Two Generation of Joseph and Juda Car Roark Descendants

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Descendants of Joseph and Juda Car Roark

Generation No. 1

Joseph Roark was born 4 Jul 1813 in Cave Springs, Claiborne County, TN, and died 15 Feb 1876 in Hamilton County, TN. He married Juda Carr Abt. 1833 in Sale Creek, Hamilton County, TN, daughter of Samuel Carr and Margaret. She was born Abt. 1814, and died 28 Aug 1883.

Notes for Joseph Roark:
1870 census of Hamilton Co., TN, Long Savannah Community
Roark, Joseph, 56, Farmer, $3,000 real estate, $1,050 personal estate
Roark, Julia, 56, Keeping house
Roark, William, 23 Farm Labor (he was 25)
McCrerre, Harry, 30, Teacher
Brook, Mildred, 23, Domestic help
Carr, James, 19
James, Caobinc(sic), 21, Asst. House Keeping
James, Nancy, 8, at home

More About Joseph Roark:
Burial: Bald Hill Cemetery, Hamilton County, TN
Cause of Death: died of stomach cancer

More About Juda Carr:
Burial: Bald Hill Cemetery, Hamilton County, TN

More About Joseph Roark and Juda Carr:
Marriage: Abt. 1833, Sale Creek, Hamilton County, TN

Children of Joseph Roark and Juda Carr are:

Generation No. 2

Mary Ann Roark was born 20 Jan 1834 in Sale Creek, Hamilton County, TN, and died 9 Oct 1892 in Crawford County, AR. She married Rev. Robert Beane Scott Abt. 1850 in Hamilton County, TN, son of Goodman Scott and Lydia Bean. He was born 18 Apr 1829 in Hamilton County, TN, and died 7 Sep 1872 in Crawford County, AR.

Notes for Mary Ann Roark:
The oldest child Joseph Roark and Juda Ann Carr. She was one of twelve children born to Joseph & and Juda Ann, all born in Hamilton Co. TN. Six lived to adulthood (3 boys and 3 girls)

More About Mary Ann Roark:
Burial: Dripping Springs, Crawford County, AR

Notes for Rev. Robert Beane Scott:
Youngest child born to Goodman Scott and Lydia Bean. He was born in Hamilton Co. TN. Members of this family remained in Hamilton Co. until after Goodman's death which probably occurred sometime before 1850. Since Goodman had several older children from a previous marriage, they probably seemed more like aunts and uncles to Robert that sisters and brothers.
Source: Michael K. Hendrix: Family settled in Crawford Co., AR in 1870

More About Rev. Robert Beane Scott:
Burial: Dripping Springs, Crawford County, AR
Church Member: Baptist
Occupation: Preacher

More About Robert Scott and Mary Roark:
Marriage: Abt. 1850, Hamilton County, TN

Children of Mary Roark and Robert Scott are:

Sarah Elizabeth Roark was born 31 Dec 1834 in Salem, Hamilton County, TN, and died 10 Sep 1905 in Morgan Mill, Erath County, TX. She married (1) Joel A. Talley 1846 in Hamilton County, TN, son of William Talley and Stacy Bryant. He was born 1823 in NC, and died Aft. 1870 in Yell, AR. She married (2) Henry Killian Abt. 1892, son of William Killian and Elizabeth. He was born 27 Sep 1833 in TN, and died 1 May 1921 in Erath County, TX.

Notes for Sarah Elizabeth Roark:
married at age 12

More About Sarah Elizabeth Roark:
Burial: Hightower Cemetery, Morgan Mill, Erath County, TX

Notes for Joel A. Talley:
Reported that he deserted from the Union Army and moved to Ark. Served in Co. G, 5th Tenn Inf. enlisted at Ooltewah, served at Camp Knot, KY. Listed as a deserter on 28 Dec 1863.

