1972

S9

Laura Clark Cook

Laura Clark Cook is the only surviving child of Ezra T. Clark. She is now 92 years old and is a lively as a person in there early sixties. She has a good memory which can recall many details about her early life with her pioneer father, Ezra T. Clark. Though the conversation I had with Laura was long, 13 hours, I really enjoyed listening to her life history.

Laura was born the 30th of January, 1880, in Farmington, Utah. She was the ninth child of Susan Leggett Clark and Ezra T. Clark. Her father and mother rejoiced that she was a girl, for they had five boys between her and her sisters.

Susan, Laura's mother, was the second wife of Ezra. Laura remembers how her father use to come over lunch ever day. On one of these visits her father told her how he had known Joseph Smith. He told her that he knew that Joseph was a true Prophet. He later told her how he had given all his money to Joseph Smith when Joseph asked for money to complete the Nauvoo Temple. Joseph, at this time, told Ezra that he would be blessed with money and nobel children. Laura further related to me that her father saw Brigham Young appear to be Joseph when Brigham and Sidney Rigdon, Joseph's first councilor, depated who should be President of the church after Joseph was killed.

Laura's father met her mother while he was in England on a mission. But he didn't ask her to marry him until much later when Susan came to America. When Susan came to America, Mary, Ezra's first wife, told Ezra to bring Susan to their home. Later Ezra married Susan.

Both Mary and Susan had a good relationship. They both lived in separate homes. Both of the houses were beautiful and large. Laura mentioned that her mother and Mary, who the children of Susan called "Aunt Mary", would always speak kindly of each other. Laura recalls that her mother often asked Mary to come to visit. She further stated that both women gave each other gifts and complimented each other on accomplishments. Laura doesn't feel that her family lacked anything that Mary's family had. She feels that her father loved his children equally.