To These, Our Grandparents Research and Compiling by: LaReah H. Toronto (Great-granddaughter) Assisted by: Naomi G. Jimenez Merle H. Yarrington James Hale (Haile) was born in Sequatchee Valley, Tenn. According to the information he gave the L.D.S. Church Officials at the time he joined the Church. His birth occurred on 18 Sept., 1826. When he was a very small child his parents died, leaving their three small sons, James, Luke and Howard Hale. These children were raised by a number of families and when James was eleven years of age he left his foster home, feeling that he was old enough to make his own way and worked on farms, caring for animals and any type of work he could get. He never knew who his parents were, according to the records of his wife (Lucy Clements) and lost contact with his brothers. He joined the Church in its early years and worked himself up in the Priesthood to the office of Seventy. He met and married Lucy Clements, daughter of Albert Clements and Ada (Aida) Winchell, on 18 Sept. 1844 at Nauvoo, Hancock, Ill. Lucy Clements was born 20 May, 1825 at Fort Ann, Washington, New York. Her parents were blessed with nine children, Lucy being the second child. The forepart of Lucy s childhood was happy and she endeavored in the normal activities of her time. Her parents had built a home in Fort Ann, New York on her grandfather s, James H. Clements, farm and there she lived with their growing family until 1832. Lucy loved the beautiful countryside of her childhood and spent her time roaming the beautiful countryside, picking flowers, and listening to the birds sing and the crickets chirp. She was a happy child and had a deep-set interest in the things around her. She had a great love and concern for her younger brothers and sisters and looked up to her older brother, Alvin, for companionship and guidance. She enjoyed helping her mother with the household chores and learned many arts in homemaking. She was religious by nature and spent a good deal of her time studying the scriptures. Albert and Ada apparently gave their children the best educational advantages available because the letters and personal effects which have been handed down to the present generation show them to learned in many fields. Lucy was a beautiful penman and her own personal record book is a work of art. She was talented in the field of weaving and dressmaking. She was quick and alert and ready to serve wherever she was needed.
When Lucy was seven years old her father returned from a business trip and with him brought a book he had purchased called the Book of Mormon. Her parents were deeply religious and together they studied the book and embraced the Gospel. The children were taught the gospel in word and precept. In 1832 the family of Albert and Aida Clements left their beloved home in New York and joined the body of the Saints at Florence, Ohio. Their family then consisted of Alvin, Lucy, Samuel and Paul. [The original said Paul and James.] On 16 Feb., 1827 a son had been born to them who they named James, but on year later he passed away. On 22 Jan., 1832 another son was born to them which was also named James. This small religious family was extremely happy in their new found religion and the association with the other Saints was something unmeasured. Albert Clements was away from home a great deal of the time on missions of service to the Church and business concerning the livelihood of his family. Aida carried on in the work of teaching her little brood the principles of the Gospel and rearing of the children. Lucy, being the oldest girl was given a great deal of responsibility and performed it reverently and satisfactorily. The Clements family suffered many hardships during the early persecution of the Saints and their son Paul was killed by the mob in Missouri, while yet a young man. Still the family remained true and faithful to the cause. Aida did washings and ironings for the Prophet Joseph Smith and Lucy worked in the home of the Prophet. She was gifted in sewing and made clothes for the Prophet s family. When she was yet a young girl, she, with other members of her family, saw the Egyptian mummies in the attic of the Prophet s home. When she left their employ the Prophet gave her a small black snuff box which is still a prized possession of members of her family. When the beloved Prophet was killed Lucy was called to assist in making some of his burial clothes. Lucy s father was away on business when the Prophet was killed and the tragedy was a great shock to this young girl who had loved and lived so closely to the great leader s family. This tragedy was yet to bring great sorrow and continued grief upon this lovely family of eight living children. The mother had attended the meeting of the Saints after the martyrdom and saw the Mantle of Joseph Smith fall upon Brigham Young and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was God s chosen leader of his people. The father was not present at this meeting because he was delayed in reaching home after the news reached him and was misguided by his great admiration for Sidney Rigdon, who had brought the Gospel to him, and felt that a great injustice had been handed this devoted friend. He attended many meetings conducted under the supervision of Sidney Rigdon and those apostate friends