More About Joel A. Talley:
Burial: Hightower Cemetery, Erath County, TX
Military Service: Civil War, Co. G, 5th Tenn Inf. (US)

More About Joel Talley and Sarah Roark:
Marriage: 1846, Hamilton County, TN

Notes for Henry Killian:
Buried: Hightower Cemetery
Served in the Civil War on the CSA side.
Lived in Arkansas by 1865, moved to TX in the mid 1870's

More About Henry Killian:
Burial: Hightower Cemetery, Morgan Mill, Erath County, TX
Occupation: Rancher

More About Henry Killian and Sarah Roark:
Marriage: Abt. 1892

Children of Sarah Roark and Joel Talley are:

Margaret Roark was born 27 Mar 1837 in Salem, Hamilton County, TN, and died Unknown. She married William Swafford.

Children of Margaret Roark and William Swafford are:

James A. Roark was born 15 Feb 1840 in Salem, Hamilton County, TN, and died 6 May 1905 in Arlington, Tarrant County, TX. He married America Jane McGill Abt. 1864 in Salem, Hamilton County, TN. She was born 16 Oct 1839, and died 26 Jun 1921.

Notes for James A. Roark:
Moved to Texas in 1878
Served in the Confederacy Company B, 1st TN Cavalry (Gen Wheeler)
1870 census of Hamilton Co., TN, Long Savannah community
Roark, James, 30, Farmer, $600 real estate, $600 personal estate, b. TN
Roark, America, 30 Keeping house Roark, Nancy J., 6, at school Raork, Joseph, 5, at school Roark, Mitchell, 4, at home Roark, Ameda, 1, (female)

James A. Roark and his wife, America, made their plans to move from the Salem community, near Birchwood, Tennessee, to Texas. They met with the Salem Baptist Church for the last time and asked for their letter of membership so they might transfer to a church in Texas when they arrived there. John W. Roark, Jim's brother with whom he had closely shared the hardships of war (Civil War) was again church clerk at the time and recorded in the minutes the action of the church fellowship. He, too, must have felt some pangs of emotion as he wrote in the minutes: 4th Saturday in February 1878, the Church met and after preaching by Rev. R.T. Howard ... granted letters of recommendation to Brother James A. Roark and Sister America Roark, then closed by prayer.
Rev. R.T. Howard Mod.
John W. Roark, C Clk.

Sometime in March, Jim and America made their final arrangements. They would go by river boat from nearby Eldridge landing to Chattanooga and then go by train to Fort Worth. They sold what little furniture they had, plus a mirror and other articles to their close friends. Martha and John C.I. Smith and made all other arrangements for the move. They would be leaving all the friends and family they knew and the community that had been home for all their thirty eight years, and like many who had gone before them, would be starting on their new adventure in Texas.

The above two paragraphs were taken from the book by John J. Roark called, "Hardtack and Hardship, The Life and Times of Confederate Veteran James A. Roark and His Family".

More About James A. Roark:
Burial: Rehoboth Baptist Church Cemetery, Arlington, Tarrant County, TX
Military Service: Civil War, Co. B, 1st Tenn Cav. (CSA)

More About America Jane McGill:
Burial: Rehoboth Baptist Church Cemetery, Arlington, Tarrant County, TX

More About James Roark and America McGill:
Marriage: Abt. 1864, Salem, Hamilton County, TN

Children of James Roark and America McGill are:

John Wesley Roark was born 15 Aug 1841 in Salem, Hamilton County, TN, and died 7 Jun 1928 in Lancaster, Dallas County, TX. He married Permelia Brittanna Conner 8 Sep 1866 in Salem Church, James County, TN, daughter of Maximilian Conner and Martha Palmer. She was born 13 Nov 1846 in Salem Church, James County, TN, and died 30 Nov 1928.

Notes for John Wesley Roark:
1870 census of Hamilton Co., TN, Long Savannah community
Roark, John W., 28, Farmer, $1,300 real estate, $360 personal estate
Roark, Permelia, 23, Keeping House
Roark, Mary E., 1

1900 census of Hamilton Co., TN
John W. Roark, age 58, b. Aug 1841 in TN
Permelia B. Roark, age 54, b. Nov 1845 in TN
Dan B. Roark, age 27, b. Aug 1872 in TN
Julia Roark, age 26, b. Jun 1873
Joseph Roark, age 20, b. Aug 1880 in TN
Harrey Roark, age 20, b. Aug 1880 in TN (Haney)
Maude Roark, age 17, b. Sep 1881 in TN
Carrie Roark, age 15, b. Apr 1885 in TN
Oscar Roark, age 12, b. Mar 1888 in TN
May Roark, age 10, b. May 1890 in TN
Dora Roark, Granddaughter, age 1, b. Jul 1898 in TN

