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EARLY CHILDHOOD

I, Edward Barrett Clark, like Nephi of the Book of Mormon, was born of "goodly parents", Ezra Thompson Clark and Mary Stevenson Clark. This happened on April 7, 1859 in the old home now owned by me at Farmington, Davis County, Utah. I was the first of our family to be born there. Aunt Paulina Lyman was in attendance as Mid-wife. I don't remember much about it, but I suppose they heard from me, as I was a pretty firey youngster, for I remember a little later, I had red hair, a freckled face, and plenty of temper. Aunt Paulina once told me that as I grew older, I was a pretty baby. Perhaps that accounts for my looks now, for I have heard it said "pretty babies make homely "grownups".

One of my earliest recollections is lying under the table and trying to pound a hole into the floor with my head. I had plenty of spunk they tell me, and I have not lost it yet. It was taken much effort to bring it under control. My parents were patient with me however, as were also the other members of the family.

I can remember as a small chap, going to Salt Lake City and to many other place. I remember the ward meeting house before it was completed. I was perhaps then only three years old. I also remember going with my father to meetings. Some of them may have been the "School of the Prophets" in the old Social Hall on State Street. I remember the old home of Squire Wells on the lot where the Templeton Building now stands. I remember as a little chap standing in front of the old Globe Bakery just south of the Deseret News Building on Main Street. I had a bunch of fire crackers in my pocket. Some city guys touched a match to them, but before they started popping, I threw them onto the sidewalk, as the boys scampered down the street. I had a real Fourth of July celebration all to my self.