Moses Aaron Clark went from the challenges of  slavery to being one of the most successful African American businessmen of his time. He was born a slave near Germantown, Tennessee on August 15, 1834. His father was a white slaveholder named George Clark and his mother was a young slave named Maria. In 1849, Moses moved to Woodruff County, Arkansas with George Clark. However, after George Clark's death in 1856, Moses was sold at auction to Stephen W. Childress. Childress was attorney general for the First Judicial District of Arkansas, who decided to send Moses to Helena to learn the barbering trade from James M. Alexander. 

      James Milo Alexander was unique among businessmen at Helena. Alexander had been born a slave but allowed to establish his own business. This barbershop was so successful that he was able to purchase not only his, but some of his family member's freedom around 1860. Alexander's barbershop advertised in the local paper and was frequented by the elite of Helena society. After the war, James M. Alexander became the first African American justice of the peace in Arkansas. He would die in 1871, but his success influenced a number of African American leaders around the state of Arkansas including Clark. 

      While still a slave, Moses A. Clark began to teach himself how to read and write. Freed during Union occupation of Helena in 1862, Clark followed the army into Tennessee, but returned after the war. He became one of the first black business owners at Helena when he started a barbershop with Isaac Coursey. Clark's partner, Isaac Coursey, had moved to Helena, Arkansas toward the end of the war with his family in search of business opportunities.  Isaac had been born free in the north, where he learned his trade from his father. Isaac's parents were named Solomon and Rachel Coursey and they had moved to Steubenville, Ohio before 1850, where Solomon was a barber. Solomon passed away on July 15, 1860, which left Isaac man of the house. In 1870, Moses Clark married Isaac's adopted daughter, Georgia Anna, who was born about 1856. That made Moses and Isaac, not only business partners, but family.

      The City Barber Shop, Coursey and Clark as proprietors, was located on Porter Street in Helena, Arkansas. Within an 1869 advertisement, the partners bragged their shop was furnished with all the latest improvements in chairs and offered two bathrooms. Warm baths could be had on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sunday mornings. The city was experiencing tremendous growth after the Civil War and there was a growing African American business class emerging among the populace. 

      During the 1870s, Moses Clark passed the bar examination and was elected as alderman in Helena. He was also elected justice of the peace and held that position until 1880. During this time, Phillips County began to experience a wave of violence against African Americans, who mainly voted Republican. Reconstruction was coming to an end and white Democrats wanted back control. Whether Clark was threatened is not known, but he did decide to move his family away from Helena for safety. In 1880, the Clarks moved north to Marianna, where he opened another barber shop and became partner in a sizable farm. He eventually owned six stores and several other buildings on Main Street. This included his large home located at the corner of Main and Clark streets. Clark street was actually named after him. Moses A. Clark founded the "Opinion Enterprise" around 1907, which became one of Arkansas's leading black newspapers. He also became wealthier through investments in real estate and the stock market. 

      Although, Moses A. Clark had been a Republican for many years, he joined the Democratic party in 1894 and ran in a primary election for state representative. Even though he lost that election, Clark earned respect among many Arkansas voters. He would leave politics after that though.

      Fraternal orders were highly respected during the 19th and 20th centuries. Membership was looked on as an important step in climbing the social ladder. Starting in 1866, Clark rose through the ranks of the Masons. In 1887, he chaired the National Masonic Congress in Chicago, Illinois and served several times as Arkansas grand master. Under Clark's leadership, the prince hall lodges grew in membership and his organization built a four-story Masonic temple at Pine Bluff. They also created a means of helping victims of natural disaster and providing legal aid. 

      Moses Aaron Clark passed away on April 10, 1924, in Marianna, and was buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Helena. Clark outlived his first wife, who died in 1910. The successful couple had eleven children reach adulthood.  Clark married Louisa Latham several years after his first wife's death. In addition to being a prominent African American leader in Arkansas, he also was well known across the country for his work with the masons. Clark focused on his family and business. In addition, he let his actions speak for themselves, by earning the respect of so many different people that he came into contact with. The "Indianapolis Free Mason" described Clark as "universally recognized as one of the most enterprising, intellectual and useful men in the state of Arkansas." 

#mosesaaronclark #arkansashistory #helenaarkansashistory #leecountyarkansashistory

Sources:

Helena Weekly Clarion (Helena, Arkansas) 18 August 1869, Wed. Page 1

Ancestry.com

dpedia.org/resource/James _ M. _ Alexander

Holman, Charles. Moses A. Clark Family in History of Lee County, Arkansas. Baltimore, Maryland

Fitzhugh, Kathryn C. University of Arkansas at Little Rock. William H. Bowen School of Law. "Encyclopedia of Arkansas History" Last updated: 10/13/2010. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/media/moses-aaron-clark-8148/