William Benton Clark and Love Frances Stairs, his first wife and Rebecca Stairs, his 2nd wife

19 October 2012
Today and each day is what I make it.  I choose to make this rainy, gloomy one a great day.

William Benton Clark was born in Mason County, KY. on 22 August 1854.  He was the son of William Clark and Harriet Wills.  William Benton first married Love Frances Stairs, the daughter of Noble Stairs and Mary Louisa Wilson Holmes.  Love was born in Clermont Co., Ohio on 23 September 1856.  

The marriage between William and Love took place at her parents' home in Bracken County, Kentucky on 17 October 1876.  The minister performing the ceremony was E. L. Sanders.  Love became the mother of six children: Ralph Gray Clark; Johnny W. Clark; Ada B. Clark; Frank Lee Clark; Velma S. Clark and Nellie Leah Clark.  

"Mrs. Benton Clark, a relative of Mr. and Mrs. John Lytle, of the West End, died yesterday at her home in Bradford's Landing, Bracken County.  The deceased was a sister of Mr. Sam Stairs, founder of the Dover News." (15 November 1889)

Love Frances Stairs Clark  stone at Old Pioneer Cemetery, Bracken County, Kentucky

Johnny W. Clark stone, also at Old Pioneer Cemetery

Ralph Gray Clark stone at Mount Zion Cemetery in Bracken County.

William Benton Clark remarried and this remarriage has previously been mentioned in this blog.  His 2nd wife, Rebecca Stairs, was a first cousin to Love.  

Most likely it was Love's mother who would have helped with the young children after her death, as William's mother had died earlier in 1889.  Think of those young children, motherless, the oldest only 12, the youngest just 2 months old.  How would the father manage? 

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