Clara and Wallace had four children: Nancy, Pat, Felker, and Ida. A fifth child, Emma, was killed when a tornado blew away the family home. Nancy married James Edward Gibson and had five children: [Probably meant Alice, James Elmo, Edna, and Elsie here, as well as a fifth child who was stillborn] Alice, James, Elmo, Elsie, and a baby who died at birth. Alice married Hubert Best of Pumpkin Bend; Edna married a man named Noah Bell; and Elsie married Charles H. Sutton of Little Rock. Pat Fryer married Ophelia Linnie Porter of Atkins. Pat's mother, Clara, had a half-brother named Monroe Cook of Appleton, and a half-sister named Etta Malloy.

Every family has its secret, and ours is no different. Wallace was strongly suspected of being a horse thief! He avoided the hangman's noose by being run out of the county and told never to return, but he would slip back in at night about once per year, stay a few days, get Clara pregnant again, and leave. Clara had the children to raise by herself. She was able to support them by being a midwife, delivering most of the babies in Pumpkin Bend. With Wallace being gone for months at a time, she had to make money by digging up roots for teas and medicines. She also owned some property. Her great courage and strength of character held the family together.

Clara had three other children from before she married Wallace [from her first marriage to Isham C. Simmons]: Jim, Willie, and Ona Simmons [therewere actually four; their first-born was a son named Neil, named after Isham's father]. In those days, it was imperative for a widow to remarry for financial reasons. Likewise, it was often necessary for widowers to find another woman to help raise their children. It was sometimes more a merger than a marriage.

"Fryer Family History," Michael Fryer, 17 July 1999.
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Marriages

Marriage Record for Isham C. Simmons and Clara Hawkins

State of Arkansas
County of Woodruff

To any person authorized by
law to Solemnize Marriage Greeting: You are
hereby commanded to Solemnize the Rite and
publish the Bans of Matrimony between Mr Isham
C. Simmons of the County of Woodruff and State
of Arkansas aged 25 years and Miss Clara
Hawkins of the County of Woodruff and
State of Arkansas aged 17 years - according
to law and do you officially sign and return
this license to the parties herein named.

Witness my hand and official
seal this 14 day of January 1880.

I, H. T. Raney, do herby certify
that on the 15th day of January 1880, I did duly
and according to law as commanded in this fore
going license Solemnize the Rite and publish the
Bans of Matrimony between the parties therein named.

Witness my hand - This 15 day
of January 1880
H. T. Raney

Filed and recorded January 26, 1880

"Arkansas County Marriages, 1837-1957"

Marriage Record for E. W. Fryer and Clara S. Simmons

Bond for Marriage License
Bonded by E. W. Fryer, principal, G. F. Malloy, surety, bonded for $100. E. W. Fryer and Clara S. Simmons.

Marriage License
E. W. Fryer of Woodruff, Arkansas, 27 years old. Clara S. Simmons of Woodruff, Arkansas, 25 years old, signed 8th Oct 1887.

Certificate of Marriage
Rev. Thos. E. Knight performed the marriage ceremony 9 Oct 1887.

Certificate of Record
11 Nov 1887
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Death

Her death date, place, and burial are unknown. She was in a family portrait with her son, Floyd William Simmons in 1910. Her mother died in 1921 and the obituary lists the only living children as S. M. Cook, T. J. Nickens. Therefore, her death date is between 1910 and 1921. I suspect it was in 1910 because I can't find her in the 1910 or 1920 census. (from Amanda)