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.

I cannot find a marriage record for them in Morgan or Rowan Co.

1910 census of Morgan Co., Ky, North Fork precinct, enumerated 21 April, lists on p. 2B as family #21:
Roberts, Clark, 47, third marriage, b. Va Va Va; Josie, wife, 32, second marriage, married 5 years, mother of 4 children, 4 living, b. Ky Va Ky; Carrie, dau, 16; Claude, son, 14; Audy, son, 13; Nellie, dau, 4; Teddy, son, 2; Dessie, dau, 6/12. All children born Ky Va Ky.

The following two households are headed by Clark’s sons Caleb and James from his first marriage.

1920 census of Morgan Co., Ky, North Fork precinct, enumerated 15 Jan, lists on p. 12A as family #200/205:
Roberts, William C., 69, b. Va Va Va; Josie, wife, 48, b. Ky Ky Ky; Nellie, dau, 14; Teddie, son, 12; Dessie, dau, 11; Bessie, dau, 8; Allie, son, 5; Wade, son, 2 11/12. All children born Ky Va Ky.

1930 census of Morgan Co., Ky, Blairs Mill precinct, enumerated April 4, lists on p. 1B as family #14/16:
Roberts, Clark, 79, farmer, b. Va Va Va, age at first marriage 20; Josie, 54, age at first marriage 25, b. Ky Ky Ky; Teddie, son, 22; Bessie, dau, 18; Allie, son, 15; Wade, son, 13. Teddie through Wade born Ky Va Ky.

In 1940 Allie and Josie are living in Logan Co., West Virginia with Wade and his wife Violet.