Moses Alfred Cluff
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Moses Alfred Cluff was the first son of Moses Cluff and Rebecca Langman. Not much is known of his early youth. The Cluff family was one of the first settlers in Provo. They were known to be very industrious people. When Moses had grown to manhood, but not yet married, his father, and grandfather David along with several more of the Cluff family moved to Arizona. This was in the late 1870's. They settled first in Forestdale [about 7 miles out of Show Low]. It was learned that Forestdale was on Indian Reservation land. They moved to Show Low, Arizona. In 1881 or '82 they moved to Pima [Smithfield], Arizona, a small Mormon village two or three years old. The valley at this time was covered with a heavy growth of Mesquite.
In this place Moses met a comely lass, Louisa Lauretta Johnson, the daughter of John Wesley and Louisa Collings Johnson. She was seven years younger than he, but he won her love, and they were married March 6, 1882 in Pima, and later were sealed for time and eternity in the St. George Temple in October 7, 1883. To this union were born seven sons and five daughters: Alfred Moses, David Lowell, Mary Emma, Earl, Wallace, Hyrum Delbert, Clella, Leland, Edith, Milton, Minetta, and Melba. After the wedding, Moses A and his bride settled on some land by Squatters Rights. It was five miles south of Pima and nestled at the foot of Mt. Graham. A beautiful sparkling stream flowed through it, and these hardy pioneers could see great possibilities for the spot they had chosen for their home. Hard, unceasing labor made dreams become realities. and was cleared of mesquite trees and acres and acres plowed and planted with wheat, alfalfa, barley, and corn. More acres became orchards of apples, peaches, pears, plums, and apricots and vineyards of grapes. There was also a grove of almond nuts. A hedge of pomegranate vines lined one side of a road for a distance. The home became a haven of beauty, cool shade and lush green fields, fruitful orchards, not only for Grandfather and his family, but all the people of the Gila Valley. The auxiliary organizations of the church, the Sunday School, the M.I.A. and Primary often went picnicking there. Teenagers and children enjoyed the swings under the cottonwood trees growing by the bank of the reservoir. Swimming and boating were also enjoyed by many in the water reservoir. The family had many enterprises. Wagon loads of fresh fruit, bags of dried fruit, gallons of jams and jellies, also gallons of honey from the hives of the bees and peccadillo was hauled to the mining camps, Globe, Bisbee, and peddled from door to door. Grandfather never let a man leave his house hungry. He was always eager to share. Almost every meal he shared with a friend. Whenever the fruit was ripe he would send word to town for all the widows and any one else in need to come to the ranch and pick what they needed. On winter evenings, the older children sat in front of the fireplace and "Shucked" almond nuts. Lauretta would make taffy candy for them. Sometimes friends were invited to a shucking party. The men shucked the nuts the ladies cooked and pulled the taffy. Apples were enjoyed also. In the early days of the ranch, a Mexican man with a herd of goats, tried in various ways to force Moses A. off the ranch. He watered his goats at the creek to make the water foul. When this failed, he became obnoxious by tearing down brush fences and driving the goats in to feed on the crops. Finally, Moses A. became desperate and threatened him with a gun. The man departed, taking his goats with him. For a number of years, Geronimo and his braves were on the war path. They stole horses and cattle and the fear of them caused many sleepless nights and great anxiety for Grandfather and Grandmother. At times when the Indians were known to be out raiding, they sat in the shade of their house from dark until morning light with their rifles across their knees. Grandfather was a religious man, he taught his family to live their religion. At one time there was a branch of the church on the ranch. Grandfather would take his family to Thatcher for stake conference. Pres. Andrew Kimball, Stake President, would nearly always come out to their buggy as they were getting ready to leave for the ranch and would compliment on his fine family. This would cause tears to run down his cheeks. Grandfather was a very tender-hearted man. Another worthy practice was family prayer. Each morning before the meal was served, all would kneel at their place around the table for prayer. If guests were present, they were invited to kneel with them. A song preceded the prayer. The family were taught never to talk back or disobey their parents. Moses A. disciplined his children with love. On one occasion, however, Alfie had frightened his younger brother Earl almost into hysterics. This was the only time Grandfather was provoked into spanking a child. Grandfather was a soft spoken man and always spoke affectionately to his wife and to his children. He always told his children that if there was ever a disagrement between he and their mother that he wanted them to take the side of their mother. He had affectionate names for his children: Clella was called "Dolly." Clella remembers the time as she was preparing her trousseau for her forth-coming marriage how her father came in and knelt by her as she sat at the sewing machine. With his arms around her waist and tears in his eyes as he said, "Oh Dolly, it is so much harder to give up a daughter in marriage than it is a son because when a son marries [I feel] ike I'm gaining a daughter." He was also very generous with his children. As each of the older ones married, he helped them financially to get of to a good start, and was always wiling to help any of them in any way he could whenever the need arose. In later years Moses A's health began to fail. His sons felt he should sell the ranch and move into Pima. After much discussion, he was persuaded to sell his beloved home. He said to them, "if you think it best I will sell, but we will regret it the rest of our lives." The sale was made and in the sale he acquired the Pima hotel, Blacksmith and Livery Stable, a piece of farm land, and a drugstore. The family moved into the hotel and Grandmother became its manager. Grandfather passed away December 18, 1915. He was buried in the Pima cemetery. Information taken from "A short sketch of the life of Moses Alfred Cluff"
compiled by Clella Cluff Lines and Freda L Cluff written by Alice Jo Cluff Ellsworth: 1997 |