GOLDEN WEDDING CELEBRATION OF W.R. & SABRIA CLACK
From the Rhea County News, Sept. 17, 1915
Sunday, September 12, 1915, was a great day for Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Clack, who live in Rhea county, about ten miles east of Spring City. Fifty years ago on that date William Raleigh Clack, a native born Rhea countian, then 26 years of age, led to the marriage altar Miss Sabria C. Newport, who was his junior by ten years, and who was also born and reared in Rhea county. This happy young couple began housekeeping at the old Clack home on White's Creek, in the extreme upper end of Rhea county, soon after their marriage, and there they have lived and raised a family of six children, four girls and two boys.
All of the children and their families were present at this golden wedding celebration except two: Hugh Baxter Clack, who married Miss Bertha East, and who are now citizens of the state of Montana, and Sarah Clementine Clack, who married J.H. Manis, and who also lives in Montana. The following is a complete list of the 65 guest at this gathering:
Children: Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Galloway, Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Galloway, Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Clack, Mr. and Mrs. S.M. Sharp.
Grandchildren: Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Galloway, Mrs. Jessie Armstrong, Bessie Clack, Nellie Clack, Lela Clack, Willie Clack, Morgan Clack, Pauline Galloway, Maggie Ruth Galloway, Sabria Galloway, Edward Galloway.
Other near relatives: Dr. and Mrs. J. Morgan Clack, Dr. Walter Clack, J. Morgan Clack, Jr., Mollie Clack, Mr. and Mrs. Asa Stinecipher, A.J. Stinecipher, Martin Stinecipher, Jesse Stinecipher, Mary Stinecipher, Florence Stinecipher, Mr. and Mrs. D.J. Stinecipher, Jack East, Lena East, Mr. and Mrs. S.S. Eaves, Idella Eaves, Flossie Eaves, Sam Eaves, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cotton, Annie French, Mary Treadway, Eliza Etter, Mrs. Hattie Cate, Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Profitt, Luther Majors, Mollie Majors, W.D. Smith, Alice Smith, Mrs. Annie Chattin, Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Rogers, Laura Garrison, George Stinecipher.
Those not relatives: Judge M.S. Holloway, Dr. W.P. McDonald.
No average country house could accommodate such a large crowd as this so a number of tables were placed on the beautiful lawn in front of the house and from these the dinner was served in picnic style; and when the dinner hour arrived all the guests, with Mr. and Mrs. Clack, assembled around the tables and the roll was called. After this Mr. Clack made a short talk bidding the guests welcome and thanking them for their attendance. Then the feasting began and if any one present did not get a square meal it was his own fault. There was enough fried chicken there to have stampeded a Methodist Conference, and everything else was in proportion.
Mr. Clack is a Mason, and it is reasonable to suppose that the secrets of that great order are the only things that his good wife has not shared with him. They are both active members of the Baptist church, and no better people ever lived in any community than they. They have walked hand in hand for fifty years, sharing their joys, and the Lord has made their sorrows few. It is a great comfort to each of them to know that during all those years of their wedded life not a single difference has come up. It seems that when they were wed, their lives, like mingled dew drops on the rose, were blended into one, and they have become one as husband and wife.
Mr. Clack was a true and loyal soldier for the cause of the Southland in the war of the sixties and wears a "Cross of Honor" conferred on him by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in recognition of his valuable services for the "Lost Cause".
After dinner was over the time was spent in social conversation and in looking at the many valuable presents given Mr. and Mrs. Clack on this occasion. While the gifts were mostly of gold, in keeping with the custom, yet there were some of great beauty and value that were not gold.
Late in the afternoon the guests departed, each wishing this happy
old-young couple continued joy and prosperity, and craving an invitation
to their "Diamond Wedding" in due time. May they live to celebrate it; and
may their joys of fifty years continue on and on justas long as the Great
Master allows them to remain on earth.
W.P. McDonald
Mrs. Clack and I feel honored today by your presence and we extend to you kindly greetings, and welcome you to our little social gathering. We wish you to feel yourselves at^Ahome today and free to act as you please. The 12th of September is an eventful day for Mrs. Clack and myself. On that date in the year of 1865 we were united in the bonds of holy wedlock and today Sept. 12, 1915 we celebrate our golden wedding anniversary with an informal social and a family reunion. Fifty years of our wedded life has past and I am proud to say it has been one of domestic peace and happiness, and we have no cause to regret the step we made on that delightful September 12, 1865.
However we would not have you to understand that our voyage on the matrimonial sea was altogether on flowery beds of ease. We have had our joys and sorrows, trials and hardships, but we never whined or squealed at misfortune but would lick the flint and try again.
We commenced our double life in poverty at the close of the great civil war of the states. At that time men who stood on the side of the lost cause (and I was one of the boys) had but little they could call their own. We simply married for love and worked for a living.