who chose to follow him. Albert was soon convinced that the apostate group was the group he should remain with and tried in vain to persuade Aida and their children to see his point of view. The family stood steadfast in their conviction and when the time came for the Saints to follow Brigham Young to the land designated by their God, they tearfully bade their beloved father goodbye and followed their people to the great unknown country. Their father had provided them with as comfortable means as possible for their journey and remained with the apostate group while his much adored family made their journey to Winter Quarters. It was necessary for Lucy to take over a great deal of the responsibility. The heartbreaking loneliness for their father caused many tears and aching hearts and the mother, while still not doubting her choice, frieved herself to illness on many occasions. Lucy felt the weight of her burden and kept a watchful eye over her charges. The mother received many blessings from the hands of the leaders, encouraging her to carry on, and these blessings are recorded in Lucy s personal record book. The mother weas instructed to be prayerful and humble in all things and she instilled these instructions into the lives of her children. While in Nauvoo Lucy met and fell in love with a handsome young man named James Hale. They shared a strong testimony of the Gospel and knew that in applying it to their daily lives they could find many riches in companionship for the remainder of their lives upon this earth and in the life to come. These two young people, full of enthusiasm of a new love, and a promise and dream in their hearts for a great and wonderful life among their chosen people, were married in Nauvoo, Illinois. Their firstborn was a beautiful boy named Elijah, born 27 April, 1845, at Nauvoo, Hancock, Ill. Their joy in this greatest gift to man was shortlived as he died the same day. The mother s heartstrings were pulled almost beyond endurance. She had loved this child from the very first realization that she was going to be blessed with one. Her arms ached to hold him and care for him, but he had been called home. Her loving husband stood by her in her grief and in the new knowledge they had acquired in their newfound religion, they knew that beyond this earthly existence they would again behold their firstborn. The family of James Hale, consisting of himself, his wife Lucy, and their small daughter, Martha Ann, moved westward with the body of the Church. Martha Ann was born 20 June, 1846 at Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Ill. As these two faithful members of the Church made their way to the Great Salt Lake Valley in search of their religious freedom, they were faced with many hardships. Perhaps the hardest to bear was when their oldest
daughter, Martha Ann, was stolen by a band of Indians and was carried away. The child could not be found and the parents were forced to go westward without their beloved daughter. Their days were full of anxiety and loneliness and each night they prayed to their Father in Heaven for the safe return of their child. The mother s pillow was wet with tears and finally from exhaustion she would fall into a half sleep. Missionaries, learning of their plight promised to continue the search for Martha Ann and did so for many months. One of the missionaries had made friends with an Indian brave and felt he could rely on this friendship in his search. After six long months Martha Ann was found in an Indian village. Martha Ann was a beautiful child with jet black hair and deep brown eyes. When the Indians were asked why they had stolen the white child the reply was, She no white child. She Indian. Has black hair, black eyes. She stolen from Indian tribe. Though the grace of God and the friendship between the Mormon missionary and the Indian brave Martha Ann was allowed to return to her family in the West. How grateful were her parents and how the tears of joy and relief flowed down their cheeks as they again beheld their child, whom they thought was lost forever, and they held her close to them in silent prayer. This couple knew the hardships of pioneer life and poverty. They saw many of their loved ones and friends die along the trail and buried in unmarked graves. Their hearts were heavy on many occasions, but their faith strong. Their third child, Joseph Hyrum, was born 5 April, 1849 at Pottawattomie Co., Iowa. His life upon this earth was also shortlived. Once again, on 6 Oct., 1849, James Hale and his wife Lucy felt the sting of death and with a prayer in their hearts laid to rest their darling six month old son. Their hearts were grieved and the home was empty. They longed for the sound of the baby s cry, his happy girgles and sweet cuddling body. One more child was born to them at Pottawattomie Co., Iowa. To bless their home came Eliza Jane on 20 Aug., 1850. This child grew to maturity, to marry and have a family of her own. She was a joy to her parents. In the early 1850 s Brigham Young sent word to the Saints still living in Iowa that if they were to be numbered among the faithful members of the Church they were to move to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. As soon as preparations could be made James and Lucy started for the valley with their few treasured possessions and their small family. They first made camp Sessions (now Farmington, Davis Co., Utah) and here they were blessed with a lively, healthy boy whom they named James Ezra, born 11 Feb. 1853. It was necessary for them to move to Salt Lake City for employment reasons soon after James Ezra was born.
