from Leaders and Leading Men of the Indian Territory, By H. F. O’Beirne, 1891
Wm. A. Clark, M.D.
The subject of this sketch is the son of Rev. Moses Clark, of Caddo, Choctaw Nation, who previous to his removal to the country, resided in Gilmer, Georgia, where William Ashbury was born. The young man was educated at Stanford, Kentucky, and afterward taught school in Lincoln county for two years. In 1873 he commenced reading medicine in Duncan county, Missouri, and after finishing his studies moved to the neighborhood of Armstrong Academy, Choctaw Nation, 1878, where he resided till the fall of 1881, when he moved to Durant, in the same Nation. After a few years practice at that point Dr. Clark returned to the Academy, where he remained till 1885, finally settling down to his professional career in Durant, where he now resides. In 1879 he married Selina Mowdy, daughter of Jas. Mowdy, of Nashoba county, Mississippi, by whom he had four children, two of whom are living- Nancy Leigher, eight years old, and Ashbury Bates, five years.
Dr. Clark is the oldest practicing physician in Blue county, and speaks highly of the treatment which he has received at the hands of the Choctaw people, whom he has found scrupulously honest in their dealings.
Dr. Clark, in company with Dr. Starks, was present at the hanging of Silas Peters in 1881 (the only Choctaw ever hung in his own country) the crime being horse theft on second conviction. This is the only offense punishable by the gallows, and is looked upon as a more degrading crime than murder in the first degree.
Dr. Clark has opened a large lumber business in Durant, where he is to be found when not actively engaged in his professional duties.
William Clark was my dad's uncle. I am the great-granddaughter of Moses C. Clark of Durant,Oklahoma. I am searching for anyone who is related to Moses/William Clark. Is this the same William who was the father of Lola Clark Kidd?
Posted by: Carolyn Jones Higgins | October 29, 2011 at 11:26 AM