Family History by Ann Lewis Clegg
Family History
by Ann Lewis Clegg
Contributed by Carl Clegg
Historical Society of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
I was born in Cardiff, Wales, June
25, 1836 being the eldest child of seven, namely Ann (myself),
Fred, who died in infancy, Mary, Amelia, who died in childhood,
Fred, and the twins, William and Preese (the latter named died in
infancy).
My father was John A Lewis and my
mother was Ann John Lewis, both of Welsh descent, born and raised
in Cardiff, Wales. My father was the eldest child of Edward and
Amelia Preese Lewis, the other brothers being Edmund Edward,
William Betsy, and Mary. My mother was the eldest child of John
and Ann John and had two brothers, Daniel and John, and one
sister, Cellia. As far back as I can remember, they all lived in
Cardiff, Wales, and respectable, honest, ambitious, law-abiding
people, being farmers, mechanics, merchants, and master builders.
My father and his brother, Edmund, built the Cardiff Docks.
As I turn the leaves back from the
great life book of memory, I can see the house where I was born,
a little French cottage (the house father built) in Frenches Row,
in the northern part of the city of Cardiff. The front was built
of Alabaster rock, the windows were quaint and small. The space
within consisted of two rooms upstairs and two down. The
furniture within was plain and scant. I was the only child born
there and when I was three years old we moved into a beautiful
home on Milicent Street. It was a large rock dwelling and
contained seven rooms well furnished. I seem to see my angel
mother as she went about in the beautiful home, bringing
sunshine, peace, and love to all. She was of medium height, with
black hair, and eyes and skin as fair as alabaster. She was
consumptive and therefore looked delicate. She was beautiful in
spirit as well as body.
My father was a tall dark
complexioned man, straight as an arrow and firm as the rock of
ages. He was a kind, charitable, and very religious man. He was
at that time occupied as master builder of the Cardiff Docks. Our
home was a happy one. Here all my brothers and sisters were born.
We were Methodists and were reared and educated under a strict
Methodist training, my father being a Methodist Minister.
How well I remember one evening
when father and mother were entertaining some guests at dinner
and I came near being burned to death. I was about seven years
old and was dressed that evening in a white mull dress. The fire
was burning brightly in the grate in the back parlor. There was a
little book on the mantle that I wanted to get. I reached for it
and in doing so my dress caught and in a second was in flames. I
ran through the hall to get to my mother, when my uncle Edward
who was just entering the house with his overcoat on his arm
threw it around me, thus smothering the flames. When the
excitement subdued it was found I was burned very badly. Doctors
were sent for and it was a whole year before I recovered.
How patient and loving were by
dear parents and how they tried to make everything as pleasant as
they could for me.
We always kept a hired girl, a
washer woman, and a family doctor.
All of us children received a fair
common education. Father wished my brother Fred and myself to go
to France to finish ours, but there was something else in store
for us, as you will see. I was quite a delicate child and unable
to attend school regularly. Our lives went on day by day happy,
only one thing that was the ill health of my sweet mother. She
had consumption and day by day gradually grew worse, until one
beautiful morning, the 5th of May, 1849, she like a beautiful
flower faded and ___ left us to bloom the kingdom of Heaven,
where she went to join the angels and clasp to her arms her
children and loved ones that had gone before her.
A day or two before she died she
called me to her bed and said to a lady friend, "Here is a
dutiful child who has never given me a cross word in her
life." I loved to wait on her and though young I tried to do
all I could to please her. Her father dearly loved her and her
death was a severe blow to him as well as us children. She was 33
years old and left a husband and four children besides loved
ones. I was then 13 years old. We buried her in our family vault.
No one can tell the loss of a mother unless they have had that
trial.
After mother’s death we were
very lonely, and would have been more so if we hadn’t had
our dear grandma Lewis, who took care of us and our home with the
help of the housekeeper. Grandma was the most charitable woman I
ever knew. She was charitable to everybody and everything. My
father couldn’t stand to live in this home after my
mother’s death so we moved into a beautiful home father had
built in Humphrey Street. My father was now living from rents of
the houses having in all 12, he was also a merchant, a lease
owner, a free holder of life, living entirely on his income. Four
years after mother’s death father married again. A Mrs.
Pricilla Phillips, a widow with one daughter, Louise. She was a
very sweet lady and we all soon grew to love her and her little
daughter. She was kind and good to us and tried as near as she
could to take the place of our mother.
Grandmother was now in her old
home, but would come to see us every day. She was one of the best
grandmothers in the world and we all dearly loved her.
