Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-12-02
A FRIENDS TRIBUTE
To the Memory Of Captain Davis
w. Clark.


Another good man is gone,
Another old soldier, unable lon
ger to cope with our greatest
enemy, has grounded his arms
and surrendered to the conquer
er Death! Another gallant heart
has ceased to beat, and his brave
spirit, wearisd with fighting the
battles of life, has struck his
tent and gone to bivouac, with
his comrades who have gone be-
fore, on the wide extended plains
of Eternity! Yes, soldiers of
"the lost cause" our companion
in arms, CAPT. DAVIS w. CLARK,
has gone to the, spirit land to
strike hands, with the noble
Shackleford and Mclaughlin and
to dwell forever with those i'm
mortal heroes who fell in the late
war. KsAEass
It is one of the .saddest parts
that we act in life, to chronicle
the death of a good man--when
a good man dies, not only his
family and intimate friends suf-
fer, but the community, society,
and even the COMMONWEALTH it.
self feels the,loss Ne
CAPT. CLARK was the son of
Benjamin F. Clark, Esq, one Of
the oldest, staunchest and most
respected citizens of Lincoln
county. He was born, reared
and educated at Sulphur Spring,
in this county, a few miles north
west of Fayetteville. Becoming
of age he moved to this place
and commenced the practice off
law; it was not long, however,
before the tocsin of war was
sounded calling the sons of the
South to arms. CAPT. CLARK
was one of the first to respond
to his country's call---he linked
his destiny with Col. Peter Tur-
ney's 1st Tenn. Regt. and with
it participated in all, or nearly
all, of the noted campaigns and
memorable battles in which the
army of Virginia was engaged
under the leadership of those
grand and glorious Generals
Robt. e. Lee and Stonewall
jackson. After the termination
Of the war, he returned home, as
did the old veterans Of the Ro-
man legions, with his brow
crowned with wreaths of honor
and hls body covered with hon.
orable scars, and again COM
the practice of law, hav-
ing associated himself with, at
that time, one Of the brightest
ornaments, as we'll as one of the
best legal minds, Of the Fay
etteville bar, the lamented VIM.
Ii. Stephens; after the death of
Mr.. Stephens he associated him
self with Col. (now Supreme
Court Judge Peter Turney-'
this partnership continued until
he was appointed by Chancellor
NOW Governor) A. S. Marks to
the responsible position of Clerk
and Master of the Chancery
Court at Fayetteville, which po-
sition he filled with credit to
and acceptability to all
concerned, till his feeble health
demanded his retirement from
the arduous duties of his office.
For several years after. his re-
irement, disease continued to-
make deep inroads into his con-
stitution, until, at last, feeble
nature unable to bear up longer,
he breathed his last Wednesday
about 9 o'clock. Nov.
24th, 1880.
Thus, has quilted the walks
Of life, one of natures noblest
works, an honest man. In all,
the positions that he occupied,
either as soldier or civilian, he
was always the same affable,
solid, courteous, transformations
gentleman; the rule Of his con-
duct was, to be Just and do right.
In all of his business transac-
lions, and in all his dealings
with his fellowmen be was firm
and decided without being arro-
giant or dogmatical; be never
swerved a hairs breadth to. the
right orleft, out Of the line of
duty, for friend or foe; he had
a keen sense of what was right
and when he was convinced that
he was in the right, he was as
firm and immoyable as a noun
TAIN. sles iss
But he is goncl if he had any
faults, lei. us bury them with his
body deep in the, silent grave;
let us cherish and smbalm his
good qualities in our memories;
let us affectienately consign his
body to the grave that it may
turn to dust and his soul to the
God who gave it. o@s
"Soldier, rest thy warfare DER, o.
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking !
Dream of battle fields no more,
Days of danger, nights of waking.
No rude sound shall reach thine ear,
Arnor's clang or warssteed champing,
Trump nor pibroch summon here
mastering clan OF squadron tramping.
Soldier, rest thy warfare Ger
Dream Of. fighting fields no nore; -