Michael Joseph Clarke

Michael Joseph Clark

1835-1928

Michael J. Clark

Michael Joseph Clark was the second son of Patrick Clark and Mary Ward. He was born October 31, 1835 at Trescott (or Prescott), Washington County, Maine. When he was two years old, his father desired that he stand on Irish soil and so he sent him to Ireland in care of a ship's captain. He was gone for six months. The deed accomplished. Also, when he was two years old his family moved to Providence, Rhode Island (1837). His parents had three children: Peter, born in Athboy, Meathe County, Ireland; Michael Joseph born in the state of Maine; and Margaret, born in either Maine or Providence, Rhode Island. She died at the age of 12. Her grave is by Mary Ward Clark's.

While a young man, Michael Joseph was employed at Canal Bleach Factory at Providence.

Michael & Susannah Clark

From childhood he was very fond of music and studied piano and pipe organ under a very proficient teacher in Providence. Circumstances, however, made it impossible to take many lessons; so, after about one and one-half years of instruction, Michael became his own teacher. During his young manhood he was hired to play for "the big singers" who came to Providence to perform at the opera house. One story goes that one evening at the opera house a beautiful young girl did a ballet dance and he was very attracted to her. After the performance, he went backstage to her dressing room to meet her, and there sat her father-- who sternly informed him that if he wanted to meet his daughter, he must do it through proper channels! A girl whose father accompanied her to protect her, and who had such high ideals, interested Michael very much. It was several days or weeks before he could make arrangements for a "proper introduction." But when he did, he learned that she belonged to the L.D.S. Church, and had been baptized in England. Michael was, of course, Irish Catholic. However, they fell in love. He married Susannah Thompson, daughter of Joseph Lewis Thompson and Penelope Thompson on 15 August 1857. Six weeks after their marriage, Michael Joseph's mother (Mary Ward) died "from the effects of a chill" taken while bathing.

While Michael Joseph and Susannah lived in Providence, two children were born to them: Mary Susan, born June 12, 1858, who died when 2 years of age due to pneumonia following whooping cough; and Alfred Joseph, born April 28, 1860, died May 12 1936, Logan, Utah. Three more children were born later: John Peter in 1862; James Michael in 1865; and Laura Penelope in 1870.

Erastus Snow and Parley P. Pratt were missionaries in the New England states. They met Michael Joseph Clark in Providence, Rhode Island. Through visits they explained Mormonism to him and he was baptized September 1860. His father, Patrick, and the other members of his family never did become converted. At the time Michael Joseph came into the Church, the "Mormons" had been in Utah a little over 13 years.

The following spring they decided to come to Utah. They left Providence, Rhode Island June 10, 1861. Before they left, they placed the mortal remains of their baby, Mary Susan, in a joint grave with Michael Joseph's mother, Mary Ward Clark. "Mike" and "Sue" wanted always to know "the baby" and "grandma" were together.

They went by railroad to St. Joseph, Missouri. Here they got on a steamboat and "went by steamer" to Florence, Nebraska. It was here they became a part of the emigrant train, which made the journey west. Susannah's brother William and her sister Jane were with them. Also, Michael Joseph's father, Patrick Clark, was in the party. Jane and William Thompson joined an L.D.S. Church train. However, Michael Joseph, Patrick and Susannah came in an Independent company. They left July 1, 1861 and arrived in Logan, Cache County, Utah on October 1, 1861.

When they had been four days on the prairies, they stopped one afternoon to do their washing and rest their oxen. Michael Joseph took a walk, thinking he would get a short distance from camp and then return. When he noticed clouds gathering in the sky he decided to turn back. He walked, as he thought, towards the camp. But soon he discovered he had lost his sense of direction. He was lost in the wilds. He wandered around for some hours and finally came to the spot where they had camped the day before. This gave him "his direction". The camp he had left was 12 miles from this camp, and it was getting dark. He started at once for the wagon train. He reached camp at one o'clock in the night. Everyone was asleep, except Susannah. She was in tears and suffering in fear that he was lost. She had kept her sorrow to herself.

