William Alvin Clark
William Alvin Clark, b December 20, 1852 in Kosciusko, Attala County, Mississippi, d June 21, 1927 - was a son of George Washington and Caroline (Winters) Clark. William Alvin (nicknamed "Jumbo") Clark was a giant among most men, standing six feet, six inches tall, and weighing about 350 pounds. A blacksmith by trade, he could lift a 150-pound anvil from the floor to a work bench with one hand. In 1874 in Mississippi, Alvin married Louella Dean, b September 12, 1855 in Attala County, Mississippi, d March 5, 1937 and buried by her husband in Woodland Cemetery in Rosebud, Texas - a daughter of Isaac Newton and Hannah (Boyett) Dean. Alvin and Louella had only one daughter:Caroline Clark (called "Carrie"), b February 22, 1867 in Mississippi, died before either of her parents.
Having heard glowing accounts of the opportunities to be found in Texas, two of William Alvin's brothers, Pinkney Allen (1856-1892) and James Curtis (1851-1937), made a trip to the Falls County area sometime in 1878, They returned to Mississippi - with the opinion that Texas was, indeed, a good place to live and seek one's fortune. Consequently, in 1879, William Alvin, with his wife, Louella, and daughter, Carrie, made the move to Texas - arriving in Calvert, Texas by train and traveling on to Baileyville in Milam County, where they settled for five years. They then moved to the Wilderville Community in Falls County, and resided there until 1890, when they moved to Rosebud and opened the Aransas Hotel - named for the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad which was building toward Rosebud at the time. The hotel was the present-day First Baptist Church parking lot faces Main Street, and William Alvin built and operated a Blacksmith Shop there - later converting it into a garage and filling station. On the east side of the blacksmith shop, they built a sample room for drummers to display their wares.
Louella (Dean) Clark was a true pioneer wife and mother, and she and Carrie worked and managed the hotel. As many descendants and relatives of William Alvin and Louella lived in and around Rosebud, Louella became known as "Aunt Lou."
William Alvin Clark was such a large man that it was difficult to find comfortable chairs. His favorite - a huge rocking chair - was placed in the lobby of the hotel having been custom-made for him in Kosciusko, Mississippi and shipped to Texas. It is also told that at breakfast, Alvin dined each morning on six eggs, ham or bacon, grits, and a mountain of buttered biscuits - all prepared by his wife and daughter, in the early days. Later, they hired many helpers, but "Aunt Lou" continued to make her famous biscuits for her hotel guests for many years. After her husband's death --preceded by their daughter's demise--Louella continued the operation of the hotel and was active manager until the day of her death--making her one of the oldest hotel managers in Texas. She never lost interest in business, state and church affairs--especially the Presbyterian Church of which she was a member, and she read a great deal, being conversant on many general subjects.
Typed by Theresa Carhart
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.
