My mother always said "No baby is an accident." She thought it was awful when people said that, particularly in the years after the child was born when a statement like that could cause a lot of harm psychologically. But my mother never looked back, she always hoped for the best and didn't think about anything else.
Lucille and Tim Clark were both 39. Mother seemed to have a normal pregnancy. She went to Dr. Orval Smith in St. Marys for her prenatal care, such as it was in those days. She had gained 50 pounds when she was pregnant with me, and she gained 54 pounds with her third pregnancy, so she didn't think too much about it. I weighed 9 pounds and 10 ounces and each of the twins weighed over 6 pounds at birth, so it didn't seem too much different, except for the mass. She knew this baby was a lot bigger than any she'd had previously but Dr. Smith told her that he only heard one heartbeat.
My brother Gary Wayne and I were hoping for a sister. We talked about a sister and planned for a sister but sometimes we don't get what we want. Gary Wayne Clark was born on January 26, 1947 and even though my Mom was miserable and mostly resting as much as she could, she made a big chocolate cake for Gary's birthday. That evening, Grandmother Mable (Jones) Clark, Grandmother and Grandfather Robert and Mildred (McCauley) Corbin, and cousins Charlie and Bonnie Mitchell came for supper and we had a good time. Aunt Sarah (Corbin) and Uncle Leslie Justice dropped for cake as did Aunt Vivian (Corbin) and Uncle George Wild. We went to bed about 10pm and I don't remember hearing a sound during the night, but my mom awakened by dad about midnight and told him that she was in labor.
They telephoned Grandmother Corbin who came and they left for the hospital in Wamego, Kansas. The next morning, Gary and I awakened and Grandmother Corbin fixed breakfast and told us that mom and dad had gone to the hospital and we would soon hear about our new little sister. By then, our enthusiasm for a little girl had become infectious and we all believed it would be a girl.
Shortly before we left for school, the telephone rang and it was my Dad. Gary and I listened to the conversation and hear Grandmother Corbin use a lot of words for shock and surprise---but she held the phone receiver down and said, "Your Dad wants to talk to you." Gary and I walked over to the phone and could hear him say, "Boys, guess what we have." Gary and I both shouted "A sister" into the phone but Dad said, "No sister but you have twin brothers, Steve and Stan." Our disappointment lasted about two seconds since having twin boys was going to be lots of fun in future years.
The twins surprised Dr. Smith and my parents. No one had expected twins. So my grandmothers and Aunt Bonnie (Thomas) Mitchell all joined together and started finding an addition crib, clothing and supplies that would be needed----including an additional 48 cloth diapers. Disposable diapers were not yet being commonly used in 1959. These ladies had already planned to repaper my parents bedroom and do some painting while they were gone, and they did that work in addition. So seven days after their birth, they arrived at their new home in Maple Hill. Gary and I were amazed at how much attention twins brought to our family. It seemed the house was always full of family and friends. My mom distributed all the family pictures that were pertinent to her four sons, so I don't have many photos of Steve and Stan Clark as children, but I'll share what I have in this blog.
This is a photo of Lucille (Corbin) Clark with twin sons Stanley J. (left) and Steven K. (right) Clark in our living room in Maple Hill, summer, 1955.
L-R: Mable R. (Jones) Clark, Stanley J. Clark, Lucille (Corbin) Clark, and Steven K. Clark taken in the back yard at the Maple Hill Central Office, Maple Hill Kansas. It would also appear this photo was taken in summer, 1955. Seeing the propane tank in the background reminds me of how happy Grandmother was when she didn't have to build coal fires every morning in the heating and cook stoves. I believe the telephone company installed propane in about 1952 or 1953.
This is a photo of Susanna Jeanetta (Rinehardt) Jones, second wife of Leander Emory Jones and step-great grandmother to Stanley J. and Steven K. Clark. We always called her Grandma Jones and she lived just one house from us, and gave our family the two lots in 1959 on which to locate our new home. She had terrible diabetes and lost her leg to the disease. She had an artificial leg and got around fairly well. She always had peppermint candies on her kitchen table and was very good to our family.
