AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF EDWARD WATKINS CLARK


	I was born June 6, 1820 in Pattingham, Straffordshire, England.  I was the youngest son of James and Phoebe Ransford Watkins Clark.  I lived with my parents until 1835, Then I went to live with Henry Owens of Compton Holloway to attend and care for a pair of ponies and drive the family carriage and wait on tables.  I wanted to learn a trade so I hunted a place in Wolver-Hamptori to be a carpenter.  I became an apprentice to William Thomas the 20th of July, 1837.  I worked with him until May 25, 1839 and he gave me my indenture.

	I worked about one year in Wolver-Hampton at different shops and in March, 1840, in company with two young men went on foot 120 miles to see London and some of the sights.  I worked at my trade a little.  Saw Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.  We stayed about three weeks and then returned home to Wolver-Hampton on foot.

	January, 1840 my mother died at the age of 66.  She was buried at Pattingham in the Church yard.  On the 25th of July, 1843 I married Lucy Ashby, youngest girl of William and Elizabeth Ashby.  After we were married I rented a house in Springfield, Wolver-Hampton.  In March l844, my father died at the age of 68 in Pattingham and was buried beside my mother.

	In 1846 I was a teacher In Sunday School at St. Mary's Church in Wolver-Hampton.  The ministers name was Reverend Frazier.  I had asked many questions on religion but I was not satisfied with the answers.  I wanted to leave England and my wife and I sold our household things and started to London with the intention of going to Australia.

	On the 15th of June 1847, I got work at the North Western Railway Station.  Camdentown.  We had a room on Grove Street.  In another room a man and his wife by the name of Taylor lived.  They were L.D. S. and invited us to their room to hear the Elders preach. My wife had a good talk with Mrs. Taylor and we decided to go. It	was Elder John Banks and a very good orator, but some evil spirits darkened my mind and I thought these people were deluded and ignorant people.  I told Mr. Taylor I was sorry for him as he was led astray.  He told me to set him straight if he was wrong and I told him I would so he gave me a book on the Gospel and told me to make it where it did not agree with the Scriptures, but I found it was according to the Scriptures.

	Then I went to hear the Elders preach again and everything I then received in a different light.  In two weeks, on the 23rd of November, 1847 we were baptized by Elder William Boothe and confirmed by Elder John Banks and Savage on December 2, 1847.

	March 1, 1848 I was ordained a Priest by William Boothe.  I left London May 7 1848 and went to Wolver-Hampton and preached to my friends and relatives, and raised a large branch of Saints.  I was ordained an Elder on April 4, 1849 by Elder Clinton.

	In September I started the furniture business and prospered very much.  I prayed to the Lord and told him that when we got enough money we wanted to go to Zion.  In December we had a sale and got our money and started to Liverpool.  On January 1, 1851, we went aboard on the ship "Ellen" landing at New Orleans on March 13, 1851.  My wife and three children and myself with 450 saints started out to sea.  At 5 O'clock there came an awful storm.  At 100'Clock we came in with another ship and there was an awful crash which broke our ship up pretty bad and we had to anchor at Cavdjun Bay and repair for three weeks.  Then we started, but again had a rough voyage, landing at New Orleans.

	Going up the Mississippi River on the "Elick Scott" and worked at carpenter work at different points for three weeks.  Then started on the Missouri River on the "Sacramento" steamboat.  Arrived at Council Bluffs May 3rd.  Then went to Kanesville.  We stayed there one year and worked.

	June 14, my first son was Edward was born, in a log cabin.  At the time great storms came soaring through the roof.  We had to hold an umbrella over the bed where the mother and baby were, but the Lord was with us and we all did well.  At this time a great many immigrants were coming in and going to California after gold.  Cholera broke out and a great many died.  I made a lot of coffins.  This helped me to get my outfit to cross the plains.  I was organized in a company of 20 under R. Chaffin with Henry W. Miller Captain over the whole Company.  Beside myself and wife there were four children on a wagon, four cattle and no horses.  Orson Hyde was a captain over a company of 100.  Started July 3, 1852.

