Speaking History: Local genealogist portrays William Clark

Jean Gaddy Wilson, left, interviews William Clark (portrayed by local historian Marvin Wilhite) during the first "History Speaks" session at the Marshall Public Library Thursday, Feb. 11. Plans are being made to host additional interviews with historic figures from the area or with connections to the area.
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

[Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Local genealogist Marvin Wilhite portrayed Clark, and he was interviewed by journalist Jean Gaddy Wilson. Both have a great interest in Lewis and Clark.

Wilson asked many questions of "Clark," who was being interviewed at a point later in his life, at about age 60. For the most part, he kept modern-day experiences out of his responses, answering as he thought the real Clark would have.

"Clark" said he would never have gone on the expedition at all, if not for Lewis. When Clark served in the U.S. Army, he was Lewis' commanding officer.

"I rode a pretty tough rein on him, as well as all of my men," he said. "He just couldn't quite cut it out there on the front line. ... He was more of a book person."

During that time, Lewis and Clark formed a close bond.

"I considered him to be a very good friend of mine," said "Clark."

So, when President Thomas Jefferson asked Lewis to lead the expedition, Lewis in turn asked for Clark's help. "Clark" said there were few people he would have undertaken such a grand project with.

"Clark" noted many minor details about the famous expedition, too, including some that were almost shocking to hear. He said on average, those on the trip ate about nine pounds of meat each day. They needed the energy, especially when traveling by boat, which included the very physical task of dragging or poling the vessels upstream.

During the expedition, the importance of the American Indian woman Sacajawea -- wife of the French-Canadian fur trapper Toussaint Charbonneau -- was greater than just her translation skills.

"Maybe the reason that whole expedition was safe was because a woman and a child were along," Wilson said.

"Clark" concurred and said her presence, and later her baby Jean Baptiste Charbonneau's, made the corps appear to be a peaceful party, rather than a military expedition.

He said he tried to take special care of Sacajawea, who was often beaten by her husband. Clark allowed her to sleep in his tent to avoid physical harm.

"I called her Janey. I had a pet name for her," he said. "She was kind of a daughter to me."

Later in life, after he settled in Missouri and Sacajawea had died, Clark in fact adopted Sacajawea's two children.

"I promised Janey that I would," he said.

Another interesting character from the Corps of Discovery expedition was Clark's black slave, York. For Clark, who was born on a Virginia plantation in 1770, it was normal that York should go along with him.

"He was my personal slave," he said. "I grew up with him."

Interestingly, both York and Sacajawea were granted freedoms during the trip that they would not have had in regular American society. They were both granted a vote when the party was deciding where to set up a winter camp near the Pacific Ocean, Wilson said.

"They came back to a civilization or a society that didn't look at them in the same way," she said.

One thing often overlooked about the expedition is that it was somewhat of a secret, and parts of the journey were technically considered an invasion of another country's territory.

"We knew that the territory we purchased did not go all the way to the Pacific," "Clark" said. "We had to keep it quiet."

When Clark returned from the expedition, he settled in St. Louis and was appointed brigadier general of the upper Louisiana Territory by President Thomas Jefferson. He later served as the governor of the Missouri Territory and Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

"Most of my life was spent here in the state of Missouri," said "Clark."

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net

Related Story:

Speaking History: Interview at Marshall library to bring William Clark's story to life

http://www.marshallnews.com/story/160679...