Thomas Jefferson Clark, our dad, was born on 29 January 1914 in Bradleyville, Taney, Missouri. He was the last of 4 children born to Thomas Jefferson & Cora (Eshleman) Clark.
He grew up on a working farm, quitting school early in his teen years to help out his father and older brothers, as a lot of farm boys did in those days.
In the early 1930's, during the Great Depression, Dad, his sister, Pearl Manley and several family members came out west seeking employment. They traveled on old Route 66 into Southern California; then drove up north through the Central Valley, settling in the Yuba County township of Arboga.
They first worked in the fruit orchards, living in a labor camp that was established by the Federal Government. (Arboga had one such labor camp visited by John Steinbeck in his research for the novel "The Grapes of Wrath")
After a short time, they moved to the foothills of the Sierras in upper Yuba & Butte Counties to work in the timber industry. Dad remained a timber worker until his death.
When WW II broke out, Dad joined with the Army Air Corps for the duration. It was during this time that he contracted malaria, which would plague him periodically throughout his lifetime.
After the war, he returned to work the timber near Challenge, California. There, his sister, Pearl, had become part-owner in a small café, which catered mostly to the loggers.
It was through his sister that he met my mother, Esther Messner. Aunt Pearl had hired her as a waitress/kitchen helper. Tom & Esther were married in 1946. They started out their married life in a small cabin in the logging camp near Challenge.
Together they had 3 children:
James Stanley - born 22 February 1947
Shirley Ann - born 29 May 1948
Glenda Raye - born 22 March 1955
In 1949, we moved back to Arboga, where Mom & Dad, in partnership with my aunt and her second husband, Bent Flanery, bought a large two-story house which was built in the early 1900's. In 1955, they bought the house next door, which was almost identical in style.
Dad was a hard worker, a loving husband, father and brother. He loved fishing & camping, and occasionally, hunting deer. He had his lifelong friends from Missouri, and those from California. He always provided for his family, and was generous to those in need. We always had a spare room in the old house for a relative or a friend in need. I never witnessed my parents fighting. I'm sure they had their disagreements, however they always settled them in private.
Dad died on the night of 13 March 1962 from a heart attack. He and Mom had gone fishing that day with some friends. He was only 48 years old. He was a great father and role model. We love him, and still miss him after all these years.
Bio by: SA (Clark) Rose
We wish to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to God's Special Angel for sponsoring our father's memorial page. God Bless you & your family, Linda.
He grew up on a working farm, quitting school early in his teen years to help out his father and older brothers, as a lot of farm boys did in those days.
In the early 1930's, during the Great Depression, Dad, his sister, Pearl Manley and several family members came out west seeking employment. They traveled on old Route 66 into Southern California; then drove up north through the Central Valley, settling in the Yuba County township of Arboga.
They first worked in the fruit orchards, living in a labor camp that was established by the Federal Government. (Arboga had one such labor camp visited by John Steinbeck in his research for the novel "The Grapes of Wrath")
After a short time, they moved to the foothills of the Sierras in upper Yuba & Butte Counties to work in the timber industry. Dad remained a timber worker until his death.
When WW II broke out, Dad joined with the Army Air Corps for the duration. It was during this time that he contracted malaria, which would plague him periodically throughout his lifetime.
After the war, he returned to work the timber near Challenge, California. There, his sister, Pearl, had become part-owner in a small café, which catered mostly to the loggers.
It was through his sister that he met my mother, Esther Messner. Aunt Pearl had hired her as a waitress/kitchen helper. Tom & Esther were married in 1946. They started out their married life in a small cabin in the logging camp near Challenge.
Together they had 3 children:
James Stanley - born 22 February 1947
Shirley Ann - born 29 May 1948
Glenda Raye - born 22 March 1955
In 1949, we moved back to Arboga, where Mom & Dad, in partnership with my aunt and her second husband, Bent Flanery, bought a large two-story house which was built in the early 1900's. In 1955, they bought the house next door, which was almost identical in style.
Dad was a hard worker, a loving husband, father and brother. He loved fishing & camping, and occasionally, hunting deer. He had his lifelong friends from Missouri, and those from California. He always provided for his family, and was generous to those in need. We always had a spare room in the old house for a relative or a friend in need. I never witnessed my parents fighting. I'm sure they had their disagreements, however they always settled them in private.
Dad died on the night of 13 March 1962 from a heart attack. He and Mom had gone fishing that day with some friends. He was only 48 years old. He was a great father and role model. We love him, and still miss him after all these years.
Bio by: SA (Clark) Rose
We wish to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to God's Special Angel for sponsoring our father's memorial page. God Bless you & your family, Linda.
