The Buchanan's

I have recently discovered online and through one connection off Ancestry.com that Laura Belle Buchanan's parents were in Mississippi. Their oldest son, Lemuel M., whom is also elusive, was born there. Lemuel only shows up on the 1850 U.S. Census for Cass County, Texas...Another mystery as he isn't on any others, at least by this name.


Laura's parents, George Buchanan and Ann Elizabeth Jones seems to have moved to the town of Hernandez (once known as Jefferson), DeSoto County, Mississippi..Ann's parents were there an her father appears to have been a prominent citizen of the town and early founder. I am awaiting records from the County at this time.
George was listed as a Carpenter on the 1850 U.S. Census fro Cass County, Texas. George died sometime before or in 1853. Laura Belle was the last child of George and Ann, she was born June of 1851 probably in Cass County. The County Court House was being built at this time and Indians were still in the area which could also explain for his death. I have not been able to locate any records of his death or a grave. I do know for sure that he passed away, Ann remarried.


Ann next married Edward Bowman a preacher. Their union produced five more children. The first being Edward Beauchman Bowman born August 28, 1854. Ann & Ed would have be married at the earliest in late 1853 from the date of this birth.


Fortuneattus Jones (oh how a name can have so many spellings as this one), Laura's grandfather, was born in Sumner County, Tennessee on May 2, 1794. The web site for Hernandez, DeSoto County, Mississippi has information on him. I am seeking a look-up volunteer to get records on him. There is a George Buchanan also listed. I hope this is our George.


I am so thankful for others to put up the information they have online. Time is arriving for the brick walls to come down. Linking families together is just part of the enjoyment any genealogist gets ecstatic about. My favorite is the HISTORY learned along the way. Here's to busting through the CLARK brick wall soon.

Our Lost Clark's - William J Clark b.1838 Ky. - d 1903 Tx.

     Our Lost Clark's blog is setup in hopes of finding the parents & siblings of my ancestor, William J. Clark. From all the U.S Census records, he was born in Kentucky. Year of his birth varies from each of the U.S. Census' from 1836 - 1839.


      I do believe the photo on this page is the headstone of my ancestor. The date of death on the headstone shows October 29, 1905. I believe this is an error on the year of death as the local directories have his wife, Laura Belle Buchanan Clark, listed as widow of Wm. Clark in the directories before 1905. The address of Laura is the address they lived at.


     Here's what I know from Census Records & Directories: 
1870 U.S. Census, dated 1 Aug 1870 - William Clark is living in the home of Ed Bowman, Laura's step-father.   The home was in the Marion Township, Sebastian County, Arkansas. William & Laura were married July 20, 1870 Ft.Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas. Laura is listed as Buchanan on the Census because the Census instruction say that the information collected is to be as of the date of June 1, 1870.


1880 U.S. Census, Wise County, Texas - Had William J. is 41 years old, Laura is 28, children are: Mary age 8, Elizabeth age 5 & George age 3.



1890 - Bosque County, Texas, U.S. Cencus: family including John H. living with other family members.              John was 5 yrs old. Old card #890--407-3 soundex.
              Father and Mother presented John H. with a Family Bible Oct 13th.

1900 U.S.Census, 5 Jun 1900 - Living at 616 Wardville, Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas. William is 63 yrs old and a confectioner. Laura is 48 yrs, Mary is 28, widowed with 3 of 3 living children, Elizabeth is 25 & a dressmaker, George is 23 & a day labor, John is 14.

1910 U.S. Census - Laura is still in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas on Wardville St.


1920 U.S. Census - Laura is living in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.


1930 U.S. Census - Laura is living in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas in the home of Dollie Elizabeth Hoffman.


1937 - Laura died July 2 in Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas. Buried July 5th in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.


My grandmother had November 5, 1903 as date of death for William, part from information in Cleburne City Directories & part from William's daughter-in-law, Annie Bell Clark.


Neither of us have been able to find record of any of William's family or where he was in 1840, 1850 or 1860.

If any of this information is in your family history, I would love to share information & discover where OUR LOST CLARK's are from..