what is now Red River County. He found one of the original white settlers of Red River County, a man by the name of Henry Stout [photo], camped at a spring, which was located about two or three hundred feet from what is now the public square of Clarksville and between East Broadway and East Main Streets, the spot now being covered by the B. & D. Chevrolet Company building. James Clark traded some land certificates with Henry Stout in 1818. In 1824 James Clark moved to Jonesboro in Red River County to supply food to the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians, as formerly stated. In 1829 James Clark married Isabella Hadden Hopkins Hanks, the widow of John Hanks, and the daughter of Frank Hopkins. While living at Jonesboro James Clark and his wife received General Sam Houston into Texas and entertained him several days in their home. It is interesting to note that Mrs. Gordon always refuted a rumor, or report, that Gen. Sam Houston, when he came to Texas, was very rough and uncouth and a drunken character. She said General Houston and his men were very well behaved and were gentlemen.

In the early part of 1835 James Clark and his family moved from Jonesboro out to the skirt of timber which is now the very heart and center of the City of Clarksville. They camped at the spring (referred to above), where they found Henry Stout, and were making preparations to build their home. While camped, a man by the