Woom-ma-konie

  In 1883, a young Comanche girl named Woom-ma-konie became married to the Tennessee born Edward L. Clark. In 1868, she had been born in the Antelope Hills of present-day Roger Mills County, Oklahoma.

Edward L. Clark had arrived in Indian Territory after the American Civil War. On the established KCA reservation, he served as a sub-Agent for negotiations with the local tribes and as an interpreter for the Comanches. Edward also was responsible for the distribution of medication on the reservation close to Fort Sill. In the 1880's, he had traveled with area tribal leaders including the Comanche Chief Kobi for important meetings in Washington, D. C.

Woom-ma-konie Clark and Edward had eleven children. The oldest was Elsie Clark who was born in 1884 and the youngest was Albert Clark who was born in 1906.

Their grandson Wahnne Cooper Clark was well-known for his tireless efforts to research and preserve the historical Yellow Mission Cemetery (Comanche Mission Cemetery) situated on the east side of Henry Post Army Airfield at Fort Sill.

With his great motivation to honor the Comanche graves at the nearly forgotten site, the U. S. Army was convinced to provide better access to the location for Comanche families and for protection from any military training exercises.

In November of 2013, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the Comanche Nation and the United States Department of Defense in Washington, D. C.

Impressive historical picture of Elsie Clark, daughter of Woom-ah-kony and Edward L. Clark, ca. 1890-1910, Comanche. Photograph courtesy of the Denver Public Library Special Collections, Denver, Colorado. Additional information from the Miller County Museum and Historical Society, Tuscumbia, Missouri.