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- He was named after a family friend-Berry Williams. Three of this Berry CLARK's sisters married sons of Berry WILLIAMS.
1870 Sevier Co., TN Census still living with his mother.
1871 Sevier Co., TN Tax List Clark, W.B. District 10
Clark, W.B. District 10
Clark, W.B. District 10
1880 Sevier Co., TN Census still living with his mother.
Groom's Name: B. W. Clark
Bride's Name: L. B. Paine
Marriage Date: 01 Mar 1893
Marriage Place: , Sevier, Tennessee
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M51968-4
System Origin: Tennessee-VR
Source Film Number: 969967
Reference Number: 2:2B65SJH
Collection: Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950
Berry's father-in-law Smith Ferguson Paine donated the land to have the Zion Grove Baptist Church built and Berry Williams Clark donated the timber that was used to build the building.
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Berry W Clark
Age: 48
Birth Date: May 1852
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home in 1900: Civil District 2, Sevier, Tennessee
[Sevier]
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Lillie B Clark
Marriage Year: 1893
Years Married: 7
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Berry W Clark 48
Lillie B Clark 27
Mary M Clark 6
Gneva Clark 3
Laura J Clark 1
1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Kange W Clark
[Berry W Clark]
Age in 1910: 57
Estimated birth year: abt 1853
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Tennessee
Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee
Spouse's name: Littie B Clark
Home in 1910: Civil District 2, Sevier, Tennessee
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Kange W Clark 57
Littie B Clark 37 [38]
Mary M Clark 16
Geneva E Clark 13
Genia S Clark 11
Newton B Clark 6
James A Clark 4
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Berry W Clark [Beny W Clark]
Age: 67
Birth Year: abt 1853
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home in 1920: Civil District 2, Sevier, Tennessee
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Frances L Clark
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Home owned: Own
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Berry W Clark 67
Frances L Clark 47
Mary M Clark 26
Laura J Clark 20
Berry N Clark 16
James A Clark 13
Emma D Clark 9
1930 United States Federal Census
Name: B W Clark
Home in 1930: District 2, Sevier, Tennessee
View Map
Age: 78
Estimated birth year: abt 1852
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Lillie
Race: White
B W Clark 78
Lillie Clark 58
Laura Clark 31
Emma Erna (Deane) Clark 26
Sevier Co., TN Will Book 4, pg 53-54:
Last Will of B. W. Clark:
I, B. W. Clark, F. F.D 10, Sevierville, TN, hereby make and publish this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former will by me at any time made.
First: I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be paid out of my estate as soon after my death as can reasonably be done, and in order that this may be carried into effect I hereby authorize and empower my Executrix, hereinafter named, to sell and dispose of a sufficient amount of my property, personal or real or both, and to make and execute and deliver deeds of conveyance for the same to purchaser, to provide funds to take care of the indebtedness and funeral expenses as hereinabove provided. The sale to be conducted in the manner and in amounts as the judgment of my Executrix may direct.
Second: I hereby bequeath and devised the remainder of my estate, after taking care of the items herein above provided, to my wife, Lillie B. Clark, for and during her natural life, to have and to use said property for her use and benefit and to collect and receive and dispose of the proceeds, rents and profits of my said estate for her support and maintenance and in such manner as she may desire during her natural life.
I hereby bequeath and devise the then remainder of my said estate, personal, mixed, and real, subject to the provisions hereinabove set out, and at the death of my said wife, to our five (5) children; Laura Clark Ogle; Newton B. Clark; Geneva Clark Shields; James A. Clark; and Emma Dean Clark.
I further direct that if either of my said children shall die leaving descendants, I direct that such descendants of such deceased child shall jointly take the share of my estate, as tenants in common, that the parent would have taken if living.
If either of my said children shall die before I do then I direct that the survivors and the representative of any deceased survivor shall take my estates as tenants in common, as hereinabove provided, descendants representing deceased parents.
Third: I hereby appoint my wife, Lillie B. Clark, as my Executrix to carry into effect and execute this will and I give her all power and authority to do so, and I direct that she be allowed to qualify and act as such Executrix without giving bond. I hereby expressly waive bond for said Executrix.
At the death of my said wife, I hereby nominate and appoint my two sons, hereinabove named, Newton B. Clark and James A. Clark, as Executors, to finally carry into effect and distribute my said estate, or divide proceeds thereof, as hereinabove directed.
If it can be reasonably done in the judgment of my said Executors, they may partition my land among my devisees, above named, or if in their judgment this cannot be done, or if in their judgment it is better not to partition said land, they are hereby authorized, empowered and directed to sell my said real estate for distribution, as hereinabove provided, such sale to be made without Court proceedings and on such terms as my said Executors may direct and after advertising as they may think proper. My said Executors are authorized to make, execute, and deliver deeds conveying said property to the purchaser.
I further direct that if either of my said sons shall not desire to act as Executor, then the other is authorized to act and carry this will into effect.