Grandfather died several years before mother. About this time,
Mormonism was being expounded in Cardiff. Captain Jones and Elder
Henshaw were there, teaching this new and strange gospel to all
who would listen. My father seemed to grasp the gospel at once
and after two years of careful study of it and having gained a
testimony of its truth, embraced it. I was baptized by Elder
George Taylor in the River Taft at 8 o’clock at night in
September. Elder Daniel Spencer stayed with us. We were very
happy in the new gospel, but our relatives were very bitter. We
saw we could not live there in peace so we decided to come to
Zion. We had a new addition to our family now, a sister, who was
named Millie. We also had a cousin living with us named Caroline
Mathews who was my stepmother’s sister’s girl. Her
parents being dead my stepmother took her to raise as her own.
My father sold his store, house
and everything we held dear to come to a new country far away,
but persecution was so great we had to if we lived the gospel. We
were two weeks selling our belongings. First our beautiful big
store and goods, then our houses, etc. After about three months
preparation we bid farewell to all and took the train from
Cardiff to Liverpool where we were to sail in the ship
"Golconda." Grandmother Lewis was brokenhearted, too,
as were all our relatives and friends we left behind. Father
brought to America 25 families besides his own and that is where
he lost so much money as they nearly all apostatized and only a
few paid back the money father had loaned them to come.
We arrived at Liverpool safe and
took first class passage to the Golconda for St. Louis, U.S.A.
February 4, 1854. We were all sea sick and therefore our voyage
wasn’t very pleasant. There were 800 saints on board and it
was the month of April. Nearly all the saints were from Wales. We
were six weeks on the water, it was very [wrought] and had some
very severe storms at sea. Three were buried in the seas of the
company and quite a number were seriously sick. I saw a number of
whales. I was so sick. I don’t like the water and my voyage
was one of fear and dread. I was so glad when I landed in New
Orleans I could have fell down and kissed the earth and it was
some time before we could walk as it seemed as though the earth
rose up and bumped us. It was about June now and we could hardly
wait to go on land.
It was nearly morning when our
ship sailed into the harbor. Men they called land sharks crowded
on the vessel and tried to plunder all they could. Policemen were
there and protected saints. After getting through with the custom
house proceedings, our family took a cab to the hotel and stayed
there till about 4 o’clock p.m. When we all took first class
passage on the beautiful boat "John Simmons" (the
largest boat on the river) to sail up the Mississippi. We had
every comfort on the boat that could be desired and it was simply
grand. After we had been sailing for a day or two the boat got
caught in a sand bar and we were detained four days, making it in
all about two weeks before we arrived at St. Louis, after a
delightful journey. The steerage saint passengers on this boat
were very sick and we girls used to take them good things to eat
nearly every day.
When we got off the boat we were
taken in vehicles out to the edge of St. Louis to McFee’s
camp ground, where all the saints were camped, preparatory to
going to Utah. Father bought all the camp outfit and provisions
to start on our journey but it was six weeks before we started.
The families of saints father had brought were all to go to Utah
in what they called the ten pound company and then settle with
father later. We went in an independent company, or a company
that furnished themselves. We had in our outfit to travel across
the plains 2 wagons, 12 herd of oxen, 1 yoke of cows and a
beautiful riding mare, saddle, etc. We had two teamsters. We had
all kinds of provisions: bacon, hams, flour, crackers, and
everything to eat one would wish. We even had a churn and used to
put the milk from the cows in the churn in the morning in the
wagon and by night we would have butter. We were clothed
comfortable and had plenty of good bedding. I think it was about
the first week in July when we started across the great plains.
The captain of our company was Captain Richardson. There were 40
wagons, three and four families to a wagon. They had to take
turns riding part way and walking part way across the plains. I
will say that before we started cholera broke out and several
hundred died. It still continued and many died (mostly young men)
while on our journey. Our company would start first, early in the
morning and we would travel until towards night, when they would
find a suitable camping place, where the cattle would be
corralled, by the wagons forming a circle on the outside, and the
cattle within. Buffalo chip was the fuel. Camp fires built,
supper prepared, have prayers, sing, and retire.
The heat was very oppressive and
we would all get very tired, footsore and weary. We always
stopped over Sunday where we would have worship and have a
glorious time as we had a number of good musicians in our
company, who had brought their musical instruments with them. We
saw lots of deer, antelope, and buffalo, a few were killed. Also
saw a few mountain sheep. The Indians were our dread as there
were so many of them and they were all on the warpath and we had
to be so careful for fear they would kill us. One day we came
upon a large number in Ish Hollow, of Sioux Indians, we were very
frightened of them. They were on their way to war with another
tribe. My father gave them a large barrel of crackers and all the
company gave them something and we got past them in peace. I had
never seen an Indian before. I was frightened of the Indians and
of the panthers roar at night. The loneliness of the plains
nearly drive me wild. Mother and the children were like me and we
were wishing every day we would reach our destination that night.
