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Continued: On 29 Apr 1910, Lila, husband Russell and daughter Mable were livingin Tywappity Township, Charleston, Mississippi County, MO. Mable wasalmost two months old. Russell was doing farm labor. The family waslisted as Dwelling 182, Family 183, Line 23 and Ferd, Ford's twinbrother, was listed as Dwelling 191, Family 192, Line 65 on Sheet259/13 so the two families lived very close to each other. Ferd waslisted as a hired man, working for Oliver Hay doing farm labor.Ferd's age was listed as 30 which was correct.
There are photographs of Lila in the Family Book.
On 8 Jul 1913, Lila filed a petition with the Circuit Court ofMississippi Co., MO to divorce Russell Clark. On 10 Oct 1913, thecase was continued. On 19 Oct 1915, Lila was granted a divorce fromRussell for desertion on 2 May 1912 and for his association with vile,disreputable and adulterous persons. Lila was awarded custody ofdaughter Mable and alimony in the sum of $10.00 per month and attorneyfees of $25.00 plus court costs.
On 15 Dec 1915, Lila and John Smith were married by E.D. Sumer,Minister of the Gospel in Charleston. To date, there has been noadditional information on this marriage.
When Lila and Russell's daughter Mable died in Oct 1926, Russell wasthe informant and took care of the funeral details. Russell died in1942 and Lila continued to use his surname throughout her life. BothLila and Russell are buried in the cemetery in Mt. Vernon, IL whileMable is buried about two graves north of great-grandfather FrankRobert Morton in Oak Grove Cemetery, Charleston, MO.
According to the 1937 City Directory, Mt. Vernon, IL - ColoredResidents, Lila lived at 1309 South 9th Street and was working as adomestic. In the 1949 Mt. Vernon City Directory, Colored Residents,Lila was listed as the widow of Russell although they divorced in1915. No address was listed.
Lila, listed as a widow, died at 4:37 PM of Cerebral VascularAccident, New, one day and Old, one year, due to HypertensiveVascular Disease at Regional Hospital, 5460 Delmar, St. Louis, MO.Her usual occupation was listed as a domestic, private family. AudreyHolmes was listed as the informant. Conrado B. Abinoja was listed asthe physician. Whitfield-James Mortuary of St. Louis, MO. handledLila's funeral between St. Louis and Mt. Vernon, IL. There was quitea large turnout for her services as she was well known in thecommunity.
Newspaper Obituary: Lila Clark, Mt. Vernon. "Lila Clark, 101, 1309S. Ninth St., died at 4:30 PM March 30 1987 at Regional Medical Centerin St. Louis.
Mrs. Clark was born Jan 7, 1887?* (1892) in Charleston, MO, thedaughter of Frank and Birdie/(Bertie) Morton. In 1919 (22 Jan 1910),she married Russell Clark who preceded her in death.
The funeral will be 1 PM Saturday at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church andthe Rev. HO. Downey will officiate. Burial will follow in Oak WoodCemetery. Friends may call 11 AM to 1 PM Saturday at the church.Whitfield-James Mortuary of St. Louis is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Clark is survived by one sister-in-law, Turah (Jordan) Morton ofSt. Louis and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was amember of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church and a member of Mt. VernonGospel Chorus.
Mrs. Clark was preceded in death by her parents, husband and onedaughter".
Mrs. Muriel Hicks (Deceased 5 July 1998) thanked the attendees forthe family; Rev. H. Downey gave the Eulogy for Lila. Lila hadpreviously lived next door to Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church where herfuneral was held.
Lila's tombstone is of brown marble, simply inscribed: "Beloved Aunt;Lila S. Clark, * Jan 7, 1886; Mar 30, 1987.
*Based upon the circumstances surrounding Lila's birth and personalconversations with Lila, I believe Lila's correct date of birth was asshe indicated, 7 Jan 1892, at which time, Birdie/Bertie would havebeen 15 if her DOB was correctly stated in the 1880 Federal Census on9 June 1880 as 3 years of age (DOB 4 Nov 1876) . Otherwise, Birdie/Bertie would have been 9 years of age at the time of Lila's birth.
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