Search for Bessie CLARK, b. 1888 Decatur Co. IA

CLARK, WAINWRIGHT, EGGLESTON, LEWIS

Posted By: Jeannie Winter (email)
Date: 11/27/2005 at 20:51:04

I am hoping someone may be of any help. I have been trying to find what happened to my mother's half-sister Bessie Clark, born June 1888 most likely in Weldon, Decatur Co., Iowa the daughter of a Vincent Wainwright Clark and Dora Viola Lewis. And what heppened to her father Vincent Clark? Following is what I do know of this family:

Vincent Clark was born in Decatur Co. IA (Source: 1885 Iowa State Census) about 1863 the son of Charles M. Clark. Per the 1860 U.S. Fed. Census, the father Charles M. Clark was living in Center Twp., Decatur Co. IA, born New York, age 22, occupation Clerk. Vincent's mother was Sarah Wainwright, also born New York. Per the 1870 U.S. Fed. Census, the Clark family is still living in Center Twp. (Post Office Leon) and Vincent is 7 years old.

By the 1880 U.S. Fed. Census, the Clark family had moved to Green Bay, Clarke Co., IA and Vincent is 17 years old. The census again verifies him as the son of Charles M. Clark and Sarah, the parents both born in New York and Vincent born in Iowa. On 20 October 1881, the father Charles Clark was listed in a book in the Clarke County Courthouse that describes stray animals, who found them, the date, where it was found, and who approved a payment for the animals' keep or dispensation of the case.
Found By Date Where Approved By
C.M. Clark 20 Oct 1881 Green Bay Twp. T.W. Finch E. Denly
In 1885, Vincent Clark is age 22 years and is still living in Green Bay Twp., Clarke Co. IA.

****** Note: Sometime between 1885 and January 1, 1887, when Vincent and Dora Lewis married, Vincent moved back to Decatur County (borders Clarke Co. to the South). Per the marriage record, he was a Printer in Weldon, Decatur Co. when they married in Osceola, Clarke Co on January 1, 1887. Vincent and Dora apparently were living in Decatur County (probably Weldon) after they married and their daughter, Bessie Clark, was born in June 1888. However, Vincent was abusive and Richard Eggleston, the Clarke Co. Sheriff, went and got Dora and brought her home to Clarke Co. along with daughter Bessie.

Vincent Clark and Dora divorced and in 1994 she married Richard Eggleston in Osceola, Clarke Co., IA. Bessie Clark is listed on the 1900 Iowa Census (Soundex Code E-242), age 12 years, living in Richard Eggleston's household as his step-daughter in Osceola, Clarke County, IA, but no longer living in the household on the 1910 census. Richard Eggleston was killed on duty in the big Osceola, Clarke Co. fire and explosion in 1917. Both his estate papers and his obituary name the children by his marriage to Dora, but do not list Bessie as a heir. Bessie is also not listed as a surviving child in her mother Dora Clark Eggleston Morain's obituary in 1936. I believe Bessie Clark deceased sometime between 1900 and 1917 or 1936.

Any info on this Clark family, especially what happened to Vincent and Bessie Clark will be most appreciated. My email address is JWinter588@AOL.com. Thank you very much and happy hunting to everyone!

Sincerely,
Jeannie Winter