In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1819, Haywood county
From The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominen (1883)
ROBERT CLARK, post-office Joplin; business, farmer. The subject of this sketch is one of the very early settlers and pioneers of this part of the country. He was born in Haywood county, N. C, March 18, 1819, and is the son of James and Mary Clark, natives of North Carolina. Of seven children our subject is the third child; was reared on a farm, and at the age of nineteen left his home and went to Cherokee, same state, and lived there until 1855; was married to Miss Cjntha Watkins, daughter of David and Elizabeth Watkins, natives of Korth Carolina, in 1840, and in 1845 moved and settled in Newton county. Mo. In 1861 he moved to Mt. Downing county, Mo., and in 1866 settled on his present farm of eighty acres, which contains a good orchard. Mr. Clark has six children: Mary A., Martha J., William H., James M., Sarah E., Amanda A., and George W.; his grandchildren that live with him are named Martha E., John H., and Sam R. Mr. Clark is an honest, upright man, and respected by all who know him.
As printed in The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominent (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1883. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.