Austin, Texas, July 16 -- A Texan since she was 11 years old, Mrs. Lou English Clark on Thursday will observe her centennial birthday at her home here. Mrs. Clark was born July 17, 1841, at Cape Girardeau, Mo., a daughter of Simeon English and Erina McFerrin English. The family left Missouri in 1852, her father having "set goal" for Smith County, Texas, but after a hard winter, fording swollen streams, pulling wagon trains through slush and mud, he reached Red River County. He found an empty cabin for his family and decided to await the spring to move on their goal.
However, Red River County was destined to claim this heroic pioneer family as its own and they never moved on. Mr. English amassed a fortune in land and the little town of English in Red River County preserves his memory.
In 1867 Lou English was married to Dr. Pat B. Clark, who had been the first white child born in Clarksville, which at that time still was a part of Mexico. Dr. Clark died in 1922, leaving his wife and three children, all of whom are living. They are Mrs. Isabella C. Moore and S. E. Clark of Austin and B. M. Clark of Blossom.
It is the delight of Mrs. Clark’s family and friends to hear her relate, in her brisk, vivacious manner, experiences and incidents of her long and colorful life. She was a talented musician in her younger days and still plays regularly on the piano. She keeps abreast of the times and is vitally interested in the trend of world events. She is a loyal supporter of President Roosevelt. Mrs. Clark has five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Two of her grandchildren this year were presented quilt tops from Mrs. Clark, which she had pieced with her own hands.
