Herbert Slayden Clarkson (Brigadier General)

1891–1974 · Male · died at 82

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Male or Female is the sex recorded in the family tree file, not a description of gender; it is left out where the tree does not record it. Age at death is worked out from the dates shown: exact when both dates are exact, otherwise a range (73 or 74) or “about”. It is left out when a date is missing, open-ended or conflicting, or when the dates would make someone older than 110, and when the research has labelled one of the dates Unconfirmed. People who may be living have no summary.

Family data snapshot: 09-24-2026 Read-only collection from the Oak Family Tree. Research incorporated 09-25-2026 (revision 90e7f7b2). Updated periodically.

Overview

William Banton Clarkson1858-1933Father Alice Ann (Peaple) Clarkson1859–1922Mother

Herbert Slayden Clarkson (Brigadier General)1891–1974Ruth Joyce Kelso Clarkson1891–1973Wife

Herbert Kelso Clarkson1916–1977Son

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Family

Parents

Father: William Banton Clarkson 1858-1933
Confirmed evidence: show why
Why: Herbert is listed as a child of William Clarkson in the 1900 census household in Houston (image read in the R1 research).
Records:
- 1900 U.S. census, Houston Ward 3, Harris County, Texas (ED 76, sheet 19B, lines 72-80): William Clarkson, cotton buyer, his wife Alice and seven children (record page · view at Ancestry)
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep 1933, p. 2: 'Retired Cotton Broker Expires' (obituary of W. B. Clarkson) (view at Newspapers.com)
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research.
Earlier: Likely (09-24-2026, newspapers): Named as W. B. Clarkson's children in Texas newspapers and memorials. · Likely (09-24-2026, research): Named as W. B. Clarkson's children in Texas newspapers and memorials.
What the labels mean
Mother: Alice Ann (Peaple) Clarkson 1859–1922
Confirmed evidence: show why
Why: Herbert is listed as a child in William and Alice Clarkson's 1900 household; Alice is recorded as the mother of seven children, all living.
Records:
- 1900 U.S. census, Houston Ward 3, Harris County, Texas (ED 76, sheet 19B, lines 72-80): William Clarkson, cotton buyer, his wife Alice and seven children (record page · view at Ancestry)
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research.
Earlier: Likely (09-24-2026, newspapers): Named as W. B. Clarkson's children in Texas newspapers and memorials. · Likely (09-24-2026, research): Named as children of W. B. and Alice Clarkson in Texas newspapers and memorials.
What the labels mean

Wife: Ruth Joyce Kelso Clarkson 1891–1973
Likely evidence: show why
Why: In her sworn 1923 passport application she stated that she was Herbert S. Clarkson's wife and that they married at San Antonio on 18 Sep 1913 (image read in the R10 research); the 1930, 1940 and 1950 censuses list her as his wife. The marriage record itself is known only from a citation in the family tree and has not been inspected.
Records:
U.S. passport application of Ruth Kelso Clarkson, sworn in Bexar County, Texas, 8 Jun 1923; passport issued 13 Jun 1923 (NARA M1490, roll 2302). right-hand page, typed statements; the family tree cites this application twice, and both citations are the same image (view at Ancestry)
1930 U.S. census, Washington, D.C., ED 273, sheet 7A, block 2583, family 164, lines 12-14 (roll 299) (view at Ancestry)
1940 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, ward 42, ED 103-2678, sheet 14A, household 338, lines 38-40 (roll T627_1006), enumerated 16 Apr 1940 (view at Ancestry)
1950 U.S. census, Olmos Park City, Bexar County, Texas, ED 15-2, sheet 32, lines 5-6 and sample line 6 (roll 4164); sheet started 19 May 1950
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research.
Earlier: Unconfirmed (09-24-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean

Son: Herbert Kelso Clarkson 1916–1977
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean

