Sarah Homer Clarke

Sarah Homer Clark

Sarah Homer Clarke History

(spelling and punctuation original)

I, Sarah Homer Clarke, was born Apr 28th 1865 in the 7th ward Salt Lake City, Utah. Her parent’s were Russell K. and Eliza Thornton Home. Her mother being a plural wife, she relized some of the things that the Latter-Day Saints passed through in early history of Utah. One of the most impressive things was the fear of the Indians. We was taught to be very kind to them and divide our food with as they were very mean at that time. Another thing was we all had to take care of out coals, keep them covered in order to keep the fires burning as matches was hard to get. My father carried a flint rock that they could light fires from. Along about that time is when the United Order came out so se relized what that meant to us. Another event while we lived near Brigham City was when the first train run into Cache Valley. I stood out at our back door step an saw the first train pull into Cache Valley. We allso endured the crickets and grasshoppers, fighting them day after day to try to save our gardens. Many time we had to dig segos to eat. Mother would make us shoes out of heavy cloth and then have a sole tacked on and we would wear them to Sunday school with a calico dress an that we were well dressed. At the age of 7 years, my father started out in the Dairy business and moved my mother and her family up on Bear River in Idaho near Franklin. There we had the Indians to contend again. The next winter in 1872, I lost mother. She died at the age of 31 when my youngest bro. was born. Through catching cold she left six small children, 2 boys & 4 girls. The oldest 12 years, baby 4 weeks. Then we were on the hands of others to take care of, however, father’s first wife took us an was a real mother to us. She allways fed us well and her daughter Mary sewed by hand to make our clothes. However, we was all taught to spin and make our own yarn an knit out own stockings, spin the wool to make our own dresses, an all of our winter clothing. We was allso taught to sew with a needle and make our own cloths. If we did not sew up a seam good, we had to rip it out and sew it over until we got it good enough. We was taught to save to take care of all scraps to make quilts and carpets and such things. We allso taught to save scraps to make our own soap, to wash our own clothing. We was taught to make good bread & butter and get a meal for a working man. We was taught the principles of the gospel. Our father would sing the church songs to us and many the time he has told us about the prophet Joseph Smith. About him meeting him, the prophet and too other men, when they were out preaching, go caught in a snow storm and they stayed at my father home for a week an when they left, father gave him five dollars to help them on their way and the prophet blessed him and told him that he would want for bread no more or his family. The things my father has told me about the prophet Joseph Smith has allways been a living testimony to one that this church is true. The home training an teachings we received while at home has allways stayed with me.

At the age of 19 years, I married John P. Clarke, Sep. 17th 1884 in the Logan Temple by Apostle M.W. Merrill. We have a family of eleven children, six sons & five daughters.

I have allways loved the church, love to work in the church. Was a member of the ward choir for many years. Was Pres. of the Primary for 12 years. Been a teacher in the Relief Society many years. I allso like to do temple work. I was well acquainted with Martin Harris, the witness to the Book of Mormon. His oldest son Martin was married to my oldest sister Nancy Homer. He allso lived & died at her home. I, a girl 10 years old at the time. Myself and other members of my father’s family stood at the bedside of Martin Harris the day he died. That was the 10th of July 1875 at Clarkston, Utah. This has allways been a great thing in my life in regards to my testimony. Through the teachings I received from my father when a child about the prophet Joseph Smith. My father knew him and what he has told me about him I have allways believed they were true. It has given me great joy and satisfaction. I am more than thankful I have had the privilege of being a Latter-Day Saint. The older I grow the beter I understand it. The beter I like it. This had allso been a source of pleasure to me and to be able to impart it to others.