Genealogy

Orange Clark was born about 1823 in Indiana, to George and Sarah Lee Clark. His father, George, was born about September 1794 in Washington County, New York. George came to Indiana with his father and brothers in about 1815. Orange's mother, Sarah Lee, was born in Maryland according to census records, but moved to Indiana with her father and mother, David Lee and Ann.

Margaret Cole was also from Switzerland County, Indiana. There are many Coles in this area, but I have not been able to definitely identify her parents. Anyone with information about the Coles would be appreciated.

Clarks In Indiana

Orange had a sister named Ann, born January 1, 1822 in Switzerland County, Indiana. Orange was born a year later also in Indiana. There were probably other brothers and sisters of Orange, as Orange's mother, Sarah Lee, was only 26 when he was born, and families then were usually quite large. Sarah's parents were David and Ann Lee. This information comes from David Lee's will dated October 11, 1836 and executed in 1848. It specifically names ". . Sarah wife of George Clark . ., and lists her sisters Catherine, Polly, Rebecca, Mary and Ann and her brothers Josiah, William and David.

The Clarks and Lees were neighbors that lived in Pleasant Township in northern Switzerland county, Indiana. Another set of neighbors were the Cole family, which lived in the adjoining Cotton Township.

Orange married Margaret Jane Cole in Switzerland County, Indiana on December 9, 1842. There wre many Cole families in that area (all related) with large families. Positive identification of Margaret Jane's parents has not been found, but the best guess is that her parents were Joseph Cole Jr. and Mary (Mapes) Cole.

Orange and Margaret's first child, Alvira, was born in 1844 and George followed in 1847. Towards the end of the 1840's they all moved to Iowa (Wapello County, near Ottumwa). The 1850 Federal Census for Iowa lists George and Sarah Clark (Orange's parents) and Margaret, Alvira and George, in the same household. But it did not list Orange.

California Gold Rush

A letter written from Mable Clark Blue (Orange's granddaughter) to her granddaughter Norma Scranton, in 1958, says that Orange Clark traveled to California for the gold rush. Of course the gold rush began in 1849, so this explains the 1950 census. The letter gave little other information about Orange, only saying

" . . your great, great grandpa Clark went to California during the gold rush, they went from Kans in a covered wagon and they nearly died of thirst, when they went through the desert, as there were no places to get water at that time. He said their tongues were swollen and hanging out of their mouths when they got where they could get water." (Note: I believe she was in error when she said they left from Kans. They probably left from Indiana or Iowa.)

In 1853 Orange and Margaret probably moved back to Indiana with his parents because William was born in Indiana in 1854. There is a deed record of George & Sarah selling their land October 4, 1853 about 2 miles north of Eldon in the southeast corner of Wapello County, Iowa.

The next location of Orange is in Missouri, as their next child Sarah was born there in 1856.

Family information listing Orange his wife and children was found in the 1860 Federal Census Record, taken in York Township, Putnam County, Missouri on October 11, 1860. Putnam County is in northern Missouri, on the Iowa border. John Clark was born in St. Johns, Missouri just 7 months prior to this census.

Orange went back to Indiana again as his next two children (daughter Alma and son Francis) were born in Indiana in 1863 and 1865. He might have gone back to Indiana during the Civil War, as Indiana was more stable and safe than Missouri. Because he then came back to Missouri where his last son Josiah was born in 1867.

Kansas Frontier

There is no record of where Orange Clark was for the next 11 years, but I believe he probably stayed in Missouri until he went to Lincoln County, Kansas in 1875. His son, George had two children born in Missouri, in 1874 and 1876. Given their habit of moving around together, and the fact that this George moved to Lincoln County, Kansas also, I believe Orange was in Missouri until approximately 1875.

Lincoln County was still pretty isolated in the 1870s, the first railroad did not come to Lincoln County until 1886. We do not know what brought the Clarks to this area, but they probably arrived in 1875. Margaret Clark died in Lincoln County and is buried in a small but well kept cemetery about 4 miles east of the homestead. The dates are simply September 1824 - February 1878

The next record we have of Orange is the 1880 Federal Census Record for Lincoln County, Kansas. In the Salt Creek township. Orange is listed along with John, Alma, 17, (spelling is not clear), son Francis, 15, and son Josiah, 13. This is the first evidence of the last three children. Son William is also listed (not clear if they are living in same household) with his wife Vina and daughter Cora.

In the same year we have record of a Homestead Claim filed in Lincoln County, Kansas on November 2nd 1880. The actual document is on file in the Lincoln County courthouse. He received a Patent (Title) to the land August 16th, 1882. The Homestead laws at the time granted clear title to 160 acres of land if the homesteader resided on the land for three years.