There were a great many deaths in our company. We just had to sew
the corpse in a sheet or blanket, dig a deep hole and bury them
and go on.
Oh, the trials the saints endured
no tongue can tell, and no pen can write the suffering. Mother
was confined at Ash Hollow. Dr. Richardson waited on her. A baby
boy was born to her and he was named John Samuel Lewis. She did
fine. My sister Mary had the mountain fever and nearly died. I
was well during the whole journey and so were the other children.
How we did rejoice after many weeks of travel we arrived on the
big mountain and could look down on the Great Salt Lake and the
Salt Lake Valley. We sung the songs of Zion in earnest and gave
up thanks to God that he had watched over us and we were
permitted to behold the land of Zion.
We came through Emmigration Canyon
through the valley and on to the public square, where we camped
with hundreds of others for a few weeks until we could be
located. Brigham Young was there first and gave us a hearty
welcome. Some were expecting their loved ones in the company and
I tell you it was a grand reunion, a time of rejoicing together.
I was glad our journey was ended, but I was very lonesome for
awhile. We had been 3 months on the road and arrived in Salt Lake
September 30, 1854, just in time to attend the great October
conference of the Saints, where we had a glorious time.
Father now bought a home in the
19th Ward. Just one room and a small lean-to kitchen. We soon got
located in our new home and began our first experiences in
pioneer life. While we were in Cardiff we were desirous of
obtaining a home so when we got here we would have some place to
stay. Father spoke of this to Elder Dan Jones who was laboring
there as a missionary and he proposed to sell one to father. He
represented to us a good farm in Utah that he would sell for
$2,900. Father, thinking he could trust him, bought this farm and
paid him money down for it before we left Cardiff. When we
arrived in Utah and located this property it was nothing but
sagebrush with no house on it all as he had said. He told us it
was a beautiful farm with a nice dwelling house on it. Father had
been deceived beyond measure, both in this project and in
bringing emigrants to this country. When we came in the valley
and told Brigham Young, he held a council and had Dan Jones up
before it and he promised to pay the money back, but he never
did. All he gave father was a pair of mules and a buggy. Thus
father had gone through a fortune but had never lost faith or
turned from the gospel. Daniel Jones on his deathbed years lather
send for father and begged for father to forgive, which he did,
and he died in peace. When father got in the valley he had to
start out with 12 heads of oxen, __ cows, 2 wagons and a tent and
a nice mare, some provisions and some money and all of us well.
We joined with the people and
although it was a very severe winter we rejoiced ourselves very
much.
New emigrants were coming all the
time and I would go with the other young people to what I called
the Public Square and there welcome the Saints who had reached
their journey’s end. I was at this place that I met the man
who later became my husband. It was September 1855, [I was 19
years old.] when ___ some others I was shaking hands with the
saints and was introduced to Henry Clegg, a tall [30 year old]
light complexioned young man (a widower with one little boy and
with whom I fell in love and he with me. Our love and
companionship for each other grew stronger each day and on
December 3, 1855 we were married by Elder John Nebeker at the
home of Mr. Hughes and later in August 14, 1857, sealed in the
Endowment house by President Brigham Young.
My husband, Henry Clegg, was born
June 7, 1825 at Preston, Lancashire, England. He was the youngest
child of eight, namely Thomas, James, Margaret, Jonathan, Betsy,
Alice, Henry and himself. His father was Henry Clegg and his
mother Ellen Cardwell. They all lived in England and my husband
and his brother Jonathan were the only ones to emigrate to Utah.
My husband had married Hannah
Eastham of Preston, England and unto them were born three
children, namely: Isreal, Thomas, and James. His wife and son
James died while crossing the plains and thus he reached the
valley of Salt Lake a widower with the one little boy Isreal.
After our marriage we rented a
small log house in the 19th Ward in Salt Lake and commenced
housekeeping. We didn’t have hardly anything to commence
life with but our health and ambition and resolve that we would
work together in love and with the help of our Heavenly Father be
homebuilders in the great desert (as such it seemed then). We
were happy: I taking care of my humble home and Isreal and my
husband toiling for us both. Our joy was complete then on
November 15, 1856 a baby boy came to bless our union. He was a
lovely boy and we named him John Henry after my father and
husband. My folks lived in the city and of course thought the
world of my baby. That winter we had living with us a young girl
from England, Margaret Ann Griffiths, and who later married my
husband in obedience to the law of polygamy. I consented for her
to join our family which she did August 14, 1857.
