by Rocky Macy
Comfort POE was born November 11, 1822, in Allen County, Kentucky, to William Jefferson and Delana (AUSTIN) POE. She was most likely named for her paternal grandmother, Comfort (JOHNSON) POE. Comfort married William Carroll ROARK in Allen County, Kentucky, on November 10, 1838, one day before her sixteenth birthday, and she passed away in Newton County, Missouri, on February 12, 1902.
Comfort POE ROARK was my g-g-grandmother.
Comfort and William began their married life in Allen County, Kentucky, the place where she was born. Their first six children were born in Allen County (Martha Emmaline (1839-1920), Camily Frances (1841-1915), Nathan Wilson (1844-1908), Joseph Austin (1846-1922), William Robert (1849-1909), and Henry Durham (1852-1927).
Sometime shortly after the birth of Henry Durham ROARK on June 7, 1852, the family pulled up stakes and moved to Missouri with their six young children. They were in Missouri by the time their seventh child, Samuel James ROARK, was born on February 25, 1855. The 1860 census found the ROARK family in Granby Township of Newton County, Missouri. William and Comfort and at least nine of their eleven children remained in Newton or McDonald Counties of Missouri for the rest of their lives.
After Samuel James ROARK (1855-1925) was born in Missouri, four additional children were born to the family, all in Missouri. Those four were: Mary Jane (1857-1923), Nancy (born in 1860), Albert Curtis (1864-1934), and Sarah Elizabeth (1866-1951).
The children of William and Comfort (POE) ROARK married the following individuals: Martha Emmaline (Henry S. REYNOLDS); Camily Frances (William R. KELLY); Nathan Wilson (1. Margaret J. HIRE, 2. Martha Jane MARTIN); Joseph Austin (Siotha Tennessee WOOD); William Robert (Samantha Ann BUTRUM); Henry Durham (Rebecca Victoria LANKFORD); Samuel James (Nancy Anthaline SCARBROUGH); Mary Jane (John W. COOK); Nancy (Unknown); Albert Curtis (Julia Olive BLANKENSHIP); and, Sarah Elizabeth (Edgar Harrison MATTHEWS).
Comfort was listed on the 1850 census of Allen County, Kentucky, as 27-year-old “C. Roark” in William’s household along with their oldest five children. She was on the 1860 census of Granby Township in Newton County, Missouri, in William’s household as “Comfort Rouark,” age 36, along with eight children (Martha Emmaline was no longer in the home). By the time of the 1870 US Census, 47-year-old “Comfort Roark” was in William’s household in Elk Township of McDonald County, Missouri, with six children still in the home.
“Comfort ROARK” was listed in the Missouri State Census of 1876 as living in Township 23 of McDonald County, Missouri. When the 1880 US Census was taken whe was listed as 58-year-old “Comfort Roark” in William’s household in Buffalo Township of McDonald County, Missouri. Three children were still living at home at that time: 31-year-old William R. Roark, 17-year-old “Curtis” Roark, and 14-year-od Sarah E. Roark.
William Carroll ROARK passed away at the couple’s home in Seneca, Newton County, Missouri, in 1888, leaving Comfort to spend the final fourteen years of her life as a widow. The 1890 US Census no longer exists, and Comfort, who passed away on February 12, 1902, has not been found on the 1900 US Census.
Comfort (POE) ROARK was buried next to her husband, William Carroll ROARK, at the Swars Prairie Baptist Cemetery in rural Newton County, Missouri. Many of their children and grandchildren and subsequent generations are at rest in the same cemetery.
Comfort POE ROARK was my g-g-grandmother.
Comfort and William began their married life in Allen County, Kentucky, the place where she was born. Their first six children were born in Allen County (Martha Emmaline (1839-1920), Camily Frances (1841-1915), Nathan Wilson (1844-1908), Joseph Austin (1846-1922), William Robert (1849-1909), and Henry Durham (1852-1927).
Sometime shortly after the birth of Henry Durham ROARK on June 7, 1852, the family pulled up stakes and moved to Missouri with their six young children. They were in Missouri by the time their seventh child, Samuel James ROARK, was born on February 25, 1855. The 1860 census found the ROARK family in Granby Township of Newton County, Missouri. William and Comfort and at least nine of their eleven children remained in Newton or McDonald Counties of Missouri for the rest of their lives.
After Samuel James ROARK (1855-1925) was born in Missouri, four additional children were born to the family, all in Missouri. Those four were: Mary Jane (1857-1923), Nancy (born in 1860), Albert Curtis (1864-1934), and Sarah Elizabeth (1866-1951).
The children of William and Comfort (POE) ROARK married the following individuals: Martha Emmaline (Henry S. REYNOLDS); Camily Frances (William R. KELLY); Nathan Wilson (1. Margaret J. HIRE, 2. Martha Jane MARTIN); Joseph Austin (Siotha Tennessee WOOD); William Robert (Samantha Ann BUTRUM); Henry Durham (Rebecca Victoria LANKFORD); Samuel James (Nancy Anthaline SCARBROUGH); Mary Jane (John W. COOK); Nancy (Unknown); Albert Curtis (Julia Olive BLANKENSHIP); and, Sarah Elizabeth (Edgar Harrison MATTHEWS).
Comfort was listed on the 1850 census of Allen County, Kentucky, as 27-year-old “C. Roark” in William’s household along with their oldest five children. She was on the 1860 census of Granby Township in Newton County, Missouri, in William’s household as “Comfort Rouark,” age 36, along with eight children (Martha Emmaline was no longer in the home). By the time of the 1870 US Census, 47-year-old “Comfort Roark” was in William’s household in Elk Township of McDonald County, Missouri, with six children still in the home.
“Comfort ROARK” was listed in the Missouri State Census of 1876 as living in Township 23 of McDonald County, Missouri. When the 1880 US Census was taken whe was listed as 58-year-old “Comfort Roark” in William’s household in Buffalo Township of McDonald County, Missouri. Three children were still living at home at that time: 31-year-old William R. Roark, 17-year-old “Curtis” Roark, and 14-year-od Sarah E. Roark.
William Carroll ROARK passed away at the couple’s home in Seneca, Newton County, Missouri, in 1888, leaving Comfort to spend the final fourteen years of her life as a widow. The 1890 US Census no longer exists, and Comfort, who passed away on February 12, 1902, has not been found on the 1900 US Census.
Comfort (POE) ROARK was buried next to her husband, William Carroll ROARK, at the Swars Prairie Baptist Cemetery in rural Newton County, Missouri. Many of their children and grandchildren and subsequent generations are at rest in the same cemetery.
Like countless farm wives of her generation, Comfort (POE) ROARK left a substantial progeny to travel trails and view vistas that she could not even imagine. Today her descendants are at home in many states - and even a few foreign locales - with hundreds or more still residing in the beautiful Ozarks that have been home to the ROARK family since the 1850's when William and Comfort stepped down from their wagon and proceeded to make a home in the hills.
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