In the pages of an old newspaper, a vision was cast upon the fertile lands of Lauderdale County,...
In the town of Florence, Alabama, nestled in the Tennessee Valley, the name "Mountain Tom Clark" still stirs a sense of unease, curiosity, and even fascination. The story of Tom Clark is one woven from a blend of historical fact and folklore, creating an outlaw tale that transcends time. To this day, locals recount the chilling legend of a notorious criminal who, after terrorizing the area during and after the Civil War, was buried beneath the very road he swore no one would ever run over him.
The Rise of Mountain Tom Clark
Born in Tennessee in the early 1800s, Thomas Marion Clark earned the nickname "Mountain Tom" to distinguish himself from another Tom Clark living in the area at the time. He was reputedly from the mountainous regions, a fact that perhaps contributed to the mystique surrounding his character. His early life offers little indication of the infamy he would later achieve, but by the time he arrived in Lauderdale County around 1862, he had already begun a life of crime.
Mountain Tom Clark initially evaded conscription into the Confederate Army, fleeing with his wife and child to avoid service. However, the Confederate conscription officers eventually found him and drafted him into the army. Deserting soon after, Tom switched allegiances and joined the Union Army, but that too did not last. After deserting the Union forces, he fell into a life of crime that would cement his status as a notorious outlaw.
Mountain Tom Clark’s Life of Crime
Mountain Tom became infamous as part of a gang of deserters and criminals who roamed the South during the Civil War, preying on vulnerable citizens. Clark’s gang was said to have robbed, tortured, and even murdered people in and around Lauderdale County. While some of the atrocities attributed to Clark and his gang may have been exaggerated over time, there is no doubt that they were responsible for numerous heinous acts.
Among the most notorious incidents linked to Mountain Tom was the murder of Allen Howell and the horrifying raid on the Wilson plantation. In 1865, Clark’s gang descended on the home of John S. Wilson, torturing the elderly man in a brutal attempt to extract the location of his hidden money. The gang killed young Matthew Wilson and severely wounded Turner Saunders Foster, a survivor of the raid who would later recount the terror of that night. This raid solidified Tom Clark’s fearsome reputation in the region.
Mountain Tom Clark’s Capture and Lynch Mob Justice
After several years of crime, Mountain Tom’s reign of terror came to a violent end in 1872. Upon his arrest, the citizens of Florence, fed up with the lawlessness, took justice into their own hands. On the night of September 4, 1872, an outraged mob stormed the jail, overpowered the guards, and dragged Tom Clark and two of his gang members out to be lynched.
The men were hanged from a tree near the Masonic Lodge (PICTURED) (which is a parking lot today) in Florence. However, it was what followed that would turn Clark’s death into one of Alabama’s most enduring legends.
The Legend of Mountain Tom Clark’s Burial
According to local lore, Tom Clark had once boasted that "nobody will ever run over Mountain Tom." In a grim twist of poetic justice, the mob decided that burying him under the road would ensure that his claim would be proven wrong for eternity. The story goes that Clark’s body was interred beneath what is now East Tennessee Street, near the Florence Cemetery, so that every passerby would "run over" him.
While historical records do not conclusively prove this burial under the road, the legend persists. In 1991, a historical marker was placed on Tennessee Street to commemorate this eerie tale, and whether or not Mountain Tom’s remains lie beneath the road, his story continues to intrigue both locals and visitors alike.
Separating Fact from Folklore
The legend of Mountain Tom Clark has grown and shifted over time, blending historical events with embellishments passed down through generations. Much of what is believed about Tom Clark, such as his boastful nature and the exact number of his crimes, has its roots in oral traditions and local storytelling.
Some historians have noted that much of what we know about Mountain Tom comes from folklore rather than verifiable records. Still, the facts that remain are enough to paint a portrait of a man who lived on the fringes of society, reveling in lawlessness and defiance.
A Legend Lives On
Mountain Tom Clark’s story is a captivating example of how history and legend can intertwine, creating a narrative that resonates across generations. The image of a notorious outlaw buried beneath the road, trampled by cars and carriages, is a powerful symbol of frontier justice and the resilience of a community determined to put an end to his terror.
Whether fact or folklore, the tale of Mountain Tom Clark continues to be a compelling chapter in the history of Florence, Alabama, and a reminder of the enduring power of local legend.
There are no known photos of Tom Clark.