My husband was well educated, but
as the country was all we had, we had to work at anything we
could to make a living. He worked hard at various things and with
our helping him all we could we got along all right. About this
time what is known as the move came owing to Johnson’s Army
entering Salt Lake Valley and all the saints were requested to
move south so we got ready to leave with the rest. My folks had
been in Tooele a short time and at the time of the move I went to
meet them and didn’t know them. Father had a pair of
breeches made from a bed tick and mother and the children dressed
so funny. However, we joined the move and went south locating
Springville. Here we resided for 14 years. During the time we had
secured us a home, first a little shack and later a dobe house of
six rooms, ten acres of land, a team, cows, etc. My husband had a
shoe shop and tannery. He played at dances and later lectured
throughout the country on Phrenology.
Our family had increased
considerably by this time. My self having had 7 more children
namely William J., Fredrick, Lewis P., Franklin, Amelia Ann and
Ellen Juventa and Cardwell. Margaret having had 6 namely: Thomas
G., Herbert L. Margaret Ann, Henry James, Hannah Mary, and George
A., and with John Henry and Isreal we went thru all kinds of
trials of pioneer life.
We were poor and had to struggle
hard to get enough to eat. Margaret and I wore and spun and made
our clothes, worked and schemed every way to get along. I had
previously sold my clothes I had brought from the old country for
flour. And yet through all this I blessed the day I came to this
glorious country and was thankful I could have sons and daughters
born in this land of freedom and liberty, and land of opportunity
although we had to struggle hard for our existence in this new
life yet our future we knew would be bright in this God blessed
country. We rejoiced in the gospel in the ward. My husband was
choir leader of over 60 voices, leader of Marshall band was
always at his post during Indian troubles which were terrible. We
three always sung together wherever we went and one of our
favorite songs was "Ever of thee my Love I’m fondly
dreaming". We enjoyed ourselves amid our poverty.
As our boys grew up we realized we
would have t have land to keep them with us and had decided to
move on further south to Levan where land could be obtained on
easy terms. My husband’s brother, Jonathan, came down from
Heber, Wasatch County (commonly called Provo Valley) and
persuaded us to move there. So April 16, 1872, we started by team
for Heber. We camped in Prove Canyon all night and got there the
next day. Our boy Isreal (for I raised him and he seemed just
like my own) stayed in Springville and the next February, 1873 he
married ????na Noakes and settled there. We gave him what we
could for a start when we left. Arriving in Heber we went to
Uncle Jonathan’s and pitched our tents and lived thus for a
while and then moved to a house on main street, about where the
Turner Opera House now stands. We liked Heber and prospered by
working hard. Little by little we secured a homestead and also
some city lots, which had built on them later a log house each of
one room. The two were built on one lot and then later at the
time of the manifesto Margaret’s house was moved to a lot of
her own on 1sh ?? and 3rd south. My home was on main street and
2cd south, where it stands today. Of course, we made improvements
on them as fast as we could.
My husband taught school and
worked in the church, being Stake Clerk, Sunday School
Superintendent and Bishop of the Heber West Ward. At Heber my
three youngest children were born: Brigham (there was an
earthquake the night he was born I remember), Carlie and
Henrietta (last dying at birth). Margaret also had five children
born here: Charles David, Heber (who died at birth), Josephus,
Levi Webb and Jane Eleanor. At the time we moved to Springville
my father, mother, etc. moved to Spanish Fork and settled there.
My brothers marrying and also my sister Mary. She married a Mr.
Redd and he died and later she married Joshua Hawkes and moved to
Idaho.
My father and brother Fred both
went to Wales on Missions at different times. In 1887 my
stepmother died and soon after my father. My health was real poor
for years. We schooled our children and tried to do the best we
could for them. My older boys had now grown to manhood and on
December 2, 1880, my boy William was married to Jacobina Murdock
of Heber at Salt Lake City. Carlie my baby was then 2 months old.
On September 24, 1881 their first baby was born and my first
grandchild. How proud we were. The named her Tillie. How time
flies. The next year ???ed was married to Carlie Luke and in five
years my first girl Millie was married to Livingstone Montgomery.
As time went on we were blessed with numerous grandchildren and
it was such a happy time for us all. Our children whom were
married lived near us in little homes of their own, where we
could see them nearly every day. We were a great family for
parties and singing and music of all kinds and enjoyed ourselves
immensely.
We thought our oldest son John
would be a bachelor, but on New Years Day 1887 he married Martha
Smith. Margaret’s children were also marrying one after
another. Her oldest boy being married the same day as my boy
Will, and thus we had a double wedding. We were building on to
the home and was soon fixed up real comfortable. We had lots of
parties, wedding receptions and good times along with our
troubles and cares.
