Mary Barclay is a sister to Alexander Barclay and therefore one of his heirs. She was born to John and Ellen Barclay about 1864 in Eagle Creek, Scott County, Minnesota.
Mary was present in the 1865 Minnesota State Census, the 1870 U.S. Federal, and the 1875 Minnesota State census, but she disappears from the census for John and Ellen Barclay by 1880.
Deer Lodge, Carbon and Yellowstone. Silver Bow Counties
At the time of John Barclay’s death in 1897, she is listed in his obituary notice as living in Butte, Silver Bow Co., Montana. Her last name is not given.
On 10 January, 1899 we find a marriage in Butte, Montana for a Mary and we find out that she had been married before and is now divorced. In 1880 she would have been 16 so maybe she married before the census was enumerated and left home. It is also interesting that she writes her mother’s maiden name as Iverson.
Marriage of Charles B. Clark, white, age 42, born at Henderson, Sibley Co., Minnesota, residing at Butte, son of John A. Clark and Sarah Clark maiden name Butler, not previously married. To Mary Barclay white age 34 years, born Shakopee, Scott Co., Minnesota, daughter of John Barclay and Ellen Barclay maiden name Iverson, who has been previously married but who is now legally divorced, date of marriage 10 Jan, 1899 signed by Clinton C. Clark Clerk and Frank M. Sullivan Deputy Clerk.
Source: State of Montana, Charles Clark to Mary Barclay, 10 January, 1899 in Butte, Montana #5142.
We find Mary and Charles Clark living in Carbon County, Montana. You will notice that the middle initial is B in the following census.
Line 1, 1/1 Clark, Charles B., Head, w, male, Aug. 1856, 42 yrs, married 4 years. Born in Minnesota, father born in Ohio, mother born in Ohio, farmer, owns, speaks, write, talks English, farm, no. 1 on schedule. Mary B., wife, white, female, born Jan 1864, 36? yrs., married 4 years, 0 children, born in Minnesota, father and mother born in Scotland, can read, write and speak English. Henry Fisher, servant, white, male, Oct 1876, 23, Single, born in Ohio, father and mother born in Germany, farm labor, speaks, write and reads English.
Source: 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Rens Twp., Carbon Co., Montana. SD?, ED7, Sht#1.
Mary and Charles Clark have migrated to Billings, Montana by the 1910 census and they now have a daughter named Ruth.
Line 38, 303/29/31, Clark, Charles B., head, male, white, [43], married eleven years, born in Minnesota, parents in Ohio, Speaks English, occupation Stockman, cattle/sheep, read/writes (cannot make out the rest). Mary B., wife, female, white, 42 years old, married 11 years, 1 child born, one living, born in Minnesota, father and mother born in Scotland, Speaks English, no occupation, writes and reads. Ruth, daughter, female, white, 12-15 years old, single, born in Montana, speaks, reads and writes English.
Source: 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Billings, Yellowstone Co., Montana, SD#2, ED#246, Sht 7A.
In the 1920 census Charles and Mary Clark are still residing in Billings, Montana and they are alone.
Line 29, 60, 92, Clark Charles B, Head, O, M, M, W, 62, M, born Minnesota, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio, Farmer, retired. Clark, Mary B, wife, F, W, 55, M, born Minnesota, father born Scotland, mother born Scotland, English.
Source: 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Billings, Yellowstone Co., Montana, SD# 3 ED#161, Part of Ward 1, Sht#15A, 14 and 15th of January 1920, Frank B. Leaper
Again we find them in Billings in the 1930 census:
Line 90, 803, 142, 154, N. Broadway, Clark, Charles B. head, O, $6000, R, No, M, W, 73, M, 39, No, yes, born Minnesota, farther born Iowa, mother southern WS, retired, farmer. Clark, Mary B., Wife, H, F, F, W, 66, M, 30, No, Yes, born Minnesota, father born Scotland, mother born Scotland.
Source: 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Billings, Yellowstone Co., Montana, School Dist.#2, First Ward, ED#56-2, SD 10, Sht #6, 7 April, 1930, Mrs. Alice B. Mains
Added as of 4/28/2016: Mary is alone in the 1940 census but she is living in Billings, Montana
Line 58, 803, 110, 0, $3000, No, Clark, Mary B. , head, F, W, 76 wed, No. 8, born Minnesota, same house, no, no, no, no, U, 0 0 yes.
Source: Mary B. Clark, 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Billings, Yellowstone Co., Montana, School District #2, SD#2, ED#56-3, enumerated April 13, 1940 by Elsie Toogood, Sht #3B
Charles B. Clark is buried in Hill Cemetery, in Anaconda, Deer Lodge Co., Montana. Find A Grave has a memorial but no tombstone photo. It does state that their daughter is Ruth Clark Kirby.
There is an obituary notice for Charles Clark in the Montana Butte Standard, Tuesday, March 1, 1932 page 3.
CHARLES B. CLARK Called by Death – ANACONDA, Feb. 29, (Special) Charles B. Clark, 75 died, this morning at a local hospital. he was a native of Minnesota and a pioneer resident of Montana. Besides his widow he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Ruth Kirby of Billings. The body is at Kendrick chapel. Time and Place of the funeral will be announced later.
There is a Find A Grave memorial to a Mary B. Barckley Clark #161486707. This Mary Clark died on 5 February, 1954. There is a death certificate that is posted and it states that she was born in Schoepee, Minnesota which should be spelled Shakopee. It states that her father is William Barclay but I believe they mixed it up with her brother who was living nearby. It was the hospital that was the informant. Apparently she died in the Montana State Hospital. I believe this is the Mary I seek but of course, it might be good to seek out more information to verify it.
This is not the Mary I seek: There is a memorial on Find A Grave for a Mary E. Clark who died 19, February 1930 in Calvary Cemetery in Gibson Flats, Cascade County, Montana. There is no tombstone photo at this time.
There is of course, more research to be done on this family. For Mary checking probates, and seeking an obituary might be helpful. Looking for more information on Ruth, their daughter would another step. There is census of 1920, 1930 and 1940 that have a Ruth Kirby in Billings living with a Robert Kirby. They have several children. I cannot get a good fix on her at this time but it might be her. The marriage for this couple has her father as Powers and I am confused by that information. The early years for Mary would be of interest to research pinning down her first marriage and then the divorce.
It is interesting to see that Mary thinks both her parents were born in Scotland?
The Barclays of Pine River 