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History of Davidson County, Tennessee
by W. Woodford Clayton
pub. January 1, 1880

         pg 244
         
         WILLIAM MARTIN CLARK was born May 27, 1826, in
       Rutherford Co., Tenn. He had a liberal education at 
       Prof. Crocker's celebrated academy in Williamson
       County, and subsequently at Clinton College, Smith
       Couty. After graduation he studied the theory and
       practice of medicine under Dr. B. M. Hughes, of
       Franklin, and commenced practice as a physician in
       Rutherford Co., Tenn.
       
         In 1848 he married Miss MARY E. BLACKMAN, of David-
       son County, daughter of HAYS BLACKMAN, Esq., a wealthy
       planter and well-known gentleman.
       
         Dr. CLARK enjoyed an extensive practice in the four
       counties contiguous to his home until the breaking out
       of the civil war; he entered the Confederate army, and
       was elected captain of Co. B, in the famous Twentieth
       Tennessee Regiment. After seeing considerable active
       service, his assistance as physician and surgeon was
       called for, and he entered the surgeon's department,
       in which he served for the balance of the war.
       
         On the restoration of peace he resumed the profession
       he had abandoned for the army, and located at Nolensville,
       Williamson Co., where he resided till 1873, when he
       removed to Franklin, and still engaged in the practice
       of medicine. 
       
         He commenced at this time contributing from time
       to time to the columns of the old Republican Banner,
       and kept up correspondence even after the union of
       that paper with the American.
       
         In this service his abilities attracted the notice
       of Col. KILLEBREW, State commissioner of agriculture 
       and mines,and he was invited to fill the position of
       assistant in this department of the State government. 
       He also fills the office of secretary of the State 
       Board of Health, and during the prevalence of the 
       yellow fever was active in the discharge of his 
       official duties in establishing quarantine at Memphis 
       and elsewhere.
       
         In 1879 he received and accepted the appointment of
       editor-in-chief of the Nashville Banner, soon after which
       he purchased an interest in the paper, being associated 
       with Col. J. T. BELL and GEORGE PURVIS, Esq. In February,
       1880, he purchased the interest of the latter, and is 
       now the principal proprietor of that newspaper.
       
         Mrs. CLARK died in January, 1879, leaving a family of
       ten children; in the following year Dr. CLARK married 
       the maiden sister of his first wife, Miss SUSAN BLACKMAN.
       
         Dr. Clark was an old-line Whig, but after the war the
       conservative qualities of this old party were better re-
       presented by the Democratic party in this State, and he 
       found himself in sympathy with it; he is a national man 
       in all his instincts, and earnest in all measures cal-
       culated to destroy sectional animosities. He cheerfully 
       accepts the results of the war, and accords to the negro 
       all rights secured to him by legislation thence resulting.
       
         He stands strongly in favor of maintaining the credit of
       the State. His religious associations are with the Methodist
       Episcopal Church.
       
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