Age 92

William Clark was born in Pryer Creek, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) to Joseph Henry (1822-1864) and Mary Polly Ward (1823-1861). His mother, Mary Polly Ward...was a Cherokee but she did not come on the Trail of Tears...She came with her family before the Trail. Her family were known as the Old Settlers which were a group who came before the Trail of Tears and came from Georgia. Mary Polly Ward's parents were George and Lucy Mayes Ward. Actually, George was only a fourth and Lucy was white.....but when the rolls were recorded George had more Indian blood on the rolls than he actually had. See Georgia records....as his father was John Ward, white, and his mother was Catherine McDaniel who was a 1/2.
Williams father, an English American, came to I. T. as a Wagon Master. Williams mother died following his birth and he was kept alive by the help of friends. William went to several local schools and then to the Cherokee Orphan Asylum, founded by the Cherokee, for orphans of the Civil War. He then worked as a cowboy for Chief Sam Mayes and N.T. Halsell, of Vinita, driving cattle for them over the Chisholm Trail to Abilene, Texas and Dodge City, Kansas.

He married Lillie Belle Berry, June 17, 1891 at Pryor, Indian Territory. Lillie was teaching a small subscription school at Vann's Chapel. In 1902 the Clark's purchased the Crawford homestead, in Nowata County. In 1910 they moved to Chelsea so their children could go to high school there.

(Info about Mary Polly Ward was provided by Betty Mayer)

Children:
Joe
Lucy C. (marr. Beatty)
Mary Louise
Stella
Bill
John
George
Virginia

Joe went to A&M College (now Oklahoma State) in Stillwater, Ok. In his junior year he was appointed by Congressman James Davenport to the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated in 1917, just in time for WWI. He also served in WWII and the Korean War and was promoted to Four Star Admiral. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Lucy, Bill and John attended the University of Oklahoma . Bill was a geologist, John was Production Superintendent for Sun Oil Company in Texas. George worked for Shell Oil Company in Louisiana. Mary was a real estate agent in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bill and George served in WWII. George was in northern Europe under General Patton and Bill was a Commander in the Navy and served in the Pacific.