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Clark, Anna

Colorado

Partially blind, and for years a victim of paralysis, living with her son and grandchildren, tells in brief the story of Anna Clark who is doubtless one of the oldest colored women in the state. In the later sixties she was the belle of Central City and Denver.

Born April 5, 1847 in Georgia her father was a white man and the mother black and that accounts for her fair complexion. As a slave girl of fifteen years, because of her beauty and physical perfectness, she had little or nothing to do, save serving her young master as a concubine. Then it was just all right "everybody was doing it" and no voice was heard crying in the wilderness saying shame! Shame! But how time does change, these days men spend sleepless nights and burn the night oil writing state papers on keeping the social stream pure, contending that Anna Clark's offspring debauch our fine neighborhoods and like dumb driven cattle must live apart and to themselves - that social intermingling is an abomination in the sight of the Lord and was never so intended. However, the Anna Clark of slave days and the Anna Clark of today can and do tell a different story. Then it was a day and night affair - now it is court sessions are held up under the moonlight and cover of darkness.

At the close of the war as a girl of twenty with six children and no acknowledged father she came to Central City with a party from Georgia. By day she worked for the "big white folk", her master taught her she was better than the poor white trash and to never have anything in common with them. At night she attended a school conducted by a minister in his home and learned to read and write. An excellent cook and pie maker her services were sought for by the best families. She not only excelled in this line but was known as an expert buck and wing dancer and on pay days in the mining camp she was the star of attraction. It was on one occasion that she met Dan Clark, the fiddler and it was love at first sight. They married and as she told this writer they both got religion and stopped dancing, drinking gin and playing cards.

Three children were born to them, truthful hard workers and deeply religious, favored by fate they have lived self respecting citizens of the city for over a half century. Her husband died ten years ago at the age of 93 and since then she has lived with her older boy Dan and his family. Her outlook on life for one of her age and experience is inspiring. Truthfulness, honesty is a passion with her that will never die. Almost helpless and eyesight fast going after 89 years of service she can still laugh and say the Lord has been good to her. The daughter-in-law is kind and patient and administers to her need with a spirit of love rather than duty.

Anna Clark is the only charter member of Central Baptist Church, 24th and California, Denver; the Mission society was her special field of endeavor and she has served as local, state and vice president of the national organization. To say the least she is a mild, pious, loveable type of Christian woman. Lovingly the son carrys her to church once each month on Communion Sunday and she enjoys it very much.

The Clark family is popular among their group in the city and proud of the contribution Grandma Clark has made to the cause.

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