After they had been gone for only a month, another little incident happened. Michael Joseph and his wife were walking about a block from their wagon for personal reasons. They were weary of the journey. But Michael urged Sue on, as they were getting too far behind. "I don't care," said Susannah. "Well, keep up anyway" said Michael. "There may be Indians lurking near, and we don't want trouble." "I'm not afraid of Indians," she said. "Look behind you," said Michael. When Sue turned to look, she saw an Indian creeping up behind them, partly hidden. With a little scream of fright, she began to run and she ran until she caught up with her wagon.

Susannah Thompson

There was plenty of food in the company. They were not hard pressed, but the Clark's had not tasted fresh meat since they started. What a happy surprise it was when Patrick came smiling into camp with a crow he had shot.

After three months journey, they arrived in Logan. They lived in Logan 2 or 3 years. Here they had a genuine pioneer life so familiar to the sons and daughters of the early settlers of Utah. They lived in a dug out (approximately on West Center Street and 3rd West in Logan.) It was while they were here that their son John Peter was born.

Soon after John Peter's birth, gold was discovered in Montana, and thinking to better their condition, they moved to Montana. At that time, only a wagon track marked the road and the Bear River, Snake River, as well as other streams had to be forded. It took faith to ford those rivers, as there were five in the wagon and none could swim. However, no accident happened and after six weeks of travel, they reached the mines in Virginia City, Madison County, Montana.
Patrick, although an old man, was with them through the experiences of the frontier life common to mining towns.

Michael Joseph did not like the life of a miner and after a while he gave it up. He taught music instead. He also was musical director of the Catholic Church in Helena for a number of years and went into business for a short time.

While in Montana they enjoyed the pleasures that prosperity brings. Mining towns were booming! Their eldest son, Alfred Joseph, now 12, became proficient enough in his music to play leading coronet in the Helena band.

While at Virginia City "Mike" and "Sue" had a boy born on August 31, 1865. His name was James Michael. Then on May 1, 1870, they had a little girl born. They named her Laura Penelope.

Bad luck struck the family in 1874. A fire burned down their theater and beautiful piano. At this time Sue's father was pressuring them to return to Utah and live in Clarkston with the rest of her family. So in 1874 they moved to Clarkston where they took up farming and gardening. Michael also worked on the railroad when East and West were joined at Promontory Point.

J.J. McClellan from Salt Lake City wrote to Michael to come and help install the pipe organ in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Michael was the first person to play this organ. J.J. McClellan told him in a letter, "You are a great credit to your church, your people, and higher civilization. You are a godly man."

The whole family was very musical. They provided music and entertainment to discouraged pioneers when many dances were held and brass bands played. At the Logan Temple ground breaking, Michael was the director of the choir that gave the concert. Brigham Young and Ezra T. Benson were in attendance.

The Civil War had begun just two months prior to Michael and Susannah leaving Rhode Island. Michael's brother, Peter, who was living in Pennsylvania at that time, working in the coalmines, joined the Pennsylvania Calvary from there. They heard from Peter a couple of times, but through the move to Utah and Montana and the destruction of the war, contact between Peter and the rest of the family was broken. They never heard from him again.

Four Generations

Thinking there might be a possibility of his brother Peter still being alive, in 1908 Michael wrote to an old friend in the east and asked about him. His friend knew of a Peter being in the "Battle of Cattenogga (Chattenooga?)," but knew nothing of him since --and never heard of him afterward. His name, however, did not appear on the list of dead soldiers. A while later Michael wrote to the pension office in Washington D.C. to see if Peter was among those drawing pension from the war veterans program. However, he received word that no person by that name had ever applied for a pension. Patrick had often wondered about Peter's whereabouts but nothing ever showed up. Peter had always been thought of as "lost in the Civil War" until 2000 when descendants, Valeen and Randy Bitter tracked down his military records. They found Peter had survived the war, but with injuries, and had lived alone for many years before dying.

Michael lived to be 91 years old. Even though he was very old, he was active and alert in mind and body. He had good health in his old age. He attributed his age to his regular habits and his even temper. He died April 30, 1928 in Clarkston, Cache, Utah.

Joseph Lewis Thompson