Life Sketch of Alice Clark Steed

Written by her daughter Rhoda Steed Harker

Read by her daughter Ora Steed Larsen at her funeral

Happened 92 years ago-- The winter was bitter cold, but the hospitable spirit never failed to warm the chilled strangers heart as he came from the little western town of Farmington, Utah. On this January day there was such bustling and no little anxiety in one of these homes. The time was at . The three children were sent over to Auntie;s home across the street to spend the night.

In the morning they were awakened to hear the happy news as their father tenderly kissed them and said, "A new baby sister has come to live with us." Back in their home the children looked in awe upon the frail earthly body filled with a spirit just sent from heaven. An approprtiate name for this tiny individual was an issue hard to decide. The family finely agreed on three names: Alice Susan Bell.

Just how much this loving unselfish happy spirit was missed from her heavenly home may be known in a small degree by the great joy she brought to others in early life. Surely she brought much of the influence of that heavenly place. Eagerly she took her place in the large Ezra T. Clark family.

Her childhood was very happily spent among kind and understanding brothers and sisters.

Being of a prayerful nature she learned  early in life the strength and power obtained from spiritual communion with the Heavenly Father.

On one occasion she lost her brother's ball--anxiously she searched. She just had to find the ball, it was such a prized toy. She felt the impulse to cry but then she thought "The Father in Heaven kno(w)s where the ball has gone and if I ask He will help me find it." Her request was answered for almost immediately she discovered the ball lying near her feet. This little experience strengthened her faith for greater trials which followed latter in life. Mother grew up attending church and was priveleged to attend the first Primary under the direction of Arelia Rogers

Mother was greatly blessed with a younger brother, John. This congenial companionship was beautiful and unusual. Almost inseperable. They never had a quarell. One of the sad(d)est experiences came into her life when he was called on a mission to the Holy Land. At this time they were teaching together in Minnersville. A year later he contracted small Pox and died there. For weeks she mourned his death and then one morning he appeared to her and repeated the last words he had said to her, "Alice you said you were not sorry I was going on my mission, now why are you?". The naturalness in his voice brought much comfort the consolation of which never left her.

Mother attended the L.D.S. College and later the Brigham Young University and taguth school in Minnersville and Tooele. "Life is good to me" She often remarked, "and if I live but one more day, I am payed for living." This remark pleased her father.

During the year of 1897, mother married Walter W. Steed, our father. They lived in a two roomed home on what was known as the sandridge and which later developed into a beautiful farming district. The sunsets on the Great Salt Lake were so very lovely an artist from from Salt Lake would come and paint them from our front porch. 

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The following years were hard busy ones. At times discouragement seemed to bother the glowing faith completely from her heart. At one time she felt her trials more than she could bear and her father's voice spoke to her saying. "Alice that is such a little thing. You have so much to make you happy." There were days of sorrow and trial, such as the death of Aunt Julia's little Thomas in 1904, but Aunt Julia's faith and courage were demonstrated then again while she was alone with mother at the birth of one of mother's boys. She had a great strength of character. Mother never forgot the time Ireta came home from school in Salt Lake and offered to care for mothers little children while she attended general conference. It gave mother a wonderful vacation. In later years mother also appreciated Walter Jr's. thoughtfulness each Christmas. Mother scarcely had time for recreation but friends thoughtfilly brought books and she eagerly scant gleaned their pages which stimulated her in body and mind. 

Not all was seriousness in her life. There was the time the family dog carried the Sunday roast off the table and the family followed in pursuit. There was the pet lamb who ate the clothes from the line. Then there was the day Old Nip was hooked to the buggie to take mother to fill a Relief Society appointment at West Layton. She had the oldest and youngest at that time with her, Hubert on her lap and Melton driving, as they were turning to leave the yard, the top of the buggy got caught in the children's swing, and started lifting it heavenward, resting the buggy on two wheels, the other two in the air. Noticing the delay farther came around the corner of the grainery and witnessed their plite, right sided the buggy and they were soon on their way.

