Clarksville High School - Tiger Claw Yearbook (Clarksville, TX)

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Captain James Clark founded Clarksville in 1834. Clarksville became the capital of the Red River District in 1836 and was recognized by the Republic of Texas as the county seat of Red River County in 1837. Captain Clark had come to Jonesboro in 1820 on a contract to feed Indians of the five civilized tribes. He was a statesman, businessman, peacemaker and soldier. Captain Clark, who fought in the Texas Revolution, is buried in the Clarksville Cemetery. Captain Clark's father, Benjamin Clark, is buried in the same family plot. Benjamin Clark was a Sergeant Major in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. His grave is the only veteran of the American Revolution whose grave has been located and marked in Red River County. Contents Opening Faculty Classes Personalities and Awards Organizations Spons Special Events Advertisements Information for the opening sec- tion and division pages was fur- nished by the Red River County Historical Society. 3

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OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE The original Red River District was an area so large that 36 Texas counties have been carved from the vast territory. Anglo-American settlers were in what is now Red River County as early as 1811. Jonesboro Crossing located on the Red River became a booming port. Such notables as Stephen F. Austin, David Crockett, and Sam Houston entered Texas at this point. For a while Jonesboro was the only Texas town of importance north of Nacogdoches. According to a census by a Mexican official, the population of Jonesboro in 1834 was 2,350. Sam Houston Park is located near the site of Old Jonesboro on FM 410. In the park is a marker desig- nating the place where Sam Houston entered Texas. The lonely grave of Jane Chandler Gill stands as a reminder that life in Texas in the 1830's was not easy. JONESBORO c%i o» Mtt ot ‘0 THAI r« 4N0.O WU'C»'». • • • • At NU» .» .M? t HAVID to flit c« |l -tst XNMi C vi j 1« AO'» 1» CO A SO Tmi w i9 t A'iv ’o»n «At '•; -it tIAf O V'Ult COUdtV. At . (OVtUAdT MAO ].)»0 »IOM A ' A I A. At M 1 CtOtt'AG tit M vl'OM il. ) A C OAV PCtOCAl” i «•tJIVttID MAV A«lu INCAN tOAO 1(0 iOV'HAttMIO COU«tt M A O VACOGOOCMlS. A 'iM.ClAittVIUI tic A «( 110 • ■«It 0'i’t C t CAfOAi A tt«0 iOfttOiO «A5 lOt lit «A3| AftO VAN tl'llllt 'C 0 »f • •«I At. All that remains of the once booming town of Jones- boro is a stone monument in the Sam Houston Park. By 1840, disease and malaria had caused settlers and traders to mow to other points. The Red River changed course and Jonesboro lived only in the memory of Texans. 2

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In the center of the square in Clarksville is a tall stately monument erected in the memory of confederate soldiers. Three historical markers have been placed around the square. One honors the members of the Con- federate Congress. The second marker honors Reverend William Stevenson who preached to Indians and Anglo-Americans in the area as early as 1815. The third marker tells of the importance of the Civil War stagecoach stop in Clarksville. Few people have not heard of the Hanging Tree located in the Clarksville Cemetery. The huge post oak tree stood as a grim reminder to the citizens in the 1830's that law and order was to be upheld in the frontier town of Clarksville. 4