	I drove my team of oxen up and down through mud and streams and on the 6th of September my oldest daughter, Sarah, was run over while getting out of the wagon and died the next day on Sweetwater at 6 years of age.

	Arrived in Salt Lake City on September 23.  We stayed in Salt Lake until October 10 and went to Provo with one yoke of oxen, one of the cows having died and I sold it for $25.00. Paid $2.25 for tithing to Bishop Bird of the second ward in Provo.  Built a small adobe house 12 by 14 one adobe thick.  We lived in it until the Indians became hostile and killed one of our brethren.  The militia was called out to guard Payson and get people to safety.  I was out with the militia for two weeks.

	On December 1, 1853 1 was sealed to my wife, Lucy, and ordained to the office of Seventy by Brother Roger I. Rockwood in Salt Lake Council House.  May 27, my wife took up our endowment and was sealed by Brigham Young.

	This year I built a house 30 by 24 feet. two adobes thick.  About this time came swarms of grasshoppers eating up all our crops.  In 1856 great distress.  We had to live on fish and roots.  At this time I was called to be block teacher and there came two companies of Saints who crossed the plains in handcarts suffering from cold and hunger.  Only 2\3 came in.  They had frozen hands and feet and they were distributed among the wards to be cared for until they could help themselves.

	February 3, 1857 I took Louise Meller for my wife and was sealed by Brigham Young.  She had come in with her parents by handcart.
I was ordained to be a High Priest by John Young the same day I was called as second counselor to Will Bale (sp.), Bishop of the Third Ward.  October 30, 1859 I was called to be Bishop of the Third Ward And was set apart by Orson Hyde.  Joseph Clark and John S. Carter were my counselors.  November 26, I was elected City Councilman.  I became a citizen of the United States of America on March 28, 1861.  I asked to be released from Bishop and after some consideration George A Smith released me.  I then sold my house and moved to Springlake Village.  I put up a water wheel and went to growing sugar cane and made molasses of the sugar cane.  Made 200 gallons off one acre of cane.  At this time the Indians became hostile again and the President told us to move into town for safety.  I moved my family to Santaquin in 1886 (1866?).  I built a log house.

	I was called to be a High Councilman of the Stake.  Silas Smith was President.  I was elected Justice of the Peace in 1864 at Santaquin.  I held this office for 8 years being re-elected for a second term.

	In 1874 I received a land grant from apostle George A. Smith to pay my debts and get my land title clear and prepare to go on a mission to England.  On May 18, 1875 sailed on the ship "Wisconsin" with T. C. Mantell as President and myself as first counselor.

	Started home on September 13, 1876 and arrived home October 3, 1876.  After arriving in Liverpool when I went on my mission, I received my appointments on May 31, by Apostle Carrington and Joseph F. Smith.  I was appointed to labor in the Leeds Conference under President John Woodhouse, preaching the Gospel in house and on street corners.  I labored faithfully until August 31, 1876 when I was released to return home.  We sailed on the ship  "Wyoming" having done a faithful work and baptized 41 souls.

	January 6, 1877 I was called to be second counselor to Bishop George Halliday in Santaquin Ward.  March 1879 was elected director of the co-operative store.  In 1880 I was elected President of the irrigation Company of Santaquin.  In 1885 was called to be one of the directors of the Electrical Organization in Santaquin.

	On October 16, 1903 Edward Watkins Clark and his wives Lucy and Louisa received their second anointing.  Also he was sealed to his parents, William and Elizabeth Grimsdale Ashby on the same day.  Edward Watkins Clark was sealed by proxy to Elizabeth Queensides Snow on October 16, 1903.  He died at the age of 89.  Had 127 grandchildren, 14 living and 5 dead children and 29 great grandchildren.










 

Edward Watkins Clark
and
Lucy Ashby