Mother had 7 children The oldest boy Milton Steed and the Youngest boy Hubert Steed preceded her in death the remaining are: Joseph, Newel, Woodruff, Rhoda and Ora. Of the seven children, five have filled missions one filled two and of her grandchildren 4 have filled mission and at the present time a granddaughter is on a mission in Finland. Since writing this history 5 other Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren have filled missions, and Ora and husband also filled a mission.

After the children were married, mother went among friends and kinfolks with cheer, ever ready with something worth while to inspire and encourage them. Eagerly she made herself busy accomplishing an unbelievble amount of work. She worked in the different organizations of the Church and did Temple Work. She was a very good teacher. She could hold her class spell bound.

At the age of 76 she was seriously ill with a ruptured appendix and before leaving the hospital she had a finger amputated because of a cancerous growth on it. Last year another cancerous growth was removed from her forehead. This year another cancerous growth struck at a vital spot which was impossible to remove. Up until the last few weeks she had kept busy and active. Her eye sight becamed so dimmed she could not crocket, make quilts or read, but she still enjoyed good books with her reading machine.

Moter was gifted in writing articles and poems for special occasions. I should like to read an article she wrote for the Clark Reunion held Sept. 30, 1949 entitled:

Memories

In calling to mind scenes and activities of my childhood, I'm reminded of how pioneer like they were: for example:

The dash churn

Folding pieces of newspaper in long even strips for lighting candles.

The stringing wick through molds ready for melted tallow

Gathering mulberry leaves for Aunt Nancy's silk worms

Watching the process of silk making from the cacoon to the weaving of cloth.

Cutting and drying peaches to buy our winter clothes

The wash board and the crude flatiron that we held with a thick pad.

Our water system consisted of surface wells, ours just outside the back door.

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Aunt Mary's was on the back porch. Two tall wooden buckets bound with hoops were fastened on each end of a long rope strung through an iron wheel that strung over head of the substantially built well curb round. This historic well was a few moments of at least some relaxation.--A cheery greeting, a mention of the good dinner, bits of bews discussed etc.

I recall a scene at Aunt Mary's at threshing time, the ringing of handbells brought the men to meals. About fifteen came briskly to the house and swiftly the water was brought splashing to the surface in their hurry to wash for dinner. The long hand-towels hung across wooden rollers.

Surrounded with this environment, as I grew older I naturally developed a keen appreciation and heart felt gratitude for my noble parents, and father's association with the Prophet Joseph, and his earnest lifelong testimony of God's work, for his integrity and loyality to its principles.

For mother's courage in leaving parents and all for the gospels sake. For her example of faith, patience and efficiency in rearing her family.

For my wonderful brothers and sisters whose exemplary lives have so enriched my own.

And for Dear Aunt Mary's constant testimony and adherence to duty has been an inspiration to many.

In closing I would like to leave a few lines of tribute to my brothers. (Before reading the poem I should like to mention that all of Mothers brothers have passed away except Amasa. When this was read at mother's funeral and he was since passed away.)

Ezra James

The eldest of this noble band
Gave his life for the gospel plan.

Timothy
So gentle and clever in handling bees
Extracted the honey with comfort and ease.

Joseph and Marie
Our Noble Pioneers
Led the cattle to Georgetown
Year after year.

Hyrum
To Wyoming took his bride
Where many of us were cheered by their fireside.

Eddie
The backbone of the farm
Labored hard with patience and skill
And was able to pay off many a bill.

Charles
Whose gifts are not a few
Wield's men's hearts to gospel truths.

Amasa
Banker, ex-bishop, and friends to man
May your deeds like monuments ever stand.

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John
Your life, though short, was filled with good deeds
How we've cherished your memory
Throughout 54 years.

Nathan
So loyal and firm to the truths you know
Will reap with us-all that which we sow.

Eugene and Horace
Have fought the good fight
May their noble prosperity cleave to the right.

Although mother never wrote a poem about her four sisters, Mary Elizabeth, Annie, Sarah and Laura I would like to mention how she dearly loved the,. Mary Elizabeth had a marked influence on mother's early life. She died early. After mother moved from the farm to Salt lake the remaining sisters enjoyed each others companionship very much. Her one remaining sister Laura, my sister and I have fond memories spending many happy hours in her home. Aunt Laura traveled to see mother a short time before her death which made mother very happy.