My husband was Justice of the
Peace at one time, and also served as water master so he did a
little of nearly everything although he was a man of great
intellect. We had good neighbors and loved the community in which
we lived. Our next child to marry was Juventa. We named her after
the ship my husband crossed the ocean in. She was a delicate
child and never walked until she was four years old. My babies
were all large ones and had such an abundance of black hair. As
Juventa grew up she became stronger and was married on her
father’s birthday, June 7, 1894. We had a grand receptions
for her. Her husband was Frederick J. Tullidge of Salt Lake City
where she went to live but only stayed a short time and they soon
were located near us as the other children were.
Several years prior to this time
my husband had gone into the Mercantile business and our store
was located at the south side of our house. We bought the
building from Hatches and my [??y] Will and others moved it on
our lot. My husband liked this work, but I didn’t very much.
We were quite successful. The Indians would never trade with
anyone but me. I know in future years the children will have a
good laugh at the Indian incident, the homemade telephone, the
bees nest, old Pid’ and so many comical things that happened
in our life at this time. I was always a great hand to look after
my cows, pigs, chickens, etc., and have something good to eat.
One thing I did enjoy was preparing a good meal for my husband
and children and all who entered our home. We always had lots of
company from the time we were first married, and many a time I
didn’t know where the next meal was coming from, but I
always managed to get something.
One time in our early married life
we didn’t have a thing to eat and I didn’t know what to
do when a hawk flew over our house and dropped a chicken at my
door. So we were always provided for somehow. I remember once
when my boys were small they wanted me to cook enough pancakes so
they could have all they wanted so I told Isreal to go and get me
some buttermilk at one of the neighbors and I would scare up some
flour if I could and they could have enough for once and they did
as I cooked them pancakes until they were satisfied. After we
came to Heber my husband also had a shingle mill in the canyon
and we lived there some of the time. We had all kinds of
experiences, too numerous to mention and had tried many different
ways to make a living. We got along nicely with the mercantile
business and my husband seemed adapted to that kind of business.
We were comfortable and happy and
of course growing old. My husband was 11 years older than me and
I was four years older than Margaret. After attending the
dedication of the Salt Lake Temple, my husband was returning home
by stage from Park City when he met with an accident, broke his
collar bone and injured himself otherways (June 28, 1894) from
which he never entirely recovered. On June 30, 1894 we (my
husband, Margaret and myself) went and had our second endowments.
My husband’s first wife being sealed to him at this time
also. We had a grand time. We enjoyed life so much now with our
children all around us an such good children they were.
In August of that same year my
youngest child Carlie came down with typhoid fever and was very
low when a great sorrow came in our life. My husband dropped dead
of heart failure in the store while waiting on a customer who
happened to be Margaret. She was getting some apples. That
morning we had cream biscuits, beefsteak, peaches and cream and
such a lovely breakfast. He enjoyed it so much and seemed to be
feeling so well. We had such a nice time at breakfast and we went
in the room to see Carlie before he went to the store. He asked
her what she wanted to eat and she said "Tomatoes and
cucumber." He told her she would have them as there was a
peddler driving to the store then. He said to me "I will be
back in a few minutes and we will give her some." He left
and when he came back they brought him dead. He had just gone on
the store. Margaret was there and wanted some apples. He got them
for her and said I have given you thirteen (a baker’s
dozen). She was right behind him coming from the green grocery
room to the other one when he fell. She thought he had fainted,
but when help arrived it was found he had died instantaneously,
the way he said he would die. He always said he never wanted to
suffer and linger in sickness, but when the Lord wanted to take
him home to do it at once, which he did. I believe his life had
been such a good one that the Lord had granted his desire. A
minister once tried to poison him because he was a Mormon but
didn’t succeed.
His death was a terrible shock to
me, but I had to stand it the best I could as my girl was so very
sick. Of course this made her worse and I had to live for the
living. I knew my life companion was separated from me but I knew
also that Heavenly Father would help me in this great trial as he
had done in many others and I put my trust in him. This was the
30th day of August and he was buried 2nd of September. Relatives
and friends came from different parts of the country. He had been
a great man and was well known.
It was a grand funeral and one of
the largest ever held in Wasatch County. The Sunday Schools all
marched, also the priesthood. The procession was blocks long. The
tabernacle was decorated beautifully. The singing and speaking
lovely. Everything was done in order to show the great love,
honor and respect due him. His life on earth was finished. Behind
him was left his numerous posterity to try and follow in his
footsteps. His had been a well spent life and he had been called
home to continue his work and prepare for coming in the Great
Eternal Home. "We will meet but shall miss Him. There will
be one vacant chair. We shall linger to caress him while we
breathe our evening prayer."
