Eugene Henry Clark

Eugene was born March 20, 1873 in Farmington, Utah to Susan Leggett and Ezra Thompson Clark.

Eugene’s mother was tall, stately, and serene, with beautiful black hair. She met the missionaries, who stayed at her family’s home in England. One of the missionaries will become her future husband. The family was baptized. She left her home for Zion when she was 22. There were bad storms at sea with waves so high it seemed they might be swallowed up by the waters. The voyage took six weeks. Crossing the plains was hard. At one time along the trail an Indian chief, accompanied by some of his braves, came into their camp. The chief offered five ponies in exchange for her. He loved her long dark hair. From then on, the camp kept her hidden in the wagon when they traveled through Indian country.

Susan married Ezra Clark and they made their home in Farmington, Utah near the railroad tracks and was regularly visited by tramps. She always fed them.

When Ezra was a baby he was sick with pneumonia and not expected to live. His father was called on a mission. His faith was so great that he knew that if he went on his mission that his child would be healed. Ezra was healed and led a long life.

Eugene was shy and reserved with red hair. He loved to dance. He was about 25 when he met Sarah Sessions. Eugene was 26 and Sarah was almost 18 when they married. They moved into the house next door to his parent’s home in Farmington, Utah.

Eugene was a hard-working farmer. He loved his horses. He owned a Surrey with the fringe on the top, and a fancy cutter for winter. It had sleigh bells ringing as the horses jogged along. In 1906, while they were away from home all of their hay stacks burned down.

In 1907 Eugene was cutting trees down when a limb hit his leg and broke it. He was in bed for about six weeks, then he was on crutches when he fell down the front steps and broke his leg again. During this time their 19 month old son, Wesley, got spinal meningitis and died. The funeral services were held in the dining room around Eugene’s bed.

Eugene got his first car in 1917, it was a Buick. It was the only automobile that he ever bought.

Haying and threshing time was hard work. Eugene hired men to help, and Sarah had to prepare three meals a day for about 16 men.

About 1930 Eugene had a stroke which curtailed his work. It was during this time that their home caught on fire and was badly damaged. He suffered a second stroke the next year. He passed away in 1931 and is buried in the Farmington Cemetery.