Our union has been blessed with six children all of whom are living. The oldest is 48 and the youngest 35 years of age. We gave them all a limited education, but our battles for a time were thick and fierce to keep the proverbial wolf from our door, but we have been successful thus far. We are today free from debt and hold a clear title to our little homestead which is estimated to be worth from 3 to 4 thousand dollars, and we hold claims for a few hundred more against good and solvent parties. I attribute all this good luck to Mrs. Clack's skill and judicious management of our financial affairs.
Mrs. Clack is 66 and I am 76 years young and we are still blest with excellent good health and great vitality.
We thank you one and all for honoring us with your presence today and
again bid you
welcome, yes thrice welcome on this occasion.
The three articles below were printed below each other in the
same column of the newspaper -- EC)
APPRECIATED We desire to express sincere appreciation of the honor and esteem shown us by our many friends and kinfolks, by their presence at our "Golden Wedding" Anniversary, celebrated Sunday, September the 12th, also for the many tokens and remembrances received by us in commeration of the event. W.R. Clack and Sabria Clack ------------------------------------------------------- GOLDEN WEDDING Not only one of the most enjoyable events of the season, but also one of rare occurrence, was the one celebrated Sunday September the 12th, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Clack, near Roddy, Tennessee, in honor of their fiftieth, or golden wedding anniversary. Besides kinfolks and intimate friends, sixty in number from the immediate and surrounding country in attendance, were Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Galloway, Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Armstrong, of West Plains, Missouri. Many appropriate gifts for the occasion were presented by the numerous guests, in token of their high esteem and honor toward the hosts. A very fitting climax for the occasion was the picnic dinner, which was served on the beautiful lawn. Very gratifying indeed to all is the fact, that both Mr. and Mrs. Clack are enjoying excellent health, and it is our sincere desire and wish, that they may yet live to celebrate many more anniversaries. R.W. Galloway ----------------------------------------------------------- We think rather hard of Esq. and Mrs. Clack, for omitting to notify some of their Dayton friends of this very interesting celebration, for if there is a citizen in Rhea County who stands very high in the estimation of all the people, Esq. Clack is the man. We regret very much the lack of opportunity to enjoy the occasion, and especially the picnic dinner, served upon the lawn. Esq. and Mrs. Clack has demonstrated that people can grow old together and retain the buoyancy of youth, for they believe that if you laugh, the world will laugh with you, and that ninety five percent of our troubles are borrowed. The Herald heartily joins in the wish that they may live to enjoy many more wedding anniversaries. (Editor)
"Was proven in open court at March Session 1840 and was ordered to be recorded and is as follows to wit: State of Tennessee. In the name of God Amen, I JOHN ABLE of Rhea County do by these presents and publish this my last will and Testament in form following to wit: First I desire that all my debts be paid and satisfied- Secondly I give and bequeath to my sister CHRISTIANNA JOHNSON widow of JOSPEH JOHNSON deceased and to her five children to wit, JOHN JOHNSON, ISABELLY JOHNSON, MARY ANN JOHNSON, WILLIAM JOHNSON, and PATSY JANE JOHNSON all and singular my estate property and rights and whatever real or personal to be equally divided among and between them and their heirs and assigns for even at them sole and absolute disposal hereby revoking all or any other former will and Testament by me made and in this will I constitute and appoint the above named CHRISTIANNA JOHNSON my sole Executrix. In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal in the presence of the subsacribing witnesses this eighteenth day of February one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two.JOHN ABLE (seal)
Witnesses:
JAMES BERRY
JOHN DAY
D. HAWLINGSSubmitted by: Laura Horton
Which was proven in open court at August Session 1831 and was ordered by the court to be recorded and is in the words and figures following to wit,I JOSEPH LOVE of the county of Rhea and the state of Tennessee being of sound mind and disposing memory do make and ordain, publish and declare, this to be my Last Will and Testament- That is to say First- I direct my just debts to be paid out of my estate.
Second- I give and bequeath absolutely in fee simple to my wife MARY LOVE and her heirs forever, the house and lot on which I now live, in what is called the Southern Liberties of Washington adjoining Jack's Alley and opposite to the ten-yard- And also the household lot in Southern Liberty, on which SAMUEL TUCKER now lives lying immediately at the head of the Spring- Also, my negro woman ANN, my negro man NATHAN, and my negro girl HARRIET.
Third- I given and bequeath to my son WILLIAM N. LOVE and his heirs my ten-yard lot and the lot adjoining thereto across the creek in the Southern Liberties, the stock of hides and leather on hand, a three year old mare of a dun color, and a saddle and bridle.
Fourth- I give and bequeath to my sons JACOB G. LOVE and JOSPEH N. LOVE and their heirs, my plantation of six hundred and forty acres in Rhea County adjoining the lots of PALATIAH CHILTON, and being parcel of the five thousand acre grant called the pleasant graden tract to be equally divided between them provided however the rents and profits of said tract of land are to be used as a common fund by my wife MARY E. LOVE for the support of her family, including all her household, until my son JOSEPH N. LOVE shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years- To effect which purpose my wife MARY E. LOVE shall have the sole power of renting or leasing the said tract of land or working the same for the period aforesaid. My son JOSPEH is also to have at the age of twenty-one a horse, saddle, and bridle, to be worth one hundred dollars to be paid by my Executors. Fifth- I give and bequeath to my daughter REBECCA A. and her heirss my negro girl SETTY and my negro boy GIBSON. Also, a horse, saddle, and bridle, to be worth one hundred dollars, to be paid by my Executors, when she marries or arrives at the age of twenty-one.
