The Clark Family came to Wabaunsee County in 1878. They arrived from Clay County, Indiana as an extended family of 16 persons in three covered wagons. They had sold their farms to coal mining interests and were seeking new farms. Several of their friends in Indiana had moved to Wabaunsee County. They built a log cabin on one parcel of land along Dog Creek on what is now the Merle and Nora Lietz farm, and all of them stayed there the first winter, or with their friends the Beach Family in Keene.

John Clark, born in Henry County, Kentucky in 1811, was the patriarch. I don’t have a photograph of him, but I do have photos his son (my great great grandfather) James E. Clark. So I’ll share a few of the photographs.

The first photograph shows my great great grandparents, James E. and Anna (Lawson) Clark sitting on the front porch of the log cabin about 1880.

The second photo is of James E. Clark in the 1890s.

The third photo is his wife, Anna (Lawson) Clark, taken after 1900 and before 1917.

The fourth photo is of my great grandfather, John “Johnny” Clark and his wife, Eliza (Woody) Clark. They were married in 1882 and I believe this is their wedding photograph.

The fifth photograph is of James Peter Clark on his 18th birthday. He’s wearing his Modern Woodman fob in the photo.

The sixth photo is of my father, John “Tim” Clark, 1921-1982, taken when he was in the eighth grade at Maple Hill Grade School.

The seventh photo is of my family, taken in 1956. Back row L-R is Steven J. Clark, Lucille (Corbin) Clark, Stanly J. Clark, John “Tim” Clark. Front row L-R is Gary Wayne Clark and Nicholas L. Clark.