When the excitement was all over
we all of course were lost without him, but settled all affairs
the best we could. The store was closed and sold later. Carlie
had taken a change for the better and it was thru faith and
prayers that she was saved. After the expenses, debts, etc., had
been paid everything settled we were left with our home and a
farm but not much ready money. I managed to keep Brig and Carlie
in school and they, as soon as possible, used their education in
employment for our support. We got along very very nicely and my
children were my all now. Brig taught school for several years
and fulfilled a mission to the Southern States. While he was
gone, Millie and I were out riding with our buggy and [the] horse
took fright and ran away with us, breaking my leg and four ribs
and bruising Millie terrible. I was laid up for 17 weeks but when
I got better I could walk as good as ever, which was wonderful
for a woman of my age. Shortly after his return, he married
[Cleo] Pearl Buffaker of Midway on August 12, 1900. I had the
typhoid fever that summer. That fall Carlie taught school again
and we got along fine.
My children were such a comfort to
me and so were my sisters. We took boarders in the summer and
Carlie and I were constant companions. We had some lovely girls
stay with us: Belcia Howe, Effie Bullock, and Sadie Blake.
In 1899, my son Will and his
family moved to Provo or Vineyard and near Provo. This was the
first break in our family, but it was not very far away for me to
go to see them. I traveled quite a bit and enjoyed my life. My
health was fairly good. I was so pleased when we had the water
works here and the electric lights and I did enjoy them so much.
We were among the first to have them placed in our home.
Brig had shortly after his
marriage moved to Salt Lake to go to school. He studied hard and
was now a successful lawyer. A year or so later Juvie and her
husband moved to Salt Lake. Before this, however, Carlie and I
lived a year in Salt Lake for the benefit of my health. I loved
to attend all the conferences at Salt Lake which I did. My
children were all so good to me. Carlie now worked at office work
and we got along fine. While attending an October Conference,
Carlie and I met a young man, David A. Tidwell, who was on his
return from a mission to the Southern States and who later became
her husband. He came and visited us that New Years and the next
May he sent for Carlie and I to come and visit [him] and his
people, his home, etc. in Carbon County, which we did. We
certainly had a lovely trip and a grand time. He paid our
expenses and did everything for us to make our visit pleasant.
On our return we learned of the
sad death of my sister’s youngest daughter Frona. I took the
next train out with John, Fred, Millie and Brig joined us at Salt
Lake and we all attended the funeral at Franklin, Idaho. There
had been many sad deaths in our family as time goes on.
That winter Carlie was married
January 15, 1908. Walt and Mary A. Wickham were visiting us and
it will never be forgotten the lovely time we had for several
weeks. A party was given in each of the homes of the family and
we sure had a time of rejoicing, one that will never be
forgotten. Carlie was married in the Temple. Millie went with
them, they wanted me to go but I didn’t feel able. She had a
time at Brig’s in Salt Lake, then went on a trip for a
month. On their return I met them in Provo and after visiting in
Utah County we returned home and had a dinner for her near
relatives. Before she was married I asked Lon, as her husband was
called, to promise never to take her away from me as long as I
lived. I wanted them both to live with me in the old home which
they have done and at my request they bought the old home. We are
just as happy as can be. Her marriage has made no difference, she
is the same and with me constantly, which is a great blessing as
I do not think I could [have] stood my last child to have gone
away and [leave] me. We enjoyed each other more than ever now, go
out everywhere and have such good times. Her husband’s work
calls him away the greater part of the time but we so enjoy his
company when he can come home, for he is a good to me as my own
son and so are my other son-in-laws.
My family is all grown and married
now and such a comfort to me as are all my grandchildren. On my
75th birthday my family gave a grand party in my honor. All my
old friends and neighbors were there and all my family. Tables
were set out on the lawn and all the love and honor and respect
that could be shown anyone was shown me. We had a delightful
time. My old age is filled with peace, love and joy and I am
perfectly contented.
Sometime ago I went to Mary A.
Wickham’s funeral and, oh, it was sad. This fall I have been
visiting in Salt Lake and all down in Utah County with my people.
I am now enjoying being home again. My sister is here to spend
the part of the winter with me and we expect to have a jolly
time. I enjoy the company of Margaret also as we have always got
along together. I am so happy in my home, surrounded by my
children, friends and neighbors whom I have. I enjoy the
theaters.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving. It
is Christmas time now and my children gave me a beautiful plush
coat and set of furs and my grand children a lovely throw for my
head. They are grand.
Carlie takes such delight in
fixing my hair and making me look nice. I am being repaid for the
sacrifices I made in the past years. I never have regretted
embracing the gospel nor the many trials, etc. I have had thru
it. I have been blessed and I am thankful I am where I am and my
old age is surely crowned with the choicest blessings.
