Johnson-Washington County GaArchives News.....From Days Gone By.  County pioneer fought Bravely October 6 1999
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Gwen Brooks jhngwn@tds.net September 26, 2003, 2:17 pm

The Johnson Journal

The Johnson Journal, Wednesday, October 6, 1999, page 2.  
From Days Gone By—Donald Smith, a member of the Johnson Co. Historical Society.

County pioneer fought bravely.  

One of Johnson County’s many pioneer citizens was David E. Clark.  

Born Oct. 20, 1822, he is believed to be a son of Joshua and Jane Clark.  By 
1850 he married Miss Mary Ann Cowart in Washington County where they lived 
until their land was transferred into the newly formed Johnson County in 1858.

To this union were born Mary L., Albert, Penelope and Andrew Tarver.  In 1860 
the Clark’s had a real estate value of $500 and his personal wealth was $400.  
The Clark homeplace can best be described as the area where Jeff Powell’s home 
now stands in the New Home area.

On Sept. 27, 1863, David felt the call of duty to his country.  Like many men 
during those years, David risked everything, his farm, wife and house full of 
children, for a belief.  He enlisted as a private in Company F., 4th Georgia 
(Clinch’s) Calvary Regiment which was initially formed in January, 1863 using 
the 3rd Georgia Cavalry Battalion as its nucleus.

Many of these men came from Wayne, Glynn, and Camden counties.  It was 
assigned to the military district of Georgia, Dept. of South Caro9lina, 
Georgia and Florida from January 1863 to February 1864, where it served on the 
Georgia coast until the summer of 1864.   Then it was assigned to M. W. 
Hannon’s command.  It skirmished in northern Georgia and Alabama and took part 
in the defense of Savannah, and was also active in the Carolina campaigns.  
They served as reserves under Morgan’s command in Wheeler’s Cavalry Corps, 
Army of Tennessee in August and September 1864.

David and his unit participated in battles at Olustee, Florida, Feb. 20, 1864; 
the Atlanta Campaign and Siege in May through September 1864.  In March of 
1865 the unit contained 200 officers and men and surrendered with the Army of 
Tennessee.  Its commanders were Col. Duncan L. Clinch, Lt. Col. John H. 
Harris, and Maj. Jesse C. McDonald.

After the war, David came back home to Johnson County to his New Home farm and 
family, and tried successfully to pick up and carry on.  Times were hard 
during the reconstruction years.  By 1880 David and Mary lived alone with his 
children married off.  His sons Albert and Andrew Tarver were their 
neighbors.  

Mary Ann died Aug. 27, 1899 and was buried at New Home Church Cemetery.  Less 
than 2 months, on Oct. 6, 1899, David remarried to Ardelia Elizabeth Smith 
Kersey.  Lizzie was born in 1866 and was a daughter of George Henry and Sarah 
Ann Smith of Washington County.  Her first husband John B. Kersey died prior 
to 1899.

The 1900 Johnson County census shows David and Lizzie being married less than 
a year, with two step-daughters in the household.  These two daughters claimed 
her share of her grandmother Lavinia Smith’s estate in 1906 as Elizabeth 
Clark.  

On Wednesday morning, April 27, 1913, Lizzie awoke to find David had died 
during the night. He had been in feeble health for several years so his death 
was not unexpected.  Had he lived a short while longer he would have 
celebrated his 91st birthday.  He was 90 years, six months and seven days old 
and at that time was Johnson County’s oldest citizen.

He was considered by all who knew him to be a good and upright man whose days 
were long in the land which God had given him.  He was buried on Tuesday, 
April 29, at New Home Cemetery next to his first love, Mary.  He was given 
Masonic honors assisted by the Revs. M. R. Little and E. L. Harrison.

His sons, Andrew Tarver of Johnson County, Albert of Toombs County, daughters 
Mrs. Cicero Perry of Lyons and Mrs. Benjamin Brantley of Donovan all survived 
him.

David E. Clark was a good soldier.  He did his duty in all things.  He was a 
loyal friend to all who knew him and took good care of his family.  The people 
of Johnson and surrounding counties revered his memory for many years after 
his death.

The Johnson Greys will hold a memorial service for David E. Clark on Sunday 
Oct. 10, 2 p. m. at New Home Church Cemetery.




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