OCR Text |
Show Volume XXIX Issue VIII The Ogden Valley News Page 9 August 1, 2022 Biography of Harriet Elvira Teeples, Wixom, Sessions, Worden, Clarke: Part II Written by her granddaughter Mary Clarke Wangsgard Note: Part I ran in the July 15, 2022 issue of “The Ogden Valley News.” Life in Ogden Valley - It is not known which way they entered the valley. It could have been over the hills to the north of Weber Canyon, or it could have been via North Ogden Canyon. Ogden Canyon was then impassable. It is said that due to unfriendly Indians, they did not settle close to the mountains, but moved into the center of the valley. The winters were long and very cold. The snow sometimes reached six feet deep, and the temperature dropped as low as 46 degrees below zero. It took a lot of wood to be chopped to keep the log cabin warm. Nathaniel decided to leave the valley and go to Southern Utah. Harriet had traveled her limit and she wanted to stay. The beautiful summers; the sweet song of the wild birds; the cool, clear water and beautiful hills in autumn overshadowed the cold winter months. One time when Brigham Young passed through the valley on his way to Bear Lake in Cache County, he exclaimed, “What a wonderful place to raise Latter-day Saints.” This must have been Harriet’s sentiment, too, because she never left the Valley after her entrance in 1859-1860. After her husband left, Harriet cared for her small family doing all the things that pioneer mothers had to do. There were candles to make, wool to card and spin, cloth to weave, stockings to knit, and wild berries to pick and preserve for winter. Eden was the middle settlement in the crescent-shaped valley. The settlement was surveyed and received the name of Eden in 1865 because of its beautiful surroundings. The settlement of Huntsville was established to the south of the valley, Liberty was settled in the north section on the valley. On September 12, a young man of 21 years migrated to Utah with the Mormon pioneers in the Milo Andrus Company. He was born 1 January 1840 in Upminster, Essex County of Old England on January 1, 1840. He believed the message of the gospel. He believed that Jesus Christ had restored his church again to the earth through the hands of Joseph Smith. He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints May 11, 1851, and bid his father, mother, brother, and sisters goodbye, much to their disappointment. This young man’s name was Francis Clarke. After arriving in Salt Lake City, he purchased a yoke of oxen and hauled freight across the plains until 1863. Through some great force he was directed to the little valley in the mountains east of Ogden. He evidently liked what he saw. He traded his yoke of oxen to Sidney Teeples for the log cabin built on the North Fork River. He noticed living in Eden a tall, beautiful, blond woman with deep impressive blue eyes. He found her to be an older sister to Sidney Teeples. He noticed the efficient way that she cared for her six children and her small home. Although her face showed line of hardship and care for her six children and small home, she had a kind, sweet personality. It is said that the bishop of Eden asked this young bachelor, one cold January morning, if Francis Clarke would go to Harriet Worden’s and help her get some water as all the creeks were frozen over, and her six small children needed water badly. Francis did as the bishop asked and decided that he no longer wanted to be a bachelor, so he proposed marriage. Francis Clarke and Harriet Worden were married January 28, 1867 at Eden, Utah. Harriet was 37 years old, and Francis was 27 years old. She had been married three times and had six children. He had never been married. This difference in age and backgrounds show what a striking person Harriet was. To this marriage was born a baby girl, Mary Ann, which died at birth on December 26, 1867. Francis Jr. was born June 4, 1869 and Thomas Brown was born November 3, 1872. This made ten children in all born to Harriet. For many years Harriet and Francis lived happily in the valley. Their home was built just one-half block north of the General Store in Eden. The school and church were just around the corner. Surrounding her home were plum and apple trees. Hives of honeybees were in the orchard. English and black currants, gooseberry and raspberry bushes bordered the fences. Horseradish and rhubarb grew in the well-cultivated garden. In the front of the house was an old-fashioned flower garden containing hollyhock, foxglove, moss roses and daisies. Geraniums and fuchsia adorned the inside windows. The barn was across the road from the house, and Francis homesteaded land on the mountains. He taught school in the little schoolhouse. He was appointed ward clerk. He was Justice of the Peace and was secretary and treasurer of the Eden Irrigation Company. He fulfilled an LDS mission back to his native country of England from 1893 to 1895. Harriet and her son, Thomas, took care of the farm while he was away. Her son James Sessions married Alice Boyington, a granddaughter of Samuel Ferrin. They moved to Idaho where they raised a large family of 11 children. He died Sept. 1921. Daughter Alzina Worden went to live with her father in Southern Utah and married Hugh Harper. They went to Arizona to live. Daughter Ellen Worden married Elisha Wilbur. She died November 12, 1897, leaving six small children. Son George Worden married Janette Farrell and moved to Boise, Idaho. Son Nathaniel married Mary Ann Taylor and also moved to Idaho. Daughter Hulda taught school in Eden. Three days before she was to be married to John Engles, she died and was buried in her wedding dress. She was 20 years old and died November 21, 1879. She and Ellen are buried in the Meadow View Cemetery in Eden. Son Francis Clarke Jr. married Mary Lindsay, and son Thomas Clarke married Mary Atkinson. These two brothers built homes in north Eden and raised their families. They farmed many acres of grain, alfalfa and peas, and pastured beef on the west hills. Francis Jr. died October 28, 1945 at age 76 years. Thomas died June 14, 1925 at age 52 years. Both are buried with their wives and children in Mountain View Cemetery in Eden. Harriet Teeples endured many heartaches and tragedies in her life as well as blessings. These trials and heartaches made her body and spirit strong as she lived to be 81 years old. She died October 6, 1911 at her home in Eden. She was ill only a few days. Her husband Francis followed in death June 3, 1913. They are both buried in the Mountain View Cemetery. The valley into which Harriet came in 1859 is a beautiful one. Mt. Ogden Peak rises to the south, James Peak at the head of Wolf Creek rises to the north, and Ben Lomond Peak to the west. The mountains are a variegation of color in the summer and snow white against the blue sky in winter. One can feel the peacefulness and security here in the mountains and can easily imagine why Harriet chose to make her home in the mountains. Many visitors to the valley have remarked of the invigorating mountain air and cool, crystal drinking water. Many of Harriet’s household possessions have been placed in the Pioneer Museum in Salt Lake City. Tribute to Grandmother Harriet - I am deeply proud of my grandmother Harriet Teeples Clarke, and for her father and her mother George B. and Hulda Colby Teeples who were among the first members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am appreciative of their willingness to sacrifice everything for the religion that they believed…. I am proud to be of lineage of those pioneers who developed our beautiful state of Utah and Ogden Valley. I trust their testimonies will direct and guide our paths, that we will be a credit to our ancestors who lived and died before us. I am thankful grandmother chose this valley in the mountains for that is where I now live. No matter where my journeys take me, I will always thrill when I come back to the hills of home. Note: The date this history was written is not noted, however, it was most likely written well over sixty years ago. From The Past . . . Ogden Pioneer Days of ‘47 band. Photo courtesy of Ogden, Utah Glory Days Facebook page. The Ogden Valley News is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. Please mail, email, or call Shanna at 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879 if you have material you are willing to share. -Flatwork -Decorative Concrete -Concrete Prep Schedule a Quote Today! 801-857-1567 Danny Graves | @DJFencingLLC Saturday Night 6:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 9:00 a.m. Fr. Joshua Marie Santos 801-399-5627 FrJoshuaS.Stambrose@gmail.com Saturday 5:30 p.m Sunday 8:00 a.m. or by appt. Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of the Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! For information on our program, financial assistance, tours, or application, please call 801-393-6051 or 801-394-1515. 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT 801-612-9299 |