***
Mothers health had been failing
all winter and gradually grew worse and in February grew serious,
Brights Disease developing rapidly. The best doctors were called
to attend her and everything that could be done for her was done
but to no avail for on April 11, 1913, her angel spirit passed
away, surrounded by all her children. Her children attended her
during all her sickness also their wives and husbands. Relatives,
friends and neighbors were with her constantly. She had every
comfort that human hands could provide but she left us anyway. We
didn’t want to part with her for if ever a mother was
worshipped, she was. It seemed so cruel to have her separated
from us and especially myself who had been with her constantly
all my life. Her place can never be filled and I will never get
over it, but when death calls we have to obey.
She was 77 years old, mother of 11
children, grandmother to 54 and great grandmother to 10. She had
hosts of friends and good neighbors who all loved her dearly and
will miss her so much. We know she will rejoice in being again
united with father and they will anxiously await our coming when
again we can all be united in our eternal home.
Her funeral was grand. She was
shown all the respect, honor and love that could be bestowed upon
any woman. The grandchildren all marched dressed in white and
each placed a beautiful flower upon her casket. The services were
grand and everything went to show what a beautiful flower she was
and what a well spent life she had had. Her posterity is great
and all are proud of their lineage. She was a chosen spirit of
God. She had many sacrifices but they brought forth choicest
blessings. She lived and died in the Gospel and never once
regretted, but blessed the day she accepted it and came to this
country. Her life was indeed a glorious one. She made the best of
everything and always looked on the bright side. She was loved by
all who know her and worshipped by her family. Our parents are
gone from us but their spirits will ever linger near. Their lives
beautiful examples for us to follow. We tried while they were
living to show how much we loved them and how much we appreciated
all the sacrifices they had been thru for us and for what they
did for us all. So now to further prove our love and devotion we
must try and follow in their footsteps guided by their spirits
and prompted my memories which cling to us of the best father and
mother in all the world whom we children love so and the memory
of whom shall never be forgotten. We are proud of our parents and
love, honor and appreciate what they have done for us. We can
only repay them by making our lives worthy of their approbation.
We miss them keenly but realize
they could not stay with us forever. We hope to see them again
and all be united once more in the Great Eternal Home.
Carlie Clegg Tidwell
August 31, 1916
Heber, Utah
Wasatch Wave
Death of Bishop Clegg
Died Aug. 30, 1894
He Died Very Suddenly While at
Work in the Store
A Good Man Has Gone
The People Universally Mourn his
Loose. The Stake House was Profusely Draped - The Longest Funeral
Procession ever Held in the County.
Thursday morning the inhabitants
of Heber were greatly shocked to hear that Bishop Henry Clegg of
the West Ward was dead. He had been sick for sometime but was
apparently recovered and was around as usual. He keeps a grocery
store and he was at the store when the summons came for him to
depart. He was in the best of health, so he said just previous to
his death. There was no suffering, no pain, not even a struggle
but he was "changed" as it were, "in the twinkling
of an eye."
It was the intention to keep the
body until Sunday but conditions were such as to make that
impossible.
The funeral Services were held at
11 a.m., Saturday in the Stake House which was heavily draped in
mourning, the same material being used as was used when President
Garfield was assassinated.
The procession from the residence
to the Stake House was headed by the ward teachers followed by
the pallbearers, twelve in number, carrying the casket,
immediately preceded by Patriarch Hicken and Pres. John M.
Murdock and followed by Pres. Hatch and his councilor T. H.
Giles. Then came the chief mourners followed by friends and
relatives in wagons and buggies.
The services were open by the
choir singing "Nearer My God to Thee." Prayer was
offered by Bishop Duke and the choir rendered another selection.
The speakers were Joshua Hawkes of Franklin Idaho, Fredrick Lewis
of Spanish Fork, Utah, John M. Murdock, John Duke and Pres. Hatch
of Heber. The speakers spoke in the highest terms of the
deceased. Recounted many of his noble deeds and dwelt at length
upon his character, integrity and faithfulness not only in the
church but in all the vacations of life. The choir sang
"There is Sweet Rest in Heaven." and the services
closed by Orson Hicken pronouncing the benediction.
A long line of vehicles loaded
with mourners followed the remains to their last resting place in
the Heber City cemetery. The procession was the longest ever seen
in the county, consisting about 120 teams besides those who
marched in the lead.
Historical Sketch
Henry Clegg was born at Preston,
Lancashire, England June 7th, 1825. He was the son of Henry and
Ellen Clegg. His father was a manufacturer of clogs and shoes.
