OBITUARY
FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
Jacksonville, Duval County, FL
December 6, 1910 page 5
James F. Clark age 87 years, an old Confederate Soldier and the oldest inmate of the Confederate Home in this city, died yesterday morning after a lingering illness. He stood high in Masonic circles and had a host of friends in Jacksonville. He leaves two sons, J. H. and T. J. Clark and one daughter, Mrs. John Capp, all of whom reside in Jacksonville. The funeral services will be held this morning at 10 o'clock from the chapel at the Funeral Director Marcus Conant and will be conducted by Rev. Harrison of St. Stephan's Episcopal Church. Services will be conducted at the grave by Damascus Commandery Knights Templar.
Note: Special Thanks to Jim Bass for all the information.
PERSONAL NOTES AND BIO RECAP
It has taken me years to research and understand, but here is what I found over the past 30 years of researching this man.
His family bible provides his birth date at August 24, 1823. The family bible shows Francis Clark as his father, dying in 1848. There as a Francis Clark in the 1840 Census of Edgecombe Co., NC with a male in the household of the same age as James Fabius. Francis Clark's estate record in NC confirms the relationship as well.
According to the earliest records of his birth, J. F. Clark was born in Edgecombe Co., NC. This is supported by his Confederate pension application. His October 1844 marriage to Pennina Brake is recorded in Edgecombe Co., NC. Pennina's family was also from Edgecombe Co., NC. The 1850 census for Wake Co., NC shows his birth location as NC - his wife and children are also shown as being from NC.
In 1854, after Pennina's parents died, they moved their family to Charlton Co., GA. He served as Tyler and Senior Deacon in the Folkston Masonic Lodge at Trader's Hill in 1856 and 1857 respectively. The 1860 Census for Charlton Co., GA shows his birth location as NC as well as all children except the youngest, Louvenia, who was born in GA. According to the family bible, Pennina died Dec 27, 1860, presumably in GA
He and his oldest son, Joseph Henry, enlisted in the service of the Confederacy in 1862 at Trader's Hill in Charlton Co., GA. After the war, he married Alethia (Lydia) Geiger of Nassau Co., FL. According to the family bible, they married September 21, 1865. By 1870 he and Abitah (Alethia) were listed in the Duval Co., FL census. The family bible shows she died August 12 but the year is unknown. He was W.M. OF Callahan Lodge #32 F. & A. M. 1871-1873 and W. M of Ezra Masonic Lodge #67 in 1874, 1875, 1879.
In future census records, the birth location changes. In 1870 it says FL. The 1880 Census shows NC as the birth place. His 2 sons are in the 1880 census and their birth locations are still listed at NC. Te 1885 Census shows NC as birth place. In 1900 it says VA. In 1910, the record reverts back to NC as the birth place.
James F. Clark married a third time, according to the family bible on September 30, 1886, to Maggie E. Davis, from New Jersey. The bible records her birthdate as March 19, 1836. She was a Confederate Veterans activist, worked in the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Home and died 1897. He became a resident of the Confederate Home in 1898 and lived there until he died in Dec 1910.
To add to the confusion, James F. Clark became senile at the home. His death certificate indicates senility as contributory to his condition. There were many complaints from the Confederate Home residents of his tall tales of battles and his glorious ancestry, etc.
Mr. William R. Minor, W. M. of Ezra Lodge, wrote the biographical sketch on James F.'s life and included in it were "factoids" from his interview with James F. Clark which we believe was conducted during the time J. F. lived at the soldiers home. As James Fabius told it, he was the son of Brig. Gen Elijah Clark from Lincolnton, GA.
The bio that William Minor wrote ended up in the first "History of Ezra Lodge Number 67" which was published in 1948. The story of Elijah Clark perpetuated from this article and has been re-used many times. The descendants of J. F. Clark, used to have family reunions in the lat 80's and early 90's. Many times we held those reunions at that Lodge which was founded in part by our ancestor.
When I realized the error in the bio I was able to get the info to the right people and they corrected the bio in future publications, but they never did tell the full story. They just removed the part about Elijah and left the rest about Lincolnton, GA.
This is how this myth of his parentage and birth place started. I spent years going down this wrong path until I finally realized that Elijah died 1799 and had no children or grandchildren named James.
His grave was unmarked for 75 years or more until I coordinated the installation of a marker at his grave in Evergreen Cemetery in the late 1980's.
FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
Jacksonville, Duval County, FL
December 6, 1910 page 5
James F. Clark age 87 years, an old Confederate Soldier and the oldest inmate of the Confederate Home in this city, died yesterday morning after a lingering illness. He stood high in Masonic circles and had a host of friends in Jacksonville. He leaves two sons, J. H. and T. J. Clark and one daughter, Mrs. John Capp, all of whom reside in Jacksonville. The funeral services will be held this morning at 10 o'clock from the chapel at the Funeral Director Marcus Conant and will be conducted by Rev. Harrison of St. Stephan's Episcopal Church. Services will be conducted at the grave by Damascus Commandery Knights Templar.
Note: Special Thanks to Jim Bass for all the information.
PERSONAL NOTES AND BIO RECAP
It has taken me years to research and understand, but here is what I found over the past 30 years of researching this man.
His family bible provides his birth date at August 24, 1823. The family bible shows Francis Clark as his father, dying in 1848. There as a Francis Clark in the 1840 Census of Edgecombe Co., NC with a male in the household of the same age as James Fabius. Francis Clark's estate record in NC confirms the relationship as well.
According to the earliest records of his birth, J. F. Clark was born in Edgecombe Co., NC. This is supported by his Confederate pension application. His October 1844 marriage to Pennina Brake is recorded in Edgecombe Co., NC. Pennina's family was also from Edgecombe Co., NC. The 1850 census for Wake Co., NC shows his birth location as NC - his wife and children are also shown as being from NC.
In 1854, after Pennina's parents died, they moved their family to Charlton Co., GA. He served as Tyler and Senior Deacon in the Folkston Masonic Lodge at Trader's Hill in 1856 and 1857 respectively. The 1860 Census for Charlton Co., GA shows his birth location as NC as well as all children except the youngest, Louvenia, who was born in GA. According to the family bible, Pennina died Dec 27, 1860, presumably in GA
He and his oldest son, Joseph Henry, enlisted in the service of the Confederacy in 1862 at Trader's Hill in Charlton Co., GA. After the war, he married Alethia (Lydia) Geiger of Nassau Co., FL. According to the family bible, they married September 21, 1865. By 1870 he and Abitah (Alethia) were listed in the Duval Co., FL census. The family bible shows she died August 12 but the year is unknown. He was W.M. OF Callahan Lodge #32 F. & A. M. 1871-1873 and W. M of Ezra Masonic Lodge #67 in 1874, 1875, 1879.
In future census records, the birth location changes. In 1870 it says FL. The 1880 Census shows NC as the birth place. His 2 sons are in the 1880 census and their birth locations are still listed at NC. Te 1885 Census shows NC as birth place. In 1900 it says VA. In 1910, the record reverts back to NC as the birth place.
James F. Clark married a third time, according to the family bible on September 30, 1886, to Maggie E. Davis, from New Jersey. The bible records her birthdate as March 19, 1836. She was a Confederate Veterans activist, worked in the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Home and died 1897. He became a resident of the Confederate Home in 1898 and lived there until he died in Dec 1910.
To add to the confusion, James F. Clark became senile at the home. His death certificate indicates senility as contributory to his condition. There were many complaints from the Confederate Home residents of his tall tales of battles and his glorious ancestry, etc.
Mr. William R. Minor, W. M. of Ezra Lodge, wrote the biographical sketch on James F.'s life and included in it were "factoids" from his interview with James F. Clark which we believe was conducted during the time J. F. lived at the soldiers home. As James Fabius told it, he was the son of Brig. Gen Elijah Clark from Lincolnton, GA.
The bio that William Minor wrote ended up in the first "History of Ezra Lodge Number 67" which was published in 1948. The story of Elijah Clark perpetuated from this article and has been re-used many times. The descendants of J. F. Clark, used to have family reunions in the lat 80's and early 90's. Many times we held those reunions at that Lodge which was founded in part by our ancestor.
When I realized the error in the bio I was able to get the info to the right people and they corrected the bio in future publications, but they never did tell the full story. They just removed the part about Elijah and left the rest about Lincolnton, GA.
This is how this myth of his parentage and birth place started. I spent years going down this wrong path until I finally realized that Elijah died 1799 and had no children or grandchildren named James.
His grave was unmarked for 75 years or more until I coordinated the installation of a marker at his grave in Evergreen Cemetery in the late 1980's.