Sixth- I will and direct my Executors to give my sons WILLIAM N. LOVE, JACOB N. LOVE, and JOSPEH N. LOVE and my daughter REBECCA A., each a good feather bed, and well furnished with bed clothing.
Seventh- I will and direct my Executors to sell and convey to the purchasers thereof my lands in Knox and Andersoon counties- upon as advantageous terms as they can; the purchase money whereof together with the debts now due to me are to be apportioned to the payments of my debts and the balance if any if to rest in my wife MARY E. LOVE for the support of my family.
Eighth- I will and bequeath to my wife MARY E. LOVE my negroes CHANEY, JACK, MILLY, VILETTE, big ELIZA, little ELIZA, ALEXANDER, PHILIP, RACHEL, ALLEN, and SAM- during her widowhood. Either death or intermarriages terminates this state in my wife MARY E. LOVE. And upon the happening of either the said events the said negroes or their values are to be equally divided amongst my children JEFFERSON B. LOVE, SAMUEL MONROE LOVE, WILLIAM N. LOVE, MARGERT SHELTON, JACOB HARRY LOVE, JOSPEH N. LOVE, and REBECCA ANN LOVE or their heirs or their bodies- provided however my wife MARY E. LOVE is hereby vested with full power to give to wither my aforesaid children their or either of their share of said negroes at any time she may think proper. And provided further, should my lnads in Knox and Anderson Counties and such debts as are due my estate, be sufficient to pay any debts and specified legacies herein bequeathed, then each and every of the aforesaid negroes are to stand changeable with the payment of my debts and specified legacies- And the balance thereof to be divided amongst my aforesaid children, at the time and in the manner herein before pointed out and directed, in reference to the whole of said negroes and provided further the aforesaid negroes CHANEY, JACK, MILLEY, VILETTE, big ELIZA, little ELIZA, ALEXANDER, PHILIP, RACHEL, ALLEN ands SARE are to stand changeable with the sum of five hundred dollars, which I will and bequeath to my daughter REBECCA to be paid to her by my Executors, when she shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years or marry.
Ninth- I given and bequeath to my wife MARY E. LOVE my wagon, horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, household and kitchen furniture, and farming utensils and oxen and livery.
Tenth- I given and bequeath to my son JOSEPH my silver watch and my clock to my daughter REBECCA. Lastly I appoint my wife MARY E. LOVE my son JEFFERSON B. LOVE and my friend and brother-in-law THOMAS BELL of Knox County my Executors and Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have herunto set my hand and seal this 2nd day of June 1831.
JOSPEH LOVE (seal)
(The word CHANEY underlined before signing.)
signed, sealed, and published in the presence of
JAMES BERRY
R. H. GILLESPIE
GIDEON B. THOMPSON
TOS. J. CAMPBELL
DAVID LEUTY (?)
REZIN RAWLINGSSubmitted by: Laura Horton
Which was proven at November Sessions 1832 and was ordered by the court to be recorded and is in the words and figures following to wit, State of Tennessee, Rhea County, September 22, 1832. Settlement made by JOHN WOOD deceased to JOHN COZBY and KENNEDY COOPER on the 14th day of aforesaid. Inst. question by the said COZBY to the said WOOD. Are you in proper senses? the answer was I think I am. Question 2nd by COZBY What disposition do you wish to be made of your worldly affairs? The answer was, first my debts be paid out of my property the remainder if any given to my wife.Question by the said COOPER to the said WOOD- Do you wish any part of your property to be given to your sisters? The answer was I do not want any person to have any of it but my wife, these statements were made on Friday the 14th day of Spetember and the said WOOD deceased on Sunday the 16th of the same hereunto we set our names the date mentioned above as witnesses.
JOHN COZBY
KENNEDY COOPER
Submitted by: Laura Horton
Wife, Mary HILL, real estate (description) and slaves. Names, son William C. HILL, (land description); son Elgin G. HILL,; dau. Isabella BUSTER; little grandson William McManny HILL; little grandson John SIMMS; children of my late daughter Polly Ann WHITENBURG; children of my late daughter Lucinda STEWART, wife of James STEWART; son Timothy N. HILL (land on which he now resides). The rest of my bodily heirs, viz, John W. HILL, Jessa A. HILL, Quinn M. HILL, Jane GALBRETH & Mariah BROYLES. Property given to Jane GALBRETH & Mariah BROYLES not to be controlled in any way by Ira D. BROYLES or Alexander GALBRETH. Exrs, friends S. R. W. JULIAN & B. F. WALKER. Wit: John ROUTH & E. H. WICKLIFF. Recorded 16 May 1853 (11-13)For further information on the Rhea County folks mentioned in John Hill's will, visit the John Hill Family Page.
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