To James and Lucy were born two daughters in Salt Lake City. Lucy was first to make her entry into the family circle, being born 22 Nov., 1854 and later Louisa came to bless their home on 9 Dec., 1856. Upon entering Salt Lake Valley, James Hale, by consent of Lucy, entered the order of Polygamy and took as his second wife, Sarah Elizabeth Barkdall, daughter of Michael Barkdall and Prudence Tremayne. She was born 22 April, 1832 at East Union Township, Dover, Ohio. They were married by Brigham Young in his office. To this union were born nine children, five boys and four girls. James, with his wives and their growing families, moved into South Weber, Davis, Utah where children of both unions were born. To James and Lucy was born Charlotte on 7 March, 1860. Then came the Morrisite War and James and his families lost what worldly goods they had been able to obtain. Lucy was heavy with child and remained in the South Weber until their son, Alvin, was born 23 May, 1863. James went ahead into the Hooper Valley, taking with him his wife Sarah and their children and Lucy s daughter Charlotte. Charlotte was just a tot and related many times to members of the family how she sat at the back of the wagon and dangled her feet over the edge. Hooper was an unsettled country and bordered the Great Salt Lake. There was little to build a home with so James set out making a dug-out in which to house each of his families. Soon after the birth of Alvin, Lucy with her other children came to Hooper and moved into one of the dug-outs. Life was hard as they were the first white families to move into Hooper. James was a man of great initiative and drive and he set about piling and boiling salt for commercial purposes. He had two large copper kettles and he built frames so that the kettles would be held up off the ground and he built a fire under them. Here they boiled the salt water from the Lake and made their salt. Their small settlement was called Hale s Bend and the dug-outs were about 1½ miles from Colonel Hooper s Herd House. The family remained at Hale s Bend until the water of the Lake rose and forced them to higher ground. They continued the making of salt and settlers came from far and near to buy their products and to gather saleratus. Lucy and her children walked from Hooper to Ogden many times to peddle their salt product. Michael Hale, son of James and Sarah, was the first white child to be born in Hooper. The hardships of these families were many. Their beds consisted of sheep pelts, spread on the earthen floor of their dugouts. Often they were compelled to retire at night with little or no food. This wrung the mothers hearts with anguish.
