According to Hall family tradition, Clark Roberts was a brother of Susan Roberts who married John M. Hall. This tradition is supported by the fact that the John M. Hall and Clark Roberts families are adjacent in the 1880 census, and that Clark and both of his parents were born in Virginia, as is true of the Minetry Clark family. But the 1860 census for Minetry Roberts shows no son named Clark. It shows a son named Isaac age 6 and one named James age 4, but both of those are listed separately in 1880. The other son of Minetry Roberts listed in 1860 under 10 was a son William, age 9. There is no William Roberts in 1870 in Rowan, Bath, Morgan or surrounding counties. Finally, the marriage license for his second marriage refers to him as William Clark Roberts. I think together all of this is pretty good evidence that the Clark Roberts who was listed as 25 in the 1880 census with wife Sarah is the same person as William Roberts son of Minetry.

His death certificate records Clark Roberts, age 91 years 4 months 27 days, born 12 Aug 1847 in Virginia, died 8 Jan 1939 in Big Creek, Logan Co., W. Va., residence Wharton, Boone Co., W. Va., married, husband of Josie Roberts, farmer, father Minter Roberts, mother’s maiden name not known, cause of death lobar pneumonia, informant Claud Roberts, Wharton, W. Va., burial in Morehead, Ky.

The birthdate and reported age are incorrect, since he was not listed in the 1950 census at all, and his age was given as 9 in the 1960 census.

The Rowan County News of Jan. 19, 1939 contains this notice of his death: “Funeral Rites Held For Former Pioneer Citizen - Clark Roberts, 91, Dies At West Virginia Home Funeral Conducted Here - Funeral rites for Clark Roberts, 91, pioneer citizen of Eastern Kentucky, who died at his home on Big Creek, W. Va., were conducted here last week with burial in the Baldwin cemetery in Morgan Fork. Funeral rites were conducted by Rev. T. F. Lyons and Rev. Henry Hall. Surviving are his wife and 22 children and about 60 grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is the grandfather of Eddie Roberts and the grandfather of Mrs. Woodrow Horn.”

I only know of 21 children, of whom at least four predeceased him. I may well have missed a few, but I don’t think there is room to fit five more children who survived to adulthood yet appeared in no censuses. So most likely the obituary is in error and he was the father of 22 children, not all of whom were surviving.

1870 census of Bath Co., Ky, lists him as Clark Roberts, age 18, b. Virginia, with wife Sarah, age 16, born Ky, living with the family of Benjamin Botts, age 60, in Sharpsburg precinct, family #167.

1880 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, lists as family #45:
Roberts, Clark, 25, farmer, Va Va Va; Sarah, 23, wife, Ky Ky Ky; James, 9, son; Lula, 7, dau; Katie, 5, dau; John, 3, son; Elizabeth, 2, dau. All the children are listed as born Ky Ky Ky, but that is probably just a clerical error, since Clark was born in Virginia and there is no reason to suppose these are not his children. The ages from the 1870 census are probably more accurate as well, since if these were correct, Clark would have been 15 and Sarah 13 when they married.

1900 census of Morgan Co., Ky, district 6, enumerated 20 June, lists on p. 17B as family #277/280:
Roberts, Clark, 52, b. Mar 1848, Va Va Va; Sarah, wife, 49, b. Mar 1851, married 33 years, mother of 14 children, 14 living; Floyd, son, 17, b. Sep 1882; Laban, son, 15, b. Nov 1884; Sarah E., dau, 13, b. Feb 1887; Caleb, son, 11, b. Jan 1889; Millie, dau, 9, b. May 1891; Carry, dau, 7, b. Aug 1892; Claud, son, 6, b. Sep 1893; Andrew, son, 4, b. Mar 1895; Lillie, dau, 2, b. Mar 1898. All children born Ky Va Ky.

The next household is their son John, age 23, with wife Manerva.

See Notes for Clark and his third wife Josie McAllister for later census readings.