Nancy Areta Porter

My whole name is Nancy Areta Porter Stevenson Clark. I became the 3rd wife of Ezra T. Clark through a series of interesting circumstances.

With my birth at Vienna, Ohio, on Aug.25, 1825, there were now eight in the family of Sanford Porter and Nancy Warriner. When I was just two years old my father sold his farm and almost everything we had for the purpose of journeying west to the fertile land of Illinois. With a friend, Mr. John Morgan, my father constructed a flatboat which they launched on the Mahoning River, not far from our home. They loaded it with all our belongings and we floated down the Mahoning, then into the Beaver River and thep. into and down the Ohio River.

The country was wild and uninhabited and our trip was not only adventurous, but very dangerous. Of course, .I don't remember the details as I was so young, but I grew to understand why my parents had been so worried. The first danger was going over the falls of the Beaver River, a little distance before its confluence with the Ohio. As we neared the falls, we pulled into shore and everyone got off the flatboat except Mr. Morgan and two pilots. We all watched as it plunged over the falls, and for a few minutes it looked as if everything was lost. But it came up from the foaming water right side up and no damage was done. We boarded it again down river and then disembarked near Evansville, Indiana, where we rented a farm. My father taught school during the winter and then in March we again took up our trek toward Illinois.

Our wagon was crudely built, but held together and was pulled by two yoke of oxen. We traveled northwest and crossed the Wabash River into Illinois during some violent thunderstorms and unsettled weather. One night we spent in the hollow base of a large tree out of the cold wind and were fairly comfortable.

Here in Illinois my father and brother purchased a sawmill and shortly after we were there we were converted to the church. We all left in December for Independence, Missouri. Those of you who have been in Illinois in winter know something of the hardships to be met traveling on such a journey in the dead of winter. The first night V{e camped on ice which was eight to ten inches thick. To keep the teams from slipping on the ice, the men cut dry grass and spread it on the ice and then poured water over it to make it freeze. This gave better footing to the animals. Finally crossing the Mississippi River and being divinely guided, we felt, through many trying experiences, we were so happy to reach our destination and to be with people of our own faith that we soon forgot our hardships.

Our home was nearly completed when the whole settlement were driven out of their homes at point of muzzle and bayonet. I was 8 years old. We went to some other counties to make our home and in 1839 when I was 14 we started for Montrose, Iowa, where my parents knew there were better advantages for us children. Things were better there and we found many friends and young people my age. We often gathered in groups and had fun together. It was here that I met Edward Stevenson, Mary's brother, and Ezra T. Clark. They were the best of friends and later I found myself dating both of them, rather seriously. They had a friendly rivalry and though you will never know exactly what happened, I will tell you what some people think.

There are rumors in one branch of the family that Edward bragged to me about sending letters to both Ezra and ·me that Ezra didn't want to see me again and that I didn't want to see him again. I shall neither confirm nor deny this but it is true that we rather went our own ways. Anyway-time passed and Ezra chose Mary for his wife and I married Edward. We did have a happy life and eventually five children were born to us to us.

After we were married about eight years, Edward was called on a mission to Gibraltar so I had the care of the garden, home and children. We had plenty to eat and to wear and got along well. I had my own loom on which I used to spin almost daily so became very productive. Edward returned and we were happy to have him home again safely.

Time passed and by the time my fifth child was born, Edward had taken two other wives. One of these seemed to receive favoritism and it was very difficult for me. This situation of plural marriage complicated by some other contributing factors escalated into some serious domestic problems. I went to Brigham Young for counsel, but ultimately the situation resulted in divorce.

Pres. Brigham Young requested Ezra T. Clark to come to his office and there advised him to many me, knowing, of course, our long-standing friendship through the years. So it was, ironically, that I became the wife of a man I had dated as a young girl.

Ezra took me to Farmington to live for awhile and then when he was called to colonize the Bear Lake area, established a home for me at mid-point in Logan. I had· always loved spinning and there became involved in sericulture-that is, raising silk worms to produce raw silk. Actually, the silk worm industry had been started in Southern Utah by Brigham Young. Velvets, laces , satins, and taffetas were in much demand so the local manufacturing of silk was of great value to all of us pioneer women. I am credited with making the first silk dress in Utah.

While in Logan I also officiated in the temple but after several years was released so that I could go to Elba, Idaho and care for the family of my son, Edward Alonzo, as his wife had just died. There I later contracted pneumonia which was to take my life. Ezra came for me and took me to Farmington for burial.