Early Memorial Morning of the year 1946 mother wrote a poem entitled

My Prayer

Father, I thank Thee for senses keen
For the use of limbs to work out schemes
For the gift to see Thy wondrous works
The power of speech to tell their worth
Give me, Dear Father, the spirit of prayer
That all my loved ones these gifts may share.

Help me to sense the value of time
The will to learn Thy truths divine
For the glorious mission Motherhood
Where-in Thy holy laws are understood
For the sacred bonds of family ties
For the Celestial realm beyond the skies.

Mother wrote other articles but I won't take time to read them. I would like to read her favorite verse which expressed her feelings toward life.

"The world is such a lovely place
So wide so deep so high
The world is such a busy place
I haven't time to die.
I can't afford to miss these things,
To sing to laugh to weep
My eyes are hampered in their sight,
I haven't time to sleep
The world is such a lovely place
So full of those who care.
My feet are halted in their steps
I must move everywhere."

Mother did enjoy life and she made use of every minute of it.

As the sun went down on the evening of June 23rd 1961 mother's spirit went back home having lived a wonderful life.

Yes, mother is gone and the cutting in our hearts is the knowledge of the things we should have done and the many things that went unspoken.

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Ezra Thompson Clark Family Organization

Explanation of Designators

The purpose is to attach symbols to names for identification of direct descendants from Ezra T. Clark and his wives, Mary and Susan. There were no children by third wife Nancy Areta Porter.

The late Ruth Young Knowlton, widow of Clark Shumway Knowlton (S331), and Sylvia Newton (M6A93) were the authors of this numbering system. To them is owed much gratitude for a very systematic method of keeping track of the ETC Family Organization.

A spouse of an ETC descendant shall be listed by a capital letter when there have been children by more than one spouse. Spouses are otherwise not listed on this chart. Example: Laura Blanche Clark (S9) married Mark Cook and they had three children before his death. Her first trio of children are listed as S for Susan Leggett Clark, Laura's mother, 9 for Luara's being the ninth child of Susan, < for Mark Cook, and 1,2,3 for birth order of this trio. Laura later married Joseph Askie Silver and they had three children before his death. This second trio of children would be S9J (for Joseph). and then 1,2,3. Laura had no children by third husband George Edward Cook.

A hyphen (-) is used when there have been more than ten children. David Patten Clark is M-11 (eleventh child of Mary and ETC). The twins, Afton and Alton, the eleventh and twelfth children of Nathan George Clark (S7) by his second wife Cleo Afton Call, are herewith listed as S7C-11 and S7C-12, respectively.

--JRC 1995--

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Explanation of the ETC Family Crest

Symbols used for identifying families have a lengthy historical foundation. The twelve tribes of Israel were identified by individual markings which were perpetuated for many generations and even for centuries by some of those tribes. Coats of arms became prevalent during the Crusades when military units or families began what has come to be know as the science of heraldry. A study carried out in 1964 on nearly 100 Clark (Clarke, Clerke, Clerc, etc.) family coats of arms revealed none referable to the earliest-identified ET Clark progenitor.

This coat of arms was based upon the buffalo skull used by Brigham Young and now know as the "bulletin of the plains." It is found in the Bureau of Information on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. In June 1847 Brigham Young wrote on the skull's brow telling pioneers following behind him that all was well and that they were onb the right track. Ezra T. Clark and family passed over the same trail one year later after having previously been assigned by President Young to stay in Winter Quarters Iowa to help the saints passing through.

The pentagon shape symbolizes symmetry, and one side for each of the five letters of the Clark name. The color, blue, suggest valor. The name, Clark, derives from the "clerk" found in each village in early England and Scotland to carry on business matters. It is significant that the town clerk was the only person in town who was certain to be literate besides the village priest.

Fell free to use this design for your own Clark family purposes.

--JRC 1970--

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EZRA THOMPSON CLARK -- 1823-1901

DIRECT DESCENDANTS