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| Digital image of (standing) Unknown boy, Elnora Hussong Roark, George Roark, (sitting) Allie Hogan Roark holding an Unknown child. c. 1905, probably Lawrence County, Missouri, original photograph held by D. Bell, c.2010 |
George Thomas Roark was born March 23, 1881 in Barry County, Missouri to David Martin Roark and Almeda "Allie" Hogan.
In 1900 he was resident in Barry County, living with and working for a local family. In 1904 he married Elnora Hussong, and soon had two children, Mabel Allie (Mabel changed this to Alice later) and Roy.
In 1910 their family was living together, with his brother Tunny and new bride Minnie in Webb City, Missouri, both he and Tunny working in the mines there in Jasper County, Missouri. George stated his occupation as "Powder-man" while Tunny was a "Machine-man."
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| Digital image of Mabel Roark, George Roark, and Roy Roark, c. 1910, probably Jasper County, Missouri, original print held by D. Deller, c.2013 |
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| Digital image of a group of Miners, with George Roark identified. c. 1910, probably Jasper County, Missouri, original photograph held by D. Bell, c.2010 |
George died February 27, 1914; the cause of death was Pulmonary Tuberculosis, with a secondary cause listed as "working in mines."
The mines were not good to the Roark brothers. Three of the four brothers worked in the local mines, and all three died in their 30's, of tuberculosis.