If is shall not be convenient for either of my said sons, or both of them, to act as Executors, then I direct that the County court of Sevier County shall appoint an Administrator to carry into effect and execute this Will, and such administrator, so appointed, is fully empowered and authorized to execute this Will as such Executors above provided.
This September 30th, 1933. B. W. Clark,
We hereby subscribed our names hereto as attesting witnesses to this will at the request of the Testator, and in this presence, and in the presence of each other.
This September 30, 1933.
A. M. Paine
Ethel T. Chandler
Probated by the County Court of Sevier County, Tennessee, this the 21st day of June, 1938
Jas. N. Rector, County Court Clerk
Tennessee, Death Records, 1908-1958
Name: B W Clark
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 5 May 1852
Birth Place: Tennessee
Age: 86
Death Date: 15 Jun 1938
Death Place: Sevier, Tennessee
Father's Name: John Clark
Father's Birth Place: Tennessee
Mother's Name: Mary James
Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee
Certificate Number: 15657
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: Berry W Clark
Gender: Male
Spouse: Lillie B Paine
Child: Emma Deane Ingle Woltemate
Tennessee, Deaths and Burials Index, 1874-1955
Name: B W Clark
Birth Date: 5 May 1852
Birth Place: Tennessee
Age: 86
Death Date: 15 Jun 1938
Death Place: Sevier, Tennessee
Burial Date: 16 Jun 1938
Burial Place: Zion Grove
Gender: Male
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Farmer
Father's Name: John Clark
Father's Birth Place: Tennessee
Mother's Name: Mary James
Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee
Spouse's Name: Lillie Paine Clark
FHL Film Number: 1876865
U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Name: Berry Williams Clark
Birth Date: 5 May 1852
Birth Place: Tennessee, USA
Death Date: 15 Jun 1938
Death Place: Tennessee, USA
Cemetery: Zion Grove Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place: Sevier County, Tennessee, USA
Has Bio?: N
Spouse: Lillie Belle Clark
Children: Geneva Shields
Laura Ogle
Newton Berry Clark
His land estate was not distributed to the his children until 1953, just after their mother passed, when his 350 acres in Sevier Co., TN, District 2 was divided into 28 sections. Berry Williams Clark purchased the following lands to make up this estate:
1889, Sevier Co., TN Deed Book S, pg 170-172, 75 acres
1889, Sevier Co., TN Deed Book S, pg 478-479, 56 acres
1895, Sevier Co., TN Deed Book W, pg 558-559, 2 tracts, purchased for $325, Lots 1 & 2 of James Murphy lands.
1906, Sevier Co., TN Deed Book 17, pg 248, small tract, purchased for $10.
1912, Sevier Co., TN Deed Book 23, pg 231 (2 pgs.), 20 acres
1917, Sevier Co., TN Deed Book 34, pg 171 (2 pgs.), 80 acres
5 Jan1953, 2 tracts distributed to Willard L. Ogle and Laura Ogle 1.68 acres and 1.32 acres in 1953, Sevier Co., TN Deed Book 111, pgs 305-306.
15 Sep, 1955: Geneva Clark Shields sold for $500 all title to her lands of the 350 inheritance (except the 3 acres sold to Willard and Laura-see above) to her 4 other siblings., Sevier Co., Deed Book 113, pg 273-274.
Lots 2,5,16 and 25 go Laura Clark Ogle by B. W. Clark executors, 1955, Sevier Co., TN Deed Book 119, pg 143-144.
Oct 12, 1955 one-fifth 1/5 acre to be set-aside as a memorial to their parents. (All heirs in agreement.), Sevier Co., TN, Deed Book 120, pg 11-12.
Oct 12, 1955 to Laura Clark Ogle, Sevier Co., TN deed Book 120, pg 51-52, 40 acres
22 Oct 1955 from Laura to Willard Ogle, 40 acres, Sevier Co., TN Deed Book , pg 69-70
"Berry Williams CLARK did not marry until he was 40 because his mother told him he had to be the man of the family because his father had died when he was 10. His mother died before he married. B.W. had a store in Bird's Creek. He kept a ledger and had many account that never paid. He also farmed. I never knew Dad to shave himself. Mother always shaved him. He always wore a beard after he got his face caught in the cane mill. He was cleaning the equipment when some boys on a nearby hill threw a rock that hit the horse. The horse started and he got caught in the mill. It caused his mouth to be drawn to one side. Dad always said he wouldn't leave us any money. He knew if he could get us a good education then we could 'make' it, and he did. Even though Mother was much younger, she was the boss!" -(Emma Deane CLARK)
"Father, Berry Williams Clark, was born May 5, 1852, in Sevier Co., TN on the the Little Pigeon River, close to where now is know as the Mitchell Bottoms, and near Red Bank Baptist Church, his father John Bitner Clark and his mother Mary James Clark, are both buried on a hill west of where he was born and across the present highway thru the Mitchell Bottoms.
