Ida Ann Clark

Ida Ann Clark  (GGGM, 1888 -1979, as recorded in The Thomas Griffin Family book, pages 190 - 191, published in 1997, History of Ida Ann Clark given at her funeral by Milton Anderson in 1979, History of Sarah Godfrey Clark, John Godfrey of Worchester, England Ancestry and Posterity (red book), pages 494-497, 1980, and from her oldest grand-daughter, Paulene Anderson, 1996) -

 

     Ida Ann was born November 10, 1888 in Clarkston, Cache County, Utah.  She was the fifth of eleven children born to William Henry Calrk and Sarah Godfrey.  She was greeted by one brother, William Henry, and two sisters, Mary Ellen (Nell), and Effie Marie.  One brother, Joseph John, died at the age of one.  Six other children were born into the family.  They were Sarah Malinda, Arthur Benjamin, Amelia Emma, Raymond Aubery, Andrew Leslie and Marjorie.  [Thus, Ida had five brothers and five sisters.]

     Prior to Ida’s birth, her parents moved to Rockland, Idaho where William operated a farm.  However, the farm was not successful and they didn’t enjoy the hot, dry weather, so when Sarah became seriously ill, they moved back to Clarkston, Utah.  They lived with Sarah’s mother (Ida’s grandmother) until they could buy a small home of their own.  Mary Godfrey’s house was a one room with a stove, a table and a cupboard on one side.  In the corner sat a box with a curtain around it, which Mary called a “toilet stand.”  Across the other end of the room were two beds; the heads of each bed were against opposite walls but the ends nearly touched.  Catherine (Ida’s aunt) and her daughter had moved home with Mary after her husband’s death.  That made 4 adults and 3 children living there.  [It must have been very difficult at times.]  After Sarah and William’s fourth child was born [the next child older than Ida] in May of 1886, they moved into a home of their own.  Ida was born there in November of 1888.

      The spring after Ida Ann was born, the family moved to the farm [three miles] south of Clarkston and homesteaded 160 acres of ground.  [Their home was across the street from the church.]  They built a two-room house here.  The floor consisted of bare boards which Ida’s mother scrubbed on her knees.  There was no water on their farm and so water had  to be carried from a spring on a nearby neighbor’s farm.  The whole family was expected to work and help with the new farm.  The Archibalds were their closest neighbors.  Ida and the children had to walk three miles to school.  They ussually carried their shoes and stockings until they were almost at school, then stopped and put them on.  This kept the shoes from getting so dusty and scuffed and they not only looked better but lasted longer.  Snow and cold weather prevented them from walking far in the winter, so they attended school in the spring and fall.  In the winter the Archibalds and Clarks took turns taking the children to school in a horse and sleigh or buggy.

     There was plenty to do at home.  Ida’s mother, Sarah, made all their clothes, made the soap they used, knitted stockings and mittens, made butter, preserved and dried chockcherries, apples and peaches.  They grew most of their own food, kept chickens and milked cows.  [As a child she learned to help with the turkeys, chickens, pigs, cows and other farm chores.  She helped with the barnyard chores because most of her brothers were younger than she.] 

     Ida’s parents taught their children to help while they were young.  Ellen, Ida’s older sister, was sewing when she was almost too small to reach the treadle of the sewing machine and Effie was knitting stockings before she went to school.  They used to knit stockings and trade them with a neighbor for butter.  Will, Ida’s oldest brother, was only 15 years old when he plowed up 10 acres and put it into grain.  Milk was poured into big pans on the cupboard or in the cellar.  After the cream rose to the top, it was skimmed off and put into separate containers.  Butter, eggs and chickens were traded regularly to the co-op store for staples. 

     When Ida was about 6 her family moved to the edge of town.  They stayed in a cabin with a sod roof until the log house on the farm could be torn down, moved to the new property and rebuilt.  Ida’s younger sisters were born there.  Things were more prosperous at the new location, although they still had to carry water about two blocks from town.  In the summer they moved the stove out to the “shanty” behind the house and did the family cooking and dishes there.  The house was delightfully cooler with the stove outside.  In the first year of the new century, they completed the new house next to the old one.  It had four rooms and a pantry, an upper story for bedrooms and a big porch that extended across the front of the house.  There was a cellar near the house where crocks of pickels , fruit and vegetables were preserved.

     Ida’s father worked for other farmers harvesting and repairing fences in addition to managing their family farm.  Twice a year Ida’s mother and father went to Logan for a few things they could grow or make.  

     Ida’s mother’s life was one of hardship and hard work.  Sarah had no formal education and never learned to read or write, not even her own name.  Yet she could “figure” in her head with amazing speed and accuracy.  She kept her large family clean, warm and comfortable, although they didn’t enjoy many luxuries, they all learned the value of hard work and resourcefulness.  Ida’s mother was a religious woman and strict disciplinarian.  When the table was set for breakfast, the chairs were turned with the backs to the table and everyone knelt by his or her chair for family prayer.  If the chidren were boisterous, she corrected them in no uncertain terms. 

     One-tenth of everything they produced was set aside for tithing.  Ida remembered how each fall the chickens were shut up in the coop and the trap door opened.  As the chickens came out one at a time, the children counted them and the tenth one was caught and put in a sack for tithing.  Each tenth dozen eggs were also taken to the Bishop’s storehouse.  Ida’s mother also served in Primary and YW MIA.  [There was no doubt of her testimony of the gospel or her devoted obedience to living the commandments.] 

     [The strict religious environment of Ida’s childhood is reflected in the circumstances of her baptism.]  Ida was baptized when she was eight years of age.  [It was important to be baptized upon turning 8 because she was baptized on her birthday on November 10th despite having to break the ice covering the city creek in order to be immersed in the water.  Milton recalls her telling him how cold the water was.]  She was baptized by William J. Griffith in City Creek north of Clarkston.  Each Sunday they made the three mile trek to church meetings.  Ida sang in the choir when she was twelve years of age because her father had an outstanding tenor voice and he took Ida with him when he went to choir practice.]   

     Ida attended eight years of school in Clarkston.  [She graduated the eighth grade and once received a prize at school because she never came to school with a button off or broken lace.  Ida learned the household chores and jobs from her mother.  To cook, sew and care for a house.  She had a close relationship with her brothers and sisters and described her childhood as a happy one.]  She was active in church and enjoyed singing, dancing and playing soft ball.  She attended school with Albert, [who was 1 year older] and they enjoyed doing things together [even as youngsters.]  [She and Albert courted after it was discovered that Albert’s heart condition would prevent him from serving a mission in England.]

     On October 22, 1908, Albert William Griffin, age 21, married Ida Ann Clark, age 20, in the Logan Temple by Pres. William Roskelley.  After Albert and Ida were married, they lived with Albert’s parents while their home was being built.  [Memories are still vivid in the minds of her grandchildren who recall her as a grandmother batting the ball at family reunion softball games and letting them run the bases for her.  They all loved eating her honey ginger cookies which she baked for them to eat and take a few extra home in a little brown bag.]