26 February 2006

Connections With Ocean Springs, MS


Born
in Germany
November 11, 1832
Died
In New Orleans, LA
February 5, 1880

It started with a picture of Caroline Arndt’s gravestone, taken in a cemetery in Rodney, Mississippi. I selected this photo for my next blog entry and started to do a little research on Caroline. Our Geocaching hobby had originally taken us to Rodney, now nearly a ghost town. As military history buffs, the Civil War history in Rodney was also interesting to us.

Initial research led to a wonderful website detailing Ocean Springs, Mississippi, home of some of Caroline Arndt’s children. In addition to the Arndts, Ocean Springs had a few residents with Michigan roots, which intrigued me. William and Ella Howard from Fenton, (Genesee Co.) Michigan were listed as Ocean Springs property owners. They MIGHT be William Howard, age 53, and Ella M. Knapp, age 24 (born in Lenawee County, Michigan) who were married in Genesee County, Michigan on 17 July 1886. John & Jennie Woodford Dickey were from Niles, Michigan.

The pair Newcomb & Ellen (Chambers) Clark, of Ocean Springs, MS, was a real find, though. Newton Clark married Ellen Chambers in Bay County, Michigan. (See Early Bay County Marriages). Newcomb Clark was a Civil War veteran who attained the rank of Lt. Colonel, including a stint in the 102nd U.S. Colored Troops, the only African-American troops from Michigan. The book by Luis F. Emilio, History of the Fifty-fourth regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865 Boston: Boston Book Co., 1891, 455 pgs, [HeritageQuest] states the following: “Maj. Newcomb Clark, One Hundred and Second United States Colored Troops, on the 8th, with four companies of his regiment, made a reconnaissance toward Cuckwold Creek, and after light skirmishing, destroyed a part of the railroad.”

Census records show that Newton & Ellen Clark had one child, but none living. A death record for baby William Clark was found in the GENDIS (Michigan Death Index).
CLARK, William B.
Date of Death: 22 July 1872
Deathplace: Winona
County: Bay
Male/White/8months
Birthplace: Winona
Father: Newcom Clark
Mother: Ellen Clark

The Bay City (MI) Directory, 1884/5, lists the following:
CLARK, Newcomb, insurance, res s w cor Au Sable and Indiana, 3d ward

Bingham, S. D. Early history of Michigan : with biographies of state officers, members of Congress, judges and legislators : published pursuant to Act 59, 1887. Lansing : Thorp & Godfrey, state printers and binders,: unknown, 1888, 723 pgs. [Heritage Quest] Newcomb Clark - Representative from the second district of Bay county, in 1885, was born in the state of New York. He was a member of the legislature in 1883. Resides in West Bay City and is a Republican. Upon the organization of the House of Representatives, was chosen to fill the office of speaker. He was elected as a Republican, receiving 1, 760 votes, to 1, 747 for Levi Willard, and 181 for John Todd, Prohibitionist, and 4 scattering. Was the first president of the village of Wenona, now West Bay City. Served as major and lieutenant colonel of the 102nd U.S.C.T., and was for some time in command of the regiment.

Bay City directory, 1873-74 to which is appended, directories of Wenona, Banks, Essexville, and Salzburg. Detroit, Mich.: Weeks & Polk, 1873, 446 pgs.
CHAMBERS, Mrs. Phylinda (wid. Wm. D.) res s e cor Midland and Carrie

Bay City directory, 1877-8: Chambers, Mrs. Phylinda, bds Newcomb Clark

1850 Michigan Census – Tuscola County
Chambers, William, 35, b. NY
“ , Phylinda, 32, b. NY
“ , Emily, 10, b. Michigan
“ , Henry, 8, b. Michigan
“ , Ellen, 6, b. Michigan

1860 Michigan Census – Genesee County, Flint, 1st Ward
Chambers, William D., 44, carpenter, b. NY
“ , Philinda, 41, b. NY
“ , Emily, 20, b. MI
“ , Henry, 18, b. MI
“ , Ellen, 16, b. MI

1870 MI Census – Bay Co., Bangor Twp., Wenona Post Office
21-21
Chambers, William D., 55, carpenter, b. NY
“ , Phylinda, 52, b. NY
“ , Emily, 29, b. Mich
22-22
Clark, Newcom, 33, Fire & Life Insurance, b. NY
“ , Ellen, 26, b. Mich
Clark, James, 37, laborer, b. NY

1880 MI Census – Bay Co.
Clark, Newcourt, 44, b. NY, Insurance Agent, NY NY
“ , Ellen, 36, b. MI, keeping house, NY NY

1900 MS Census, Jackson Co., Ocean Springs
Clark, Newcomb, Sept. 1836, age 63, married 33y, NY CT NY, real estate agent
“ , Ellen, July 1843, age 56, married 33y, 1 child-0 living, MI NY NY

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