Life events

Born	19 May 1891 Confirmed evidence: show why Why: Given on his Texas death certificate (image read in the story-scout research); a later record, not a birth registration. Records: Texas death certificate of Herbert Slayden Clarkson, San Antonio, 2 Feb 1974 (certificate 06701) Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research. Earlier: Unconfirmed (09-24-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. What the labels mean (the family tree records 19 MAY 1891, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA)
Died	2 Feb 1974, San Antonio, Texas Confirmed evidence: show why Why: His Texas death certificate (image read in the story-scout research). Records: Texas death certificate of Herbert Slayden Clarkson, San Antonio, 2 Feb 1974 (certificate 06701) Find a Grave memorial 64956757: BG Herbert Slayden Clarkson (1891-1974) (view at findagrave.com) (context) Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research. Earlier: Unconfirmed (09-24-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. What the labels mean (the family tree records 2 FEB 1974, San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, USA)
Residence	1900, Houston Ward 3, Harris, Texas, USA
Education	Appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy through Congressman Slayden, 1908 Likely evidence: show why Why: San Antonio Light, 25 Sep 1908 (clipping saved in the research). Records: San Antonio Light, 25 Sep 1908: Herbert Clarkson's Naval Academy appointment through Congressman Slayden (view at Library of Congress, Chronicling America) Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research. What the labels mean
Residence	1910, San Antonio Ward 8, Bexar, Texas
Marriage	18 Sep 1913, San Antonio, Texas, with Ruth Joyce Kelso Clarkson 1891–1973 Likely evidence: show why Why: Her own sworn statement in her 1923 passport application (image read in the R10 research). The marriage record is citation-only and has not been inspected. Records: U.S. passport application of Ruth Kelso Clarkson, sworn in Bexar County, Texas, 8 Jun 1923; passport issued 13 Jun 1923 (NARA M1490, roll 2302). right-hand page, typed statements; the family tree cites this application twice, and both citations are the same image (view at Ancestry) Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research. What the labels mean (the family tree records Texas, USA)
Arrival	BET 1919 AND 1920
Departure	BET 14 JUL 1919 AND 1920, Brest, France
Residence	1920, Justice Precinct 3, Bexar, Texas
Residence	1930, Washington, Washington, District of Columbia
Residence	1931, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Arrival	28 NOV 1933, New York
Residence	1935, Fort Sill, Comanche, Oklahoma
Residence	1 APR 1940, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States
Residence	ABT 1943, San Antonio
Military service	Photographed as Brig. Gen. Herbert Clarkson, Inspector General, NATOUSA, 13 Oct 1944, IV Corps headquarters near Lucca, Italy Confirmed evidence: show why Why: The National WWII Museum's caption for a U.S. Army Signal Corps photograph (read in the story-scout research). Records: National WWII Museum: U.S. Army Signal Corps photograph of officers at IV Corps headquarters near Lucca, Italy, 13 Oct 1944 (accession 2007.048.323) (view at The National WWII Museum) Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: index or transcription, as reported in the saved research. What the labels mean
Military service	Army career of 32 years, including inspector-general work in North Africa and Italy; retired in 1945, to 1945 Likely evidence: show why Why: As his obituary reports; the retained clipping does not show the newspaper or date. Records: Obituary of Herbert S. Clarkson (clipping in the family tree; newspaper and date not shown on the retained page) Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research. What the labels mean
Residence	Relation to Head of House: Head; Marital Status: Married, 1950, Olmos Park, Bexar, Texas, USA
BG Herbert Slayden Clarkson	2 FEB 1974, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA
Residence	ABT 1974, San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, USA
Burial	San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA View memorial on Find a Grave
Departure	Southampton, England
Residence	San Artonio, Texas
Residence	San Antonio, Texas

Research notes

His middle name may honour his father's business partner J. L. Slayden (Slayden & Clarkson from 1889), later a Congressman; no record says so.

Sources

View memorial on Find a Grave Memorial 64956757
A volunteer-contributed memorial page. Its dates and family links are the contributor's; the labels on this page say which ones the records support.
Social Security Death Index Birth, marriage and death records Transcription: family sign-in Birth, Death
Source Citation: Number: [number withheld]; Issue State: Texas; Issue Date: 1956
U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940 Military Citation only Birth, Residence
Web: Texas, Find A Grave Index, 1761-2012 Burials and memorials Transcription: family sign-in Birth, Burial, Death
1900 United States Federal Census Census Transcription Scan: family sign-in Birth, Residence
Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Houston Ward 3, Harris, Texas; Roll: 1642; Page: 19B; Enumeration…
1910 United States Federal Census Census Transcription Scan: family sign-in Birth, Residence
Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: San Antonio Ward 8, Bexar, Texas; Roll: T624_1532; Page: 5B; Enum…
U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 Passenger lists and passports Scan: family sign-in Event
1920 United States Federal Census Census Transcription Scan: family sign-in Birth, Residence
Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Justice Precinct 3, Bexar, Texas; Roll: T625_1780; Page: 4B; Enum…
1930 United States Federal Census Census Transcription Scan: family sign-in Birth, Residence
Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: 299; Page: 7A…
U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 Directories and public records Transcription Scan: family sign-in Residence
New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 Passenger lists and passports Transcription Scan: family sign-in Birth, Event
Source Citation: Year: 1933
1940 United States Federal Census Census Transcription Scan: family sign-in Birth, Residence
Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T627_1006; Page: 14A; Enumeration…
U.S., Newspapers.com™ Marriage Index, 1800s-current Newspapers Citation only Residence
1950 United States Federal Census Census Scan: family sign-in Birth, Residence
National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year:…
Findagrave Other documents Scan: family sign-in Event
BG Herbert Slayden Clarkson 2 Feb 1974
Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 Birth, marriage and death records Transcription: family sign-in Death
Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982 Birth, marriage and death records Scan: family sign-in Residence
Texas, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1837-1965 Birth, marriage and death records Citation only Marriage
U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 Passenger lists and passports Scan: family sign-in Residence

Research sources

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From the family tree, with the research incorporated so far. Each relationship and main fact carries a label: Confirmed, Likely or Unconfirmed. Tree entries that nobody has reviewed yet are Unconfirmed. Open a label to see why, the records and when it was reviewed. How sure is each statement?