There's a body buried beneath a busy Florence street? An outlaw known as Mountain Tom Clark roamed the area in the mid-1800s and was known to brag "no one walked over" him. When he was finally captured in 1872 and hanged for his crimes, his body was buried beneath Tennessee Street, directly outside Florence City Cemetery, where thousands of people now cross his grave daily. A historical marker designates the site.
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"In 1872 Clark, who terrorized helpless citizens during the Civil War, confessed to at least nineteen murders, including a child, and was hanged with two companions. Although graves were already dug in a nearby field, outraged townspeople interred Clark beneath Tennessee Street this bringing his boast to nought. "
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I've heard of him. Quite the assclown he was, apparently. It is fitting.
I've heard of him. Quite the assclown he was, apparently. It is fitting.
I heard he may be buried closer to E. Mobile St. because that street was in existence when Clark was hung and Dr. Hicks was many years away from being built. But who knows.
Interesting local history.
rumor has it.. the family dug up his body and moved it to the local cemetery.
Tom Clark was broken out of jail by a lynch mob who hanged him and buried him on that spot. I don't think it was on Tennessee street though, and yes his body was moved to a more suitable place later.
Old Mountain Tom was legitimately tried, found guilty and sentenced to hang. He was lynched when word got out that Yankee troops were en route to save him. That saved lives -- those Tom didn't get to murder and those not assassinated by the Union occupation troops at their midnight firing squads.
During his trial, Tom was asked if he regretted any of his murders. After murdering a young couple, he stole a dime on a string and shot their baby. He regretted killing the baby.
The local libraries may have a book called The Bugger Saga (bugger was nickname for Yankee sympathizer gangs) on Tom and his bunch.
Two of Tom's gang raped and drowned a little girl. Later, they were found hanging by their wrists in the cane break -- flayed (skinned) alive -about where the golf course is today. . Tom's gang never did that, again. When the two Florence men suspected of doing the deed walked into a room, the ladies stood up in their honor. Questioned, they always said it was a couple of guys from Tennessee.
Any ideas why the historical marker is on Tennessee St.? I love reading about these kind of things.
The marker is on Tennessee street so it can be seen the best.
Ken McElroy
Ken Rex McElroy (June 1, 1934 – July 10, 1981) was a resident of of Skidmore, Nodaway County, Missouri. Known as "the town bully",[1] his unsolved murder became the focus of international attention. Over the course of his life McElroy was accused of dozens of felonies, including assault, child molestation, rape, arson, hog and cattle rustling, and burglary.[2]
In all, he was indicted 21 times, but escaped conviction each time, except for the last.[2][3] In 1981, McElroy was convicted of shooting and seriously injuring the town's 70-year-old grocer, Ernest "Bo" Bowenkamp, the previous year.[1] McElroy successfully appealed the conviction and was released on bond, after which he engaged in an ongoing harassment campaign against Bowenkamp, the town's Church of Christ minister, and others who were sympathetic to Bowenkamp. He appeared in a local bar, the D&G Tavern, armed with an M1 Garand rifle and bayonet, and later threatened to kill Bowenkamp.[1][3] The next day, McElroy was shot to death in broad daylight as he sat with his wife Trena in his pickup truck on Skidmore's main street.[2] He was struck by bullets from at least two different firearms, in front of a crowd of people estimated as between 30 and 46.[1] To date, no one has been charged in connection with McElroy's death.[1]
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Another source:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/no...n_mcelroy/index.html
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For some reason the thread made me think of this man and his end. He was a bit more than a "bully".
Tom Clark may have been hung unduly, but it was his legal sentence. Not, that this other guy didn't deserve his fate.
According to the story I was told, he was known to be cavorting the Yankee army. When he tried to escape town with his buddies, he was caught wearing a woman's dress thinking he would not be recognized. One of his famed incidents included throwing a baby in the air and catching it upon his bayonet. He was broken out of jail by a mob and hanged in the trees in the empty lot in front of Courtview Towers, and then buried under Tennessee Street. i too heard he was later dug up and buried in the town cemetary.
Tom Clark was the most hated person in this area at the time, a union sympathizer murderer and thief!
Of coarse the reason Florence was not burned down completely is because the town would cater to what army was in town at the time.
I heard that as well gus. Supposedly the town swapped sides (occupation) about seven times during the war. there were many known Union sympathizers in the area.
They did burn to the ground nearly all manufacturing operations.
The story about Clark in women's clothes is in the Bugger Saga, I believe.
I think some of Clark's victims are buried in the cemetary on Blackberry Trail golf course.
He was broken out of jail by a mob and hanged in the trees in the empty lot in front of Courtview Towers, and then buried under Tennessee Street. i too heard he was later dug up and buried in the town cemetary.
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Is there a tombstone in the cemetery, any way to find his grave?
There was a movie about McElroy, played by Brian Dennehy. I love anything Dennehy plays in & he played this role perfectly. He did a great job making you hate McElroy. If you haven't seen it, it's one you should watch.
There was a movie about McElroy, played by Brian Dennehy. I love anything Dennehy plays in & he played this role perfectly. He did a great job making you hate McElroy. If you haven't seen it, it's one you should watch.
I remember that movie. They picked the right guy for that one.
I think some of Clark's victims are buried in the cemetary on Blackberry Trail golf course.
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There was a plantation located somewhere near the present day St. Florian town halL that was robbed by Clark and his men. One of his victim's is buried in the cemetery at Blackberry Golf Course And his tombstone is inscribed with a description of his murder.
"The Bugger Saga" is a great book on local history.
I think some of Clark's victims are buried in the cemetary on Blackberry Trail golf course.
The Wilson plantation was raided by buggars, the old man was bedridden and his faithful servant refused to tell them where the money was. I cannot remember the rest of that story though.
There was a movie about McElroy, played by Brian Dennehy. I love anything Dennehy plays in & he played this role perfectly. He did a great job making you hate McElroy. If you haven't seen it, it's one you should watch.
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I haven't seen the movie, but I have seen documentaries about him. Such a bully, him and his family. I'm not sure but I think his family hightailed it out of the area after he was killed. I didn't mean to hijack your thread, it was just that this clark reminded me of mcelroy.
There are 2 groups on Facebook, History and Facts about Lauderdale Al. and You might be from florence Al.if.... Lots of facts and info and pictures.
http://www.amazon.com/Bugger-s...txt?showViewpoints=1
A description of the book, Bugger Saga, I mentioned. My copy was lost in a fire.
A description of the book, Bugger Saga, I mentioned. My copy was lost in a fire.
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I looked for it & the cheapest one I could find was $85.00. I would love to read it but not going to pay that for a book.
A description of the book, Bugger Saga, I mentioned. My copy was lost in a fire.
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I looked for it & the cheapest one I could find was $85.00. I would love to read it but not going to pay that for a book.
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Yes, it was a limited print. That's why I suggested the libraries.
A description of the book, Bugger Saga, I mentioned. My copy was lost in a fire.
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I looked for it & the cheapest one I could find was $85.00. I would love to read it but not going to pay that for a book.
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Check out the bookstore in zTuscumbia. I'm sure they'll have it cheaper.