Lt. John M. Wyatt attached in Belton, Bell Co., TX. Company G. Baird's Texas Cavalry, 4th AZ. Brigade, also Showalter's Reg., TX. Cavalry... (Taken from his Pension Application in 1931) He was discharged in May 1865." (Hezekiah T. 'Tex' Clark)
Published in the Sterling City News-Record; January 8, 1932; Vol. 31,
No. 34, page 1
Dr. H.T. Clark Is Dead
Dr. H.T. Clark died at his home in Garden City last Saturday morning, January 2, and was buried the following day at Foster Cemetery. Dr. W.B. Everitt conducted the funeral services at the grave.
Deceased was well known to the people of Sterling City, having resided here for a time.
Dr. Clark was born in Texas , June 10, 1847 and spent his entire life in this state. He was a Confederate veteran and a former Texas Ranger. He practiced medicine for sixty years. He was a member of the Baptist Church the greater part of his life.
He is survived by one daughter and three sons. His wife preceded him in death several years ago.
|
1848 - 1932 (83 years)
