Clara Ann Tolton
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Clara Ann's parents were Edward Tolton and Mary Ann Tomlinson. Her parents and grandparents were from England and were members of the church living and working around St. Louis, Illinois.
In 1853, when Clara Ann was about a year old, "The St. Louis Co." consisting of fourteen wagons and under the command of her grandfather, John Tolton, traveled to Council Bluffs to meet up with the main company of saints bound for Utah. They arrived in Salt Lake Valley, September 18, 1853. At General Conference, they were called to settle Tooele. Here they stayed until March 1857, when the "Grasshopper War" reduced the family to poverty. The Toltons moved to Grantsville, where they had very little to eat, the only cow died, no milk, they ate a great many greens. "Called" to settle Ephraim for 8 years. "Called" to settle Circleville. The Blackhawk Indian War began, and Grandfather John Tolton died. After two years, the family hurriedly left Circleville, with little of their earthly possessions, arriving in Beaver City. Their home was a wagon box and all their clothing was on their backs. Her parents were sick, a new baby was born, and for two years the family lived wherever charity would invite them. In 1868, the family of 10 to 12 moved into a dirt cellar home. Clara Ann was married to Issac Turley in 1867. Clara Ann was 15 years old when she married Isaac, who was 30 years old, and had another wife (Sarah Greenwood) and two children. Considering the hardships her own family (Toltons) were living under, and the times, it is understandable why Clara Ann would marry. Clara Ann and Sarah were sealed to Isaac the same day. Isaac provided very well for his families. Clara Ann was a cheerful and fun person, and she supported him in all of his "callings" to settle new territories and to help both families. Isaac was "called" in 1877 to help settle northern Arizona. He sold two homes, gathered wagons and supplies and livestock. They were to travel with another family (Jim and Sarah Gale). They were to travel through the rugged area of southern Utah and northern Arizona, crossing at Lee's Ferry on their way to Sunset, Arizona to live under the United Order. Clara Ann was to drive one of the teams and a buggy wagon with her five children. Sarah and her family was already in Arizona. information taken from "Life Sketch of Clara Ann Tolton Turley"
compiled by Hazel N. Brinkerhoff Excerpts from "Trip to Arizona"
I was six years old when we left Beaver: Ed was 8, Frances 4, Ernest 2, and baby Ida Mae was 5 1/2 and not very well. Father had a man engaged to drive the light wagon for Mother and we children, but he backed out the last minute, which left Mother to drive the team.
My job was to sit by Mother and care for the ailing baby as best I could while she drove. Ed helped drive the stock; Ernest and Frances rode in the wagon with us. As the journey progressed, little Ida Mae grew steadily weaker. Just after Father started down Buckskin Mountain, Mother could see the baby was terribly sick and called to Father to come. Father had two teams of horses on his large wagon, with a "trail-wagon" attached. The grade was so steep he called back that he could not stop until he reached the bottom of the mountain, and by that time the baby had passed beyond. Mother and Sister Gale sat up all that night making clothes to bury the baby because it was urgent that we hurry on to find water. I can never forget, even yet, the coyotes gathering and howling around our wagon that night. [It was so cold that the baby's body froze through. Sis. Gale helped cover a little box for a coffin.] Then some of the men, traveling 10 miles, were gone all night coming back with two gallons of water. Mother felt very badly about burying her tiny baby in such a lonely spot. It was unbearable. While driving the cattle to water, Father had discovered a little lonely grave one-half mile from the base of Buckskin Mt., toward House Rock. While they were fixing breakfast, and before Father left to find water for the cattle, Frances (4 years) got to close to a large, young colt Father was breaking in and the colt kicked her on the side of the administration by the Priesthood, she was better and continued to improve. Then the baby was dressed and buried, and the saddened company traveled on to House Rock - watered the stock, filled our barrels, and moved on to the big Colorado River [Lee's Ferry] where we ferried across. We traveled on in our light wagon with mother driving until we arrived at Joseph City about the middle of December 1877. Father had 100 lbs of white flour for every family in the Fort, and they were very grateful to get it, as they only had corn. dictated by Esther Turley McClellan - November 8, 1960
The family lived under the United Order for about three years. Clara Ann took her turn with the others doing the different chores as gathering and dividing eggs equally, according to the number in the family, caring for the milk. She went different summers to the dairy in the mountains to make cheese and butter, and to cook for the men working there. Clara Ann said she was never happier in her life than while working and living in the order.
In 1881, Isaac withdrew from the United Order and they moved to Snowflake. Each family had their own lot and gardens and orchards. In 1884, (because of persecution for living plural marriage) Isaac moved his families to Old Mexico. Again, Clara Ann drove the team and buggy. They lived in various temporary places until the saints were finally able to settle in Col. Juarez. Sarah was a large woman and in poor health. She died while they were living in the temporary settlement. She left 8 living sons (ages 24-21 mo.). Clara Ann and her two daughters, Esther and Frances, took care of the boys that were still home. It was a large family to cook, wash, iron, mend, and care for, but each child tried to do his share. There were field crops, gardens and livestock and the fruit crop (especially apples) to be dried, canned, or sold throughout the country. Isaac's health was poor the last few years of his life. He died Dec 3, 1908 - age 71. Clara Ann was a widow for 24 years. The exodus from Mexico came in 1912. Clara Ann lived in Utah and Arizona before she could finally returned to Col. Juarez in 1914 to live with her son Edward. She lived some with her doughtier Frances and with her son Isaac the last three years of her life. Her health was poor the last few years. She was a very cheerful person, full of fun, liked to step dance and was very good at it. She was a faithful Latter-day Saint and even paid her tithing when on her deathbed, leaving a worth example for her posterity to follow. She passed away Sept. 4, 1932 at Colonia Juarez. Chihuahua, Mexico. information taken from "Life Sketch of Clara Ann Tolton Turley"
compiled by Hazel N. Brinkerhoff |