Benjamin Bedford Clarkson

SURNAMES: CLARKSON, ROBINSON, LEE, OLTORF, GOODRICH, READ, HEARD, CARTER, BURKHEAD, FRANKLIN, HOLLOWAY, NETTLES, WILFORD, CONNALLY, BUIE, KELLY

Benjamin Bedford Clarkson, b January 2, 1845 in Hinds County, Mississippi, d May 16, 1891 in Falls County, Texas and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin - was a son of B. B. and Mary D. Clarkson, who came to Falls County, Texas at the end of the Civil War with their son, and a daughter, Sally Clarkson, who married first to Austin Robinson, and second to B. C. Clark. The father, B. B. Clarkson, was born October 15, 1808, d January 2, 1884; and his wife, Mary D. Clarkson, was born February 28, 1828, d June 20, 1873 - and both buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Texas. B. B. and Mary Clarkson, natives of Kentucky and Mississippi, respectively, moved from Mississippi to Louisiana during the Civil War, and then to Falls County, Texas.

The son, Benjamin Bedford Clarkson (called "Ben"), entered the Confederate States Army, and participated in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, and Chancellorsville, and was with General Lee's army at the surrender in 1865.

Soon after the family settled in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, Ben began reading law under Judge James Daniel Oltorf, and was admitted to the Bar in 1867. He began his law practice in Marlin, and in 1871, formed a partnership with Judge Levi W. Goodrich under the firm name of Goodrich and Clarkson - a partnership which continued until Judge Goodrich was appointed District Judge in 1890. Ben Clarkson continued a solo law practice until his death.

In 1870, in Marlin, Texas, Benjamin Bedford Clarkson was married to Fannie Read, b September 14, 1849 in Wharton County, Texas, d August 24, 1927 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried by her husband in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin - a daughter of Thomas Jones and Martha Jane (Heard) Read, who came to Texas with Austin's Third Colony in 1830, and to Falls County, Texas in 1866.

Benjamin Bedford and Fannie (Read) Clarkson were the parents of seven children:

Infant daughter, born and died October 21, 1870, and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Texas.

Jennie Clarkson, died July 22, 1873, at the age of three months, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Texas.

Bennie Clarkson - infant son, born and died ca 1874, was buried in Calvary Cemetery.

Mary Clarkson (called "Mamie"), b 1876 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, d 1960 and buried in Calvary Cemetery - married Henry Gray Carter, Jr., b 1869, d 1942 and buried in Calvary Cemetery.

Annie Clarkson, b August 10, 1879 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried in Calvary Cemetery - married April 20, 1899 in Marlin, Texas to Franklin Mansfield Burkhead, b November 19, 1873 in Sherman, Texas, d December 7, 1949 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin - son of Reverend Solon Edward Burkhead, a Methodist minister who was a professor at Southwestern University, and his wife, Sarah (Franklin) Burkhead. Franklin Mansfield Burkhead came to Marlin after serving in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War of 1898-1899, and became bookkeeper for Holloway and Nettles, and subsequently was the Marlin City Treasurer for six terms, before becoming cashier for the Marlin National Bank - holding that office until 1918, when the family moved to Houston, Texas. Their only child, Marjory Clarkson Burkhead, married Houston Attorney, I. M. Wilford.

Louise Clarkson, b December 16, 1880 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, d August 26, 1934 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin - married Thomas Terry Connally, b August 19, 1877 in Eddy, Texas, d December 6, 1975 and buried in Calvary Cemetery. Thomas Terry Connally (called "Tom") became a lawyer, and came to Marlin, Falls County, Texas in 1899 - subsequently becoming Senator Tom Connally, for twenty- four years.

Marian Clarkson, b January 5, 1885 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, d October 23, 1973 and buried in Calvary Cemetery - married December 5,1912 to Neil Dugald Buie M. D., b April 12, 1879 in Scotland, Arkansas, d February 9, 1948 and buried in Calvary Cemetery - the eldest of twin sons of Daniel Webster and Sarah Ann (Kelly) Buie. They were the parents of three children.

Benjamin Bedford Clarkson took an active interest in the politics of his community and county; was a member of the I.O.O.F., Marlin Lodge No. 3392, K. of H., and of the Methodist Church. Descendants of Benjamin Bedford and Fannie (Read) Clarkson continue to reside in Marlin, Falls County, Texas; and others who reside elsewhere continue to have farming and ranching interests in the county.

Some biographies from "Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission.
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart by the Falls County Historical Commission, for use on this page.