Brother David Smith Ancestor Profile
| Henry Smith | Elza & Elwood Morris | John Morris | William Walter | John C. Lambert | Harvey & William Morris | John J. Clark | John & William Clark
G-G Grandfather and G-G-G Grandfather John H. Clark & William W. Clark William W. Clark and his son John H. Clark served together in Company C of the 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. William’s brother Amos Bateman Clark served with the 111th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company C, as well as his brother John J. Clark, who served with the 92nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company G. John H. Clark was born in Barnesville, Belmont County, Ohio on 29 May 1845, and passed away in Belpre, Washington County, Ohio on 31 January 1929. He was the son of William W. Clark and his first wife Elizabeth (Luke) Clark. He married Sarah Ann Hunter on 17 December 1869. William W. Clark was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania on 15 July 1823, and passed away in Washington County, Ohio on 22 April 1898. He was born to Abraham and Letitia (Williams) Clark. Both father and son saw hard service during the Overland Campaign. John H. Clark was shot through the side of his torso on 09 May 1864 during the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, taking him out of service for a portion of time. His father William W. Clark took ill with severe intestinal issues during the Battle of Cold Harbor that led him to eventually have epileptic seizures that he had not had since his being a young man. The seizures became worse during the Siege of Petersburg, possibly being affected by severe dehydration due to intestinal issues. The intestinal issues were assuredly exacerbated where the men of Company C were utilizing trenches and using chips off from stored ice that was dirty near a Confederate hospital for their water source. By order of the War Department, William W. Clark was discharged in the field outside of Petersburg due to the epileptic seizures. The regimental surgeons did not believe he could continue on being transferred to the Veterans Reserve Corps, and thus was discharged from the Army to return home with his medical issues. Both John H. Clark and William W. Clark were Comrades of A.H. Browning GAR Post No. 673 in Little Hocking, near Belpre in Washington County, Ohio. John H. Clark served as Officer of the Guard and Chaplain of the Post. William’s brother John J. Clark was also in Post No. 673 where he served as Post Commander, Alternate Delgate, Quartermaster and Adjutant. Additionally, John H. Clark’s daughter’s father-in-law Henry Smith also was a Comrade of Post No. 673. During a visit by Brother David Smith to the Belpre Historical Society, Brother Smith was able to view the Adjutant’s Meeting Minutes Book for the A.H. Browning GAR Post. Most of the minutes were written by Brother Smith’s 4th Great Uncle John J. Clark in his duties as Adjutant. To be able to hold the very book that his uncle wrote in was unbelievably special. Even more so, was the fact that the Post’s Bylaws were written out by hand on notebook paper, with each Comrade of the Post signing the Bylaws. Brother Smith had the opportunity to hold those very sheets of paper that his 3rd Great Grandfather, two 2nd Great Grandfathers, and his 4th Great Uncle had signed was simply moving (William W., John H. & Henry Smith, and John J. respectively).
John H. Clark and Sarah Ann (Hunter) Clark in their younger years
John H. Clark and Sarah Ann (Hunter) Clark in their older years
Signatures of the Comrades of A.H. Browning GAR Post No. 673 on the Post Bylaws.
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