Father was not a very large man, about 5 ft 8 inches in height, and weighed around 150 pounds. He was not a very strong man but had a determined will, and could accomplish most anything that he made up his mind to. When he was only ten years old his father died. This threw a terrific load on his young and immature years, as the man of the family. With his mother's help and advice he managed the farm, an they made a comfortable living, he in later years buying out the other heirs, and securing title to the farm for himself. He stayed with his mother until she died looking after her and caring for her. After her death he sold the farm and moved to Birds Creek, and opened up a general store during this period living with his brother Solomon. He later purchased a large acreage of land just south of where he had his store, and there built a large and comfortable two story house. He gave up the store and in the year 1893 he married Lillie Belle Paine, daughter of Rev. Smith Furgeson & Mary Emeline McIntire Paine. To his new house he took Mother and there all their children were born and reared, and where both he and Mother lived until their death.
In Father's early manhood, he went to a log rolling, which was a great affair in those times. There he injured himself by overlifiting, just how he was not sure, but at the time he bled internally. After that time his health was never very good, and for several years they did not believe that he would survive. But he carefully guarded his health, and watched his food and lived to the age of 86 years. I believe that in the latter years of his life that his health was much improved. Father was always a very active man, he did not believe in idleness, and he practices his belief.
As his father died when he was only ten years old, he did not know too much about the Clark family. They had scattered, some of them went to TX, some to OK, some to AR, some to MO, and in those days it was very difficult to correspond with each other. As the years and the Civil War passed they gradually lost tract of each other. His brother Solomon, moved to Dalton, GA and bought a farm there. His sister Minerva whom married Rufus Shields, followed him there. His sister Emeline whom had married John Williams, moved to Dunn's Creek, near Cosby. His sister Sarrah whom had married Joseph Williams, lived on an adjoining farm to his on Birds Creek, and of course he kept in contact with those. But it was rather his Father's brothers and sisters with whom he lost contact, as in those days there was almost no mail service and transportation was almost nil.
One incident in Father's life as he related it to me, was when he was about 11 years old, he was captured and taken to Longstreet's encampment not far from where they lived. The encampment was in what they called the flat woods near Harrisburg. You can imagine that a small boy of 11 was pretty scared. They kept him overnight and next morning returned him to his mother. They asked him lots of questions, figuring that he might could tell them the whereabouts of some of the men whom were hiding out in that vicinity. They did not harm or threaten him in any way, and after he got over his scare, I think that he rather enjoyed it.
During the Civil War, he and his sisters would take turns holding the stock to keep the soldiers from getting them. They did get one of their mares, but his mother went to Colonel Murphy and he went with her to the encampment and the commanding officer made them line up the horses, and told her to pick her's out. She did, and he returned it to her.
Some of Father's ancestors were very scholary, some could speak several different languages, could read books written in Latin, and wrote a very legible hand-writing in the script of their day.
Father was a very civic-minded man, and he always worked for the betterment of the community, in making it a better place for his children to live. He worked tirelessly to establish Smoky Mountain Academy, and he and Rev. S. F. Paine, were largely responsible for its being a reality. Most of the planning was done at home. Father was one of its founders. He donated all of the lumber which went into its building and the first dormitory. He gave of his time and monetary support until his death. He was one of its first Trustees and always gave it his active support.
Father joined the Zion Grove Baptist Church and was baptized sometime in his late fifties. The exact year I do not know, but I saw him baptized. He was baptized in Birds Creek just above ford now going over to D. E. Brown's . He had always actively supported the church, and when something was going on at the church, Father never missed it, and saw that his children went also.
Father was a great believer in education, and his church, and he tried in every way possible to educate his children, and to see that facilities were available for that purpose.
Father was a very determined man, strictly honest, and thought everyone else should be the same. He lost quite a lot of money in trusting people. Once Father had made up his mind on an issue, he was very hard to change. In fact as far as Father was concerned, that was the way it was or had to be. He demanded and received complete obedience from his children. He was very strict, though gentle, and the rules and regulations he propounded for his childfen had to be adhered to without question, and any deviation there-from called for disciplinary action therefore. Father loved his children and family very much, and was always interested in their well-being. He loved his home, and only left it to attend to necessary business, or his church, always returning as soon as possible. His entire life was, him home and family.
Father, although his health was not very good, was always active, and was, up to the time of his terminal illness, his willpower often carrying him through any task that he chose to perform. Late in the fall of 1937, Father, one cold rainy day, left the house to see about the division of the crops of one of the Tennants. Mother tried to keep him from going, but he went anyway. He got wet and chilled from which he took pneumonia. Although he recovered from the pneumonia itself, he did not recover from the effects of it. On the morning of June 15th, 1938, holding my hand he passed quietly, and peacefully away. I had not only lost a father, but a dear friend and counselor as well. Father was gone from us at the age of 86, and the family circle was broken. He was laid to rest in the New Zion's Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, beside his daughter Mary. The Clarks and the Paines having some years previously signed an agreement with the Trustees of Smoky Mountain Academy not to use the Paine-Clark Cemtery for future burial purposes." (Newton Berry Clark)
I have a tin-type picture of him. (Sherry S. Finchum)
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