Mr. Clegg heard the first L.D.S. discourse ever delivered on the
Eastern continent. It was delivered in Vauxhall Chapel in
Preston, by Orson Hyde. He was baptized by Joseph Fielding being
among the first to receive the gospel. He was the second oldest
living member of the church from the Old World.
He was married to Hannah Eastham a
few years before he came to Utah which was in 1855. He crossed
the sea in the ship "Juventa" by way of New Orleans. At
Atchison he lost his wife and infant child from cholera. He was
left with one child, Isreal, who now resides in Springville. This
sad occurrence, added to the many hardships of the dreary trip
across the plains, goes to make an eventful life. He arrived in
Salt Lake City, in October, 1855 and the following year moved to
Provo in the time of the move and later in the same year moved to
Springville.
He took a prominent part in the
Echo Canyon troubles and the Blackhawk War. In 1872 he moved to
Heber where he has since resided.
He has taken a prominent part in
church matters ever since he joined the church. His first office
was that of teacher in the old country. He was ordained July 2nd,
1848, and in the same year he was ordained a Priest. He was next
ordained an Elder and then to the office of High Priest. He has
been Bishop of the West Ward of Heber fourteen years and up to
the time of his death. He has been Superintendent of the Sunday
School. for 35 years and never missed a meeting when at home
unless prevented by sickness. He has served as stake clerk and in
many other offices on the church. He has been a hard and earnest
worker in the church, where he will be greatly missed.
We served as Justice of the Peace
for a number of terms, was the first president of the Wasatch
Canal and served in the capacity faithfully for many years. He
has been a successful merchant, and taught the district school
for a long time.
He leaves an only brother, very
much respected townsman, Jonathan Clegg, besides his numerous
family and a great host of friends to mourn his loss. His brother
will be 79 years old next February.
These words are written on his
headstone:
A loving husband, father dear,
A faithful friend, he has been
here.
He lived in love, he died in
peace.
We hope his joy will never cease.
Corrections submitted by Marilyn Pope 18 Sep 2002
Here goes-
Paragraph 11: (Grandmother was now in her old home...) ...and having gained
a testimony of its truth, embraced it. MY STEPMOTHER SOON FOLLOWED AND THE
CHILDREN, MYSELF BEING THE LAST TO ACCEPT IT. I was baptized by ....
Paragraph 12: (My father sold his store... )Grandmother Lewis was
brokenhearted. GRANDMOTHER JOHNS HAD DIED. BUT GRANDPA JOHNS WAS STILL
LIVING AND WAS BROKENHEARTED too.
Paragraph 18: (We came through Emmigration Canyon...) ...until we could GET
located. HOW LITTLE SALT LAKE CITY SEEMED TO US. THE SQUARE WAS FULL OF
PEOPLE TO WELCOME US IN.
Other minor typing/reading errors occur in:
Paragraph 9: (A day or two before she died...): MY father dearly loved
her"....
Paragraph 16: Ish Hollow is actually ASH Hollow (See Paragraph 17)
Paragraph 19: (Father now bought a home...) Daniel Jones on his deathbed
years LATER
Paragraph 20: (New emigrants....) journey's end. IT was at this place
also: September 1855, when WITH some others
Paragraph 23: (After our marriage...) Our joy was complete WHEN on November
15
Paragraph 24: (My husband was well educated...) ...went south locating AT
Springville
Paragraph 26: (We were poor....) Indian troubles which WAS terrible. (The
Indian troubles never were
terrible, but having her son there WAS.)
Paragraph 27: (As our boys grew up we realized we would have TO...)
also: ProvO Canyon and VERONA Noakes; also: Arriving AT Heber; also 1sT
WEST; also: 2ND south
Paragraph 29: (My father and brother Fred...) My older boys WERE now grown;
also: The next year FRED was married to Carlie Luke...
Paragraph 32: (Several years prior...) ...Hatches and my BOY Will and others
Paragraph 34: (We were comfortable...) ...children all around us AND such
good children they were
Paragraph 35: (In August of that same year...) He had just gone IN the
store....
Paragraph 36: (His death was a terrible shock...) I knew also that MY
Heavenly Father
Paragraph 38: (When the excitement was all over...) ...married [Cleo] Pearl
HUFFAKER
Paragraph 40: (In 1899, my son Will WITH his family...)
Paragraph 43: (That winter Carlie...) ...marriage made no difference, she is
JUST the same;
also: for he is AS good to me as my own son....
Paragraph 50: (Her funeral was grand...) ...footsteps guided by their
spirits and prompted BY memories
Some of these errors are REALLY minor, I know, but I just gave them all to
you.
Regards,
Marilyn Pope
Back to Previous Page