More About John Wesley Roark:
Burial: Lancaster, Dallas County, TX
Military Service: Civil War, Co. B, 1st Tenn Cav. (CSA)

More About Permelia Brittanna Conner:
Burial: Lancaster, Dallas County, TX

More About John Roark and Permelia Conner:
Marriage: 8 Sep 1866, Salem Church, James County, TN

Children of John Roark and Permelia Conner are:

William Marion Roark was born 15 Sep 1843 in Salem, Hamilton County, TN, and died 8 Dec 1923. He met (1) Mary Jane Scott. She was born Abt. 1844, and died 10 Mar 1925 in Hamilton County, TN. He married (2) Virginia Conner Jan 1878 in James County, TN, daughter of Maximilian Conner and Martha Palmer. She was born 2 Mar 1852 in Hamilton County, TN, and died 23 Oct 1934.

Notes for William Marion Roark:
Member of the Limestone Masonic Lodge #176, as early as 1885

P.A. Moon of Birchwood provide David Roark the following newspaper clipping on the death of William Marion Roark.

BIRCHWOOD PIONEER CLAIMED BY DEATH. William Roark, a confederate veteran, 80 years old, died at his home, three miles south of Birchwood, Thursday morning. He had been in rather poor health for several months. He leaves five sons, Joseph,Lucas, Asbury, Thomas J. and Grover C., his widow, all of whom except the first named live in the community, and one brother, John W., who lives in Texas. Funeral services will be held today at the home and interment will follow at Bald Hill Cemetery.

Deceased was widely known having been born, lived all his life and died in he same house. For that and other reasons, his home was a landmark in the upper end of the county. By careful management and economical habits, he had accumulated considerable property, mainly consisting of fine farm lands. He was known to have had an impression that he would live to be eighty, and he reached that age less than three months ago.

His family and the community in which William Roark lived will miss his genial presence and his sober counsel. In the course of a letter to a friend in Chattanooga, his daughter, Mrs Laura Shropshire, says: "Our landmark, so long, is gone" What stalwart strength! His guidance such protection! What a blow to us! is weakness was a trifle compared with the strength he possessed. He awoke this morning in a perfect day."

David Roark wrote on 1 May 1997 - William Marion Roark, a son of Joseph and Juda Carr Roark, and Virginia Conner married shortly after the end of the War Between the States. They lived their entire married life at the Joseph Roark homestead where their twelve children, eight boys and four girls, were born. Chronologically, they were Laura, Luther, Joseph, Luke, Lilly, Asbury, Rosalee, Johnny, Thomas, Grover, Vivian and an unnamed son. Seven sons and two daughters grew to maturity.

The homestead, located on the Grasshopper Creek in Hamilton County, Tennessee, is currently owned and is being restored by one their granddaughters - Marleita Roark Carmichael. Marlieta has graciously provided reunion attendees the pleasure of meeting at the homestead for several years.

"Pioneer Days", the book written by the eldest daughter, Laura Roark Shropshire, provides invaluable information about the family. this historical book describes how they lived, their contributions to their community and their country, plus many other interesting and factual stories of our Roark-Conner ancestry. in my judgement, this book is a must for every Roark-Conner descendant's library. by Mildred Roark Buie.

More About William Marion Roark:
Burial: Bald Hill Cemetery, Hamilton County, TN
Lodge: Bet. 1895 - 1914, Limestone Mosonic Lodge, Birchwood, James County, TN
Military Service: May have served - Civil War, Co. B, 1st Tenn Cav. (CSA)

Notes for Mary Jane Scott:
Mary Jane Scott and her brother James left Claiborne County, TN and went to Sweetwater, TN
where Joseph Roark went and brought Mary Jane to live with him.

More About Mary Jane Scott:
Burial: Conner Cemetery, Hamilton County, TN

More About Virginia Conner:
Burial: Bald Hill Cemetery, Hamilton County, TN

More About William Roark and Virginia Conner:
Marriage: Jan 1878, James County, TN

Children of William Roark and Virginia Conner are:

Child of William Roark and Mary Scott is:

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