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CORPORATE HISTORY
1903-2006
THE CLARK GROUP OF CORPORATIONS has evolved from a
small soda water operation owned by Carsie C. Clark in 1903
and located in the rear of a drug store in Martin, Tennessee.
He was born in Calloway County, Kentucky in 1882. His father
operated a small distillery in that area and in 1889 a second
distillery in Hickman County, Kentucky. Clark moved to Martin
and married Erin Nowlin in 1903. While living in Martin, he
founded Corinth Bottling Works in Corinth, Mississippi. After
selling an interest to A. K. Weaver, a Corinth businessman, in
September 1905, the two set out to obtain a Coca-Cola
franchise for Corinth. While awaiting developments in Corinth,
 they were granted a license for New Albany, Mississippi in
1906. Clark moved to New Albany. He and Weaver each purchased
a one-third interest in the West Point, Mississippi franchise
that had been granted to
Hugh Smith of Meridian, Mississippi in April of 1906. The
three became partners on November 6, 1906 and incorporated
West Point Coca-Cola Bottling Company in February 1907. In
June 1908, Clark and Weaver agreed to swap part and purchase
part of each other's stock in Corinth, New Albany, and West
Point. As a result, Weaver owned New Albany and Corinth, while
Clark  became the principal owner of West Point. In 1908, Clark
purchased territory in the Tennessee counties of Weekly and
Obion and the Kentucky counties of Fulton, Hickman, and
Carlisle from the Carson Family of Paducah, KY and Evansville,
IN.
In November 1908, Clark sold one-half interest to Hugh Smith
for $900.00. Smith moved to Union City, TN to operate the
franchise for Union City and Dyersburg, TN. Clark and Smith
remained in business together until May 1917, when they agreed
to divide their interest by assigning their Union City
interest to Smith and the Mississippi holdings to Clark. Clark
expanded his Coca-Cola operation to a number of areas in
Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi. In December 1931, a
holding company, C. C. Clark, Inc., was formed to serve as the
parent company of a number of corporations with the stock
ownership being held by Clark and his four children. 100% of
the stock is still owned by descendants of Carsie C. Clark. As
of 2006, three third generation stockholders and six fourth
generation stockholders work in various capacities within the
Clark companies as well as being officers and directors of the
subsidiaries. The Clark companies are conducting business in
parts of Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky and Mississippi.
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C. C. Clark, Inc. Group of Companies