This is the earliest photo of the twins I have. It was taken when they were about three months old in 1955. Stanley J. is on the left and Steven K. is on the right. They were very happy little babies and mother always made little "curls" on top their heads.
This is a photo of John L. "Tim" Clark with twin sons Steven K. on the left and Stanley J. Clark on the right. It was taken in summer, 1955 at the back porch of the Maple Hill Central Office, Maple Hill, Kansas. My dad was always so proud of the twins. They turned out to be carbon copies of my dad, loving to play sports and fish and hunt. They still do.
Steve and Stan Clark grew up in Maple Hill, Kansas and attended Maple Hill Grade School. By the time they started to high school, Maple Hill had closed its high school and consolidated with Alma so they graduated from Wabaunsee High School at Alma, Kansas. Steve and Stan were both outstanding athletes and played all sports as well as playing ball on summer teams at Maple Hill. Since I was 10 years older, I remember going to their basketball games after I was married and living in Maple Hill. Again, I don't have many photos of the twins in their school years, but I'll share them here.
This photograph was taken in 1982. L-R standing are Nicholas L. Clark, Steven K. Clark, Gary Wayne Clark and Stanley J. Clark. L-R are Nicholas L. Clark, II, Mable R. (Jones) Clark and Amelia M.V. "Amy" (Clark) Allendorf. The photo was taken at the 40th wedding anniversary for Lucille (Corbin) and John L. "Tim" Clark.
Steven K. Clark, was married to Brenda (Harris) Clark on September 15, 1982 in Topeka, Kansas. The photo above is of Steven's family. L-R in the back row are: Nicholas L. Clark, Sr. holding daughter Amelia M. V. "Amy" Clark, Verona S. (Little) Clark, John L. "Tim" Clark, Brenda (Harris) Clark, Steven K. Clark, Terry (O'Dell) Clark, Gary W. Clark, Judy (Henderson) Clark and Stanley J. Clark. L-R in the front row are: Nicholas L. Clark, II, Lucille (Corbin) Clark, Mildred M. (McCauley) Corbin-Clark, and Mable R. (Jones) Clark.
Steven and Brenda have lived most of their married life in Topeka, Kansas where Steve was employed by Cormery-O'Niel Veterans Administration Medical Center. Steve retired from the VA Hospsital in 2010 with over 30 years of service. Brenda (Harris) Clark is a very talented artist and worked in several mediums. Professionally, she has been an administrative assistant.
Steven and Brenda are the parents of two children: Timothy John Clark born October 30, 1983 and Katy Lynn Clark born June 13, 1987, both in Topeka, Kansas. From the beginning, Timothy John has been called T. J. T. J. graduated from Highland Park High School in Topeka, Kansas where he was active in music and theater. He is now a pharmacy assistant at Comery-O'Niel VA Medical Center in Topeka.
This photograph was taken in 2001. L-R are: Katy Lynn Clark, Steven K. Clark, Timothy John "T.J." Clark and Brenda (Harris) Clark
Katy Lynn Clark also graduated from Highland Park High School in Topeka. Katy was active in sports and enjoyed playing soccer. Katy and Josh Ray (born November 8, 1983) are the parents of Noah Porter Ray (born February 26, 2011) and live in Topeka, Kansas. L-R are Katy Lynn, Noah and Josh Ray.
Stanley J. Clark was married to Karen Cochran on March 9, 1985 in Topeka, Kansas. Karen is the daughter of Clayton and Norma Cochran and has spent all of her life in Shawnee County, Kansas. Stan and Karen are the parents of a son, Joshua James Clark, who was born on August 30, 1985 at Topeka, Kansas. Stan is employed by Cormery-O'Neil Veterans Administration Medical Center in Topeka, Kansas and Karen is employed by the State of Kansas and works in the Secretary of State's office.
L-R are: Josh Clark, Steve Clark, Katy Clark, Brenda Clark, Stan Clark, Lucille Clark, Gary Clark, Karen Clark, T. J. Clark, and Nick Clark.
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