Descendants of Mayflower’s John and Priscilla Alden Illness and poverty plagued Anna and Fred Clark centuries later

Bob Clark, Anna and Fred Clark’s great grandson, became a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants and Founders of Patriots of America. He and his cousin Wally purchased grave markers for Anna and Fred eight decades later.

By Sue Hunter Weir

On January 8, 2017, Friends of the Cemetery lost one of its earliest friends when Bob Clark passed away. Bob was the great-grandson of Fred and Anna Clark who are buried in Lot 101, Block A.  I met Bob in the cemetery many years ago when he and his cousin were visiting Fred and Anna’s graves.

Anna was one of the first people buried in the cemetery whose story caught my attention.  It wasn’t hard.  Anna committed suicide in the cemetery on September 15, 1909, at the age of 53.  She shot herself on Fred’s grave. Three suicide notes were found in her purse.  Parts of two notes and the circumstances of Anna’s life were printed in the Minneapolis Tribune the day after Anna died.

The first note, written to her daughter Cora, begins:” I am tired of life, dear Cora, and need a rest.” Anna continued by expressing her love and concern for her grandchildren.… Read the rest “Descendants of Mayflower’s John and Priscilla Alden Illness and poverty plagued Anna and Fred Clark centuries later”