Thomas Jefferson Clark, our dad, was born on 29 January 1914 in Bradleyville, Taney, Missouri. He was the last of 4 children born to Thomas Jefferson & Cora (Eshleman) Clark.
He grew up on a working farm, quitting school early in his teen years to help out his father and older brothers, as a lot of farm boys did in those days.
In the early 1930's, during the Great Depression, Dad, his sister, Pearl Manley and several family members came out west seeking employment. They traveled on old Route 66 into Southern California; then drove up north through the Central Valley, settling in the Yuba County township of Arboga.
They first worked in the fruit orchards, living in a labor camp that was established by the Federal Government. (Arboga had one such labor camp visited by John Steinbeck in his research for the novel "The Grapes of Wrath")
After a short time, they moved to the foothills of the Sierras in upper Yuba & Butte Counties to work in the timber industry. Dad remained a timber worker until his death.
When WW II broke out, Dad joined with the Army Air Corps for the duration. It was during this time that he contracted malaria, which would plague him periodically throughout his lifetime.
After the war, he returned to work the timber near Challenge, California. There, his sister, Pearl, had become part-owner in a small café, which catered mostly to the loggers.
It was through his sister that he met my mother, Esther Messner. Aunt Pearl had hired her as a waitress/kitchen helper. Tom & Esther were married in 1946. They started out their married life in a small cabin in the logging camp near Challenge.
Together they had 3 children:
James Stanley - born 22 February 1947
Shirley Ann - born 29 May 1948
Glenda Raye - born 22 March 1955
In 1949, we moved back to Arboga, where Mom & Dad, in partnership with my aunt and her second husband, Bent Flanery, bought a large two-story house which was built in the early 1900's. In 1955, they bought the house next door, which was almost identical in style.
Dad was a hard worker, a loving husband, father and brother. He loved fishing & camping, and occasionally, hunting deer. He had his lifelong friends from Missouri, and those from California. He always provided for his family, and was generous to those in need. We always had a spare room in the old house for a relative or a friend in need. I never witnessed my parents fighting. I'm sure they had their disagreements, however they always settled them in private.
Dad died on the night of 13 March 1962 from a heart attack. He and Mom had gone fishing that day with some friends. He was only 48 years old. He was a great father and role model. We love him, and still miss him after all these years.
Bio by: SA (Clark) Rose
We wish to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to God's Special Angel for sponsoring our father's memorial page. God Bless you & your family, Linda.
He grew up on a working farm, quitting school early in his teen years to help out his father and older brothers, as a lot of farm boys did in those days.
In the early 1930's, during the Great Depression, Dad, his sister, Pearl Manley and several family members came out west seeking employment. They traveled on old Route 66 into Southern California; then drove up north through the Central Valley, settling in the Yuba County township of Arboga.
They first worked in the fruit orchards, living in a labor camp that was established by the Federal Government. (Arboga had one such labor camp visited by John Steinbeck in his research for the novel "The Grapes of Wrath")
After a short time, they moved to the foothills of the Sierras in upper Yuba & Butte Counties to work in the timber industry. Dad remained a timber worker until his death.
When WW II broke out, Dad joined with the Army Air Corps for the duration. It was during this time that he contracted malaria, which would plague him periodically throughout his lifetime.
After the war, he returned to work the timber near Challenge, California. There, his sister, Pearl, had become part-owner in a small café, which catered mostly to the loggers.
It was through his sister that he met my mother, Esther Messner. Aunt Pearl had hired her as a waitress/kitchen helper. Tom & Esther were married in 1946. They started out their married life in a small cabin in the logging camp near Challenge.
Together they had 3 children:
James Stanley - born 22 February 1947
Shirley Ann - born 29 May 1948
Glenda Raye - born 22 March 1955
In 1949, we moved back to Arboga, where Mom & Dad, in partnership with my aunt and her second husband, Bent Flanery, bought a large two-story house which was built in the early 1900's. In 1955, they bought the house next door, which was almost identical in style.
Dad was a hard worker, a loving husband, father and brother. He loved fishing & camping, and occasionally, hunting deer. He had his lifelong friends from Missouri, and those from California. He always provided for his family, and was generous to those in need. We always had a spare room in the old house for a relative or a friend in need. I never witnessed my parents fighting. I'm sure they had their disagreements, however they always settled them in private.
Dad died on the night of 13 March 1962 from a heart attack. He and Mom had gone fishing that day with some friends. He was only 48 years old. He was a great father and role model. We love him, and still miss him after all these years.
Bio by: SA (Clark) Rose
We wish to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to God's Special Angel for sponsoring our father's memorial page. God Bless you & your family, Linda.
