FIFTH GENERATION

512. Lalla Rookh Rutledge was born on 26 Mar 1894 in Sherwood, Irion County, Texas. She died on 19 Apr 1980 in Tom Green County, Texas.⁽⁴⁶⁰⁾ She was buried in Mertzon Cemetery, Irion County, Texas.

From "A History of Irion County, Texas", Irion County Historical Society, Anchor Publishing Co., 221 N. Main, San Angelo, 1978, page 276:


Henry Willis and Rookh [Rutledge] Clark


Henry Willis Clark was born March 23, 1894, in Erath County, Texas, the son of William Franklin and Lodusky (Gillentine) Clark. He was a grandson of Henry Clark, who was born in Hunt County, Texas, and served as a Texas Ranger. His maternal grandfather was William Gillentine. He and two uncles were killed in the Dove Creek Indian fight here in what is Irion County now.

Henry W. moved to Schleicher County in 1900 with his parents. His father bought ranchland in that county and some in Irion County. He grew up on ranches learning the ranch business well.

On January 14, 1914, he married Lalla Rookh Rutledge in San Angelo. They eloped, cutting the phone line so their parents couldn't be notified. There were two children born to this union. Henry Willis, Jr. was born March 18, 1918. Mary Frances was born April 22, 1922.

Henry W. worked in Sherwood Mercantile Store, worked for Fayette Tankersley, and was a carpenter in Best, Texas before buying a ranch in the Arden community. He leased ranches in Schleicher and Irion County.

Lalla Rookh was the daughter of Tol and Irene (Hamblin) Rutledge. She was born March 26, 1894, in Sherwood, Texas. Her grandfather, W. P. Rutledge, was a native Texan, also serving under Sam Houston, as captain during the Mexican War.

She grew up on ranches belonging to her father, was known as being one of the best horse women of her time and her son-in-law said he had rather round-up a pasture with her help than any cowboy he had ever ridden with.

They built a home on their Arden ranch in 1937. There they lived until 1942. They sold the Arden ranch and bought a ranch from W.E. Newton eight miles northeast of Mertzon. Remodeling and rocking that house they lived there until Henry's health forced his retirement. Then they built a home in Mertzon and moved there in 1952. Retirement was difficult for Henry. Town life wasn't easy for either of them.

Henry, Sr., died November 15, 1964.

Mama Rookh as she is known to all, is living in the Mertzon home today.

There are three grandchildren: Jean Clark McClutchin, Robert Craig Clark, and Jon Henry Parks. There are six great grandchildren.

Mary Frances Parks


From the San Angelo Newspaper, April 21, 1980:

CLARK

MERTZON - Mrs. Henry "Rookh" Clark Sr., 86, of Mertzon, died at 1 a.m. Saturday in the Shannon Hospital.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday in the First Christian Church in Mertzon, with the Rev. Richard Mahler of San Angelo officiating.

She was married to Henry Willis Clark (son of William Franklin Clark and Lodusky Gillentine) on 14 Jan 1914 in Tom Green County, Texas.⁽⁸¹⁷⁾ Henry Willis Clark was born on 23 Mar 1894 in Cisco, Eastland County, Texas.⁽⁴⁹⁵⁾ He appeared on the census on 29 Jan 1920 in JP #4, Tom Green County, Texas. ⁽⁸¹⁸⁾ He died on 15 Nov 1962. He was buried in Mertzon Cemetery, Irion County, Texas. Henry W. Clark worked in Sherwood Mercantile store, worked for Fayette Tankersley, and was a carpenter in Best Texas before buying a ranch in the Arden community. He leased ranches in Schleicher and Irion County.

Henry and Lalla eloped after cutting the phone line so their parents couldn't be notified. Lalla Rookh grew up on ranches belonging to her father, and was known as being one of the best horse women of her time. ,

They built a home on their Arden ranch and bought a ranch from W. E. Newton eight miles northeast of Mertzon. They lived there until Henry's health forced retirement.
Lalla Rookh Rutledge and Henry Willis Clark had the following children:

+1110 i. Henry Willis Clark Jr..
+1111 ii. Mary Frances Clark.