This land is 2 miles east and 5 miles south of Barnard in Lincoln County. It appears to be good farm land and backs up to a good sized creek. The land is presently owned and farmed by a Helen and Seth Myers. Their house and farm is in the middle of this tract. Seth Myers was born in a one room house on this land, since torn down, in about 1920. It is possible this was built by Orange Clark. Son, William bought 160 acres in June 1884 about 1 mile south and 5 miles west of Orange's place.

The federal census is taken every ten years. However, at one time, Kansas also took a census in-between the federal census. The 1885 Kansas census in Lincoln County reveals some very interesting information and some detail not available in the Federal census.

This census shows Orange Clark at the same 160 acres, with sons John (age 25) and Josiah (age 15) living with him. The 1880 census showed daughter Alma and son Francis also with him. Alma probably got married (she would be 22) and Francis (20) must have left home. One of the purposes of the Kansas census was to compile some detailed information about the state's agriculture. Of Orange's 160 acres he had 25 acres with winter wheat and 60 acres of corn (this was as of March 1, 1885). He also had two milk cows and two other cattle and 10 swine.

Clarks Meet the Baggetts

Even more interesting from this census, was the people who were listed just before Orange and immediately after - his neighbors. Allen Baggett and his entire family was listed just beneath Orange. They had just moved to Lincoln County from Illinois within the past year. The obituary for Ada Baggett Clark noted they had come to Kansas 53 years before her death (1938). This census listing is the only documentation of the Baggetts in Lincoln County other than the marriage license for John Clark and Ada. (They were married in September, 1885.) Along with Allen; America, Ada, Elvita, Minnie and Fanny were listed. Allen only had 80 acres and no entries were made for farmed acres and only 2 horses were listed.

While we knew the Baggetts were in Lincoln County due to John and Ada's marriage, the other neighbor was a complete surprise. Listed just above Orange is Bryen E. Cagle (America Cagle Baggett's brother) his wife and 10 month old daughter, and his and America's father, M.J.J. Cagle. Also with them were M.J.J.'s other children, Matthew J. (25), Laura (21), Rebecca (18), William F (17) and Ghasky (11). They had also moved from Illinois, obviously recently with the Baggetts. His farm totaled only 40 acres, and had 25 swine.

This moving around together continues later in this history. All of these families show up close together in Oklahoma also.

The picture of Orange shown above is Orange Clark. It was taken in Beverly, Kansas in about 1886. Beverly is about 12 miles east of Lincoln and today has only a couple hundred residents. It is 1 mile east and 8 miles south the homestead and at this time was the closest town to the homestead. The building behind Orange still stands today.

It is possible this picture was taken July 4, 1886, as there was a big celebration in town that day. Notice that he is wearing a suit, remember he was a farmer. Also the original picture shows the crowd in the background to be dressed up also. More evidence that this was a special occasion is that photographers weren't that common at this time and photos weren't generally taken in the street just any time.

Orange quit farming probably in the late 1880's. His son, John when out to western Kansas and then back to the Topeka, Kansas area. But Orange bought a lot in the new town of Barnard, just north of their homestead in February, 1888. Barnard was developed in about 1887 when a branch of the Sante Fe Railroad was graded to that site. John must have returned to this area as he buys a lot in town with Orange in January for $500. Orange busy an additional lot from the Barnard Town Company in September, 1889 for $100. A book titled Lincoln - The County in Kansas, covers the early development of Barnard. In describing the business at this time in Barnard, it notes " . . . a livery stable was operated by a Mr. John Clark and his father." While there is not further confirmation of this at this time, I believe this was another venture for the Clarks.

Orange left the Barnard area probably in the early 1890's. Apparently any business he operated was not successful as he lost some of his land to foreclosure. He probably went to Oklahoma with John and the Baggetts for the Cherokee Land Rush. Several stories about his Oklahoma days exist, but none are confirmed.

Bob Clark remembers his dad, Ora, telling stories about riding in a wagon shooting rabbits with his grandfather, in Woods County, Oklahoma, maybe around Alva.

Also, in the letter Mable Clark Blue wrote in 1958 to her granddaughter, she wrote about Orange: "I don't know when he was born, he died when I was a little girl about 1878 I think, in Nardin Okla." Nardin is on the western county line of Kay County, Oklahoma about 8 miles west of Blackwell. A search of all the cemeteries in the area did not reveal his resting place. However, there are some old cemeteries with numerous stones that have worn so much that they cannot be read. There are no death records in Kay County for this time period. But, Mable could be mistaken. While John Clark did indeed live in Nardin, Orange did not necessarily die there. Mable's letter was mistaken about the date. She wrote in the letter " . . when I was a little girl about 1878 . .", but she was not even born until 1887. Also we do know he was alive as late as 1894 in Sumner County, Kansas. So she could have been mistaken about the place also. This was about 60 years before she wrote the letter.

So the search for Orange Clark will go on.