James Washington Clark was born on September 29, 1842 in Colleton County, South Carolina, according to his own account. On August 17, 1861, at the age of 19, Clark enlisted at Richmond, Virginia with Company H of the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Regt., which was under the command of Capt.William Haskill.  Clark faithfully served with the Confederate States for his entire service.  On April 9, 1865 Clark was discharged at the Appomattox Court House on the accounty of Lee's surrender and the wars end. After the war James Washington Clark moved to Hernando County where he settled in Brooksville sometime in October of 1871. On March 27, 1872 James Clark married to Frances Louise Hope, daughter of Hernando County pioneer resident David Hope.  In Brooksville Clark owned and operated a meat market. By 1878 Clark had made his way to the coast of what would become Pasco County and settled in what is now Port Richey.  As Clark settled on the coast he built his family a home and soon made inquiry about establishing a post office.  On October 15, 1878 James W. Clark received a communication from Assistant Postmaster General, James W. Marshall, in Washington D.C., in response to his inquiry into establishing a new post office.  This communication outlines the procedures and questions needing answered before the Postmaster General "decides upon the application."  Along with this application is a page provided for a sketch of the proposed location of the new post office, while Clark provided this sketch he did not yet own the property he proposed for the new post office.  As James Clark answers the questions on the application, he further describes the location as "Hopeville in Hernando", as the proposed location of the new post office, which was to be called "Hopeville" Post Office.  It is explained that this new post office will be located directly on the post route from "Brooksville via Anclote to Clear Water Harbor".  The post office was to be located 2 miles north of the Pithlachascotee River and 1/2 mile south of Dead Cypress Creek, in section 33, township 35, range 16.  According to Clark's application, the nearest established post office, to the proposed location, was the Brooksville Post Office 25 miles to the north-east.  Clark goes on to name James O. Brown as the contractor designated to build the new post office, if the application was granted.   James Brown had settled farther to the south at the Baillie Settlement near present Holiday.  On December 4, 1878 the Hopeville Post Office was granted by the Postmaster General naming James Washington Clark as the postmaster, Clark would serve as the only "designated" postmaster.  The Hopeville Post Office served the community for only a few years and was closed on November 22, 1881.  (click here to read 1878 application and sketched map for Hopeville Post Office) By 1909 James W. Clark had acquired large property interest in Pasco County.  According to his own writing he was the owner of 120 acres in Pasco County by 1909.  On July 21, 1913 James Washington Clark passed away while still living in Pasco County, he was buried in the Cycadia Cemetery in Tarpon Springs.