OBITUARY
FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
Jacksonville, Duval County, FL
December 6, 1910 page 5
James F. Clark age 87 years, an old Confederate Soldier and the oldest inmate of the Confederate Home in this city, died yesterday morning after a lingering illness. He stood high in Masonic circles and had a host of friends in Jacksonville. He leaves two sons, J. H. and T. J. Clark and one daughter, Mrs. John Capp, all of whom reside in Jacksonville. The funeral services will be held this morning at 10 o'clock from the chapel at the Funeral Director Marcus Conant and will be conducted by Rev. Harrison of St. Stephan's Episcopal Church. Services will be conducted at the grave by Damascus Commandery Knights Templar.
Note: Special Thanks to Jim Bass for all the information.
PERSONAL NOTES AND BIO RECAP
It has taken me years to research and understand, but here is what I found over the past 30 years of researching this man.
His family bible provides his birth date at August 24, 1823. The family bible shows Francis Clark as his father, dying in 1848. There as a Francis Clark in the 1840 Census of Edgecombe Co., NC with a male in the household of the same age as James Fabius. Francis Clark's estate record in NC confirms the relationship as well.
According to the earliest records of his birth, J. F. Clark was born in Edgecombe Co., NC. This is supported by his Confederate pension application. His October 1844 marriage to Pennina Brake is recorded in Edgecombe Co., NC. Pennina's family was also from Edgecombe Co., NC. The 1850 census for Wake Co., NC shows his birth location as NC - his wife and children are also shown as being from NC.
In 1854, after Pennina's parents died, they moved their family to Charlton Co., GA. He served as Tyler and Senior Deacon in the Folkston Masonic Lodge at Trader's Hill in 1856 and 1857 respectively. The 1860 Census for Charlton Co., GA shows his birth location as NC as well as all children except the youngest, Louvenia, who was born in GA. According to the family bible, Pennina died Dec 27, 1860, presumably in GA
He and his oldest son, Joseph Henry, enlisted in the service of the Confederacy in 1862 at Trader's Hill in Charlton Co., GA. After the war, he married Alethia (Lydia) Geiger of Nassau Co., FL. According to the family bible, they married September 21, 1865. By 1870 he and Abitah (Alethia) were listed in the Duval Co., FL census. The family bible shows she died August 12 but the year is unknown. He was W.M. OF Callahan Lodge #32 F. & A. M. 1871-1873 and W. M of Ezra Masonic Lodge #67 in 1874, 1875, 1879.
In future census records, the birth location changes. In 1870 it says FL. The 1880 Census shows NC as the birth place. His 2 sons are in the 1880 census and their birth locations are still listed at NC. Te 1885 Census shows NC as birth place. In 1900 it says VA. In 1910, the record reverts back to NC as the birth place.
James F. Clark married a third time, according to the family bible on September 30, 1886, to Maggie E. Davis, from New Jersey. The bible records her birthdate as March 19, 1836. She was a Confederate Veterans activist, worked in the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Home and died 1897. He became a resident of the Confederate Home in 1898 and lived there until he died in Dec 1910.
To add to the confusion, James F. Clark became senile at the home. His death certificate indicates senility as contributory to his condition. There were many complaints from the Confederate Home residents of his tall tales of battles and his glorious ancestry, etc.
Mr. William R. Minor, W. M. of Ezra Lodge, wrote the biographical sketch on James F.'s life and included in it were "factoids" from his interview with James F. Clark which we believe was conducted during the time J. F. lived at the soldiers home. As James Fabius told it, he was the son of Brig. Gen Elijah Clark from Lincolnton, GA.
The bio that William Minor wrote ended up in the first "History of Ezra Lodge Number 67" which was published in 1948. The story of Elijah Clark perpetuated from this article and has been re-used many times. The descendants of J. F. Clark, used to have family reunions in the lat 80's and early 90's. Many times we held those reunions at that Lodge which was founded in part by our ancestor.
When I realized the error in the bio I was able to get the info to the right people and they corrected the bio in future publications, but they never did tell the full story. They just removed the part about Elijah and left the rest about Lincolnton, GA.
This is how this myth of his parentage and birth place started. I spent years going down this wrong path until I finally realized that Elijah died 1799 and had no children or grandchildren named James.
His grave was unmarked for 75 years or more until I coordinated the installation of a marker at his grave in Evergreen Cemetery in the late 1980's.
FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
Jacksonville, Duval County, FL
December 6, 1910 page 5
James F. Clark age 87 years, an old Confederate Soldier and the oldest inmate of the Confederate Home in this city, died yesterday morning after a lingering illness. He stood high in Masonic circles and had a host of friends in Jacksonville. He leaves two sons, J. H. and T. J. Clark and one daughter, Mrs. John Capp, all of whom reside in Jacksonville. The funeral services will be held this morning at 10 o'clock from the chapel at the Funeral Director Marcus Conant and will be conducted by Rev. Harrison of St. Stephan's Episcopal Church. Services will be conducted at the grave by Damascus Commandery Knights Templar.
Note: Special Thanks to Jim Bass for all the information.
PERSONAL NOTES AND BIO RECAP
It has taken me years to research and understand, but here is what I found over the past 30 years of researching this man.
His family bible provides his birth date at August 24, 1823. The family bible shows Francis Clark as his father, dying in 1848. There as a Francis Clark in the 1840 Census of Edgecombe Co., NC with a male in the household of the same age as James Fabius. Francis Clark's estate record in NC confirms the relationship as well.
According to the earliest records of his birth, J. F. Clark was born in Edgecombe Co., NC. This is supported by his Confederate pension application. His October 1844 marriage to Pennina Brake is recorded in Edgecombe Co., NC. Pennina's family was also from Edgecombe Co., NC. The 1850 census for Wake Co., NC shows his birth location as NC - his wife and children are also shown as being from NC.
In 1854, after Pennina's parents died, they moved their family to Charlton Co., GA. He served as Tyler and Senior Deacon in the Folkston Masonic Lodge at Trader's Hill in 1856 and 1857 respectively. The 1860 Census for Charlton Co., GA shows his birth location as NC as well as all children except the youngest, Louvenia, who was born in GA. According to the family bible, Pennina died Dec 27, 1860, presumably in GA
He and his oldest son, Joseph Henry, enlisted in the service of the Confederacy in 1862 at Trader's Hill in Charlton Co., GA. After the war, he married Alethia (Lydia) Geiger of Nassau Co., FL. According to the family bible, they married September 21, 1865. By 1870 he and Abitah (Alethia) were listed in the Duval Co., FL census. The family bible shows she died August 12 but the year is unknown. He was W.M. OF Callahan Lodge #32 F. & A. M. 1871-1873 and W. M of Ezra Masonic Lodge #67 in 1874, 1875, 1879.
In future census records, the birth location changes. In 1870 it says FL. The 1880 Census shows NC as the birth place. His 2 sons are in the 1880 census and their birth locations are still listed at NC. Te 1885 Census shows NC as birth place. In 1900 it says VA. In 1910, the record reverts back to NC as the birth place.
James F. Clark married a third time, according to the family bible on September 30, 1886, to Maggie E. Davis, from New Jersey. The bible records her birthdate as March 19, 1836. She was a Confederate Veterans activist, worked in the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Home and died 1897. He became a resident of the Confederate Home in 1898 and lived there until he died in Dec 1910.
To add to the confusion, James F. Clark became senile at the home. His death certificate indicates senility as contributory to his condition. There were many complaints from the Confederate Home residents of his tall tales of battles and his glorious ancestry, etc.
Mr. William R. Minor, W. M. of Ezra Lodge, wrote the biographical sketch on James F.'s life and included in it were "factoids" from his interview with James F. Clark which we believe was conducted during the time J. F. lived at the soldiers home. As James Fabius told it, he was the son of Brig. Gen Elijah Clark from Lincolnton, GA.
The bio that William Minor wrote ended up in the first "History of Ezra Lodge Number 67" which was published in 1948. The story of Elijah Clark perpetuated from this article and has been re-used many times. The descendants of J. F. Clark, used to have family reunions in the lat 80's and early 90's. Many times we held those reunions at that Lodge which was founded in part by our ancestor.
When I realized the error in the bio I was able to get the info to the right people and they corrected the bio in future publications, but they never did tell the full story. They just removed the part about Elijah and left the rest about Lincolnton, GA.
This is how this myth of his parentage and birth place started. I spent years going down this wrong path until I finally realized that Elijah died 1799 and had no children or grandchildren named James.
His grave was unmarked for 75 years or more until I coordinated the installation of a marker at his grave in Evergreen Cemetery in the late 1980's.
Inscription
James Fabius Clark's grave was unmarked for about 75 years. In the mid-to-late 1980's the Veteran's Administration installed a marker. The birth and death dates are provided as well as the following epitaph "His legacy lives on through his descendants".
Gravesite Details
He is buried in the Mason section located in off of Holmes Drive and Magnolia Avenue, near the entrance at Gate 5 off of Evergreen Ave.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