Shoes they had none, clothing but little. The clothing they had was made of factory dyed with sage and the color fixed with lye made of ashes and greasewood. When they had broad they gathered the white saleratus from the bank of the sloughs to be used as soda. A slough is a muddy pond and the white foam that covered the top was skimmed off (saleratus). In the cold weather, to keep their dug-out warm, they would fill a large iron kettle with hot greasewood ashes and place it within their dwelling. They made their own soap of tallow and ash lye. For light they put an old rag for a wick in a dish with grease or tallow and lighted it. When Brigham Young sent the Saints to settle Hooper they found the Hale families to be the only white families there. The Hales welcomed their new neighbors joyously and set about making new friends and getting back into the activities of the Church. When times were better, James built an adobe house for his wives and had kerosene lamps and life was more healthful and pleasant. In 1858 James married a young girl from Denmark by the name of Catherine Hanson. She was born the daughter of Jacob Hanson, mother s name unknown, on 5 th Oct., 1838-9. To date no children of this union have been found and the marriage was shortlived because we find that she married Martin Zyderland six years later. She then married a Mr. Yesperson. No children are known by these two marriages. However, she then married John Henry Dykman and four children were born to them, two dying in infancy. James took an active part in community affairs and became a member of the first Board of Trustees of the Hooper School District (District 16). His families did much to further the improvement of the then growing town of Hooperville, as it was formerly called. Some years later James migrated to Apache Co., Arizona and desired to have his family join him there. Lucy did not approve of this move and remained in Hooper where her family and raised their families. Her daughter Louisa married George Washington Gifford and migrated to the Upper Snake River Valley near Eagle Rock, Idaho (now known as Idaho Falls). Sarah joined her husband in Arizona and their children took an active interest in the community life about them and have been a credit to their parents names and to the Church. On 14 Aub. 1881 Sarah passed away. It is said of her, Sarah Elizabeth Barkdall Hale is buried at Forest Dale, Navajo Co., Ariz. Forest Dale is 6 miles southwest of Show Low, Ariz. She is buried about 2 miles south from the Trading Post around the bend close to
the highway on the north side of the highway. Mrs. Hale is the only white person buried there. James and Lucy s daughter, Eliza Jane, married Charles Tackett and was living in Butlerville, Utah. On many occasions Lucy and her children walked from Hooper to Butlerville to visit this daughter. Tragedy was again to strike their family. On the 17 th day of February, 1882, the Tackett family consisting of the parents and five children, died in a snowslide. The home was built at the bottom of a steep mountain and the house was completely demolished in the slide. No one dared to go near the home for fear of another slide. However, a negro couple by the name of Stevens worked endlessly to uncover the family. They found Eliza Jane laying in a crushed rocking chair with the baby of a few months held in her arms. This negro couple later moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho and some of their descendants are still living there. On the 25 th of December, 1886 James went to the Grodery Store in Springerville, Apache Co., Ariz. To purchase foodstuffs for Christmas dinner. As he passed a saloon in this small town in which he lived, he was killed by a bullet fired from the gun of a drunken gunslinger. He was laid to rest in the Amity, Apache Co., Arizona Cemetery. In her loneliness Lucy turned to compiling a record of her family. She wrote many letters to her relatives in New York and among her personal records still treasured by her descendants were letters from Allen Clements, a brother of her father, and other members of the family. These letters were full of genealogical data concerning her relatives who were not members of the Church and she spent her later years going to the Logan Temple and performing the necessary ordinances for them. Near the end of her life she lived with her daughter, Lucy Butler, at Hooper, where she died 23 Jan., 1905. Her remains were laid to rest in the Hooper Cemetery. Her children were all respected in the communities of their choice and her memory endeared to them. Thus came to an end the lives of these brave stalwart pioneers who weathered the storms of life and the hardships of a pioneer and braved the great unknown. The community of Hooper owes a great deal to the memomry of these fine people. They found that necessity was the mother of invention and put to use the tools at hand. Their descendants can well be proud of their heritage. Because of these people they have many things to be grateful for and can carry through life a name of honour. To them we pay homage and say, Thank you for the gift of life and the blood of your veins.
Sources of Information: Early Church Journals Personal Record Book of Lucy Clements Hale Personal Papers and letters found among family treasures History of Albert and Aida Winchell Clements Sketch of the Life of Charlotte Hale Craythorn History of Hooper, Utah L.D.S. Biographical Encyclopedia Show Low, Amity Co., Arizona Cemetery Records Amity Cemetery Records, Am 223 Vol. 5 History of the Morrisite War in South Weber Note: Much more information has been gathered since the compiling of this history and as soon as research is completed a more detailed history with maps and diagrams will be compiled and made available to the family.