My name is Susan Leggett and I was born in a little English home in Gorleston, Suffolk, England in 1838. My father was a gardener on a private estate and at a public park. Shortly after I was born, we moved a short distance to a small seaport town. I had a happy childhood with my brothers and sisters and we loved to play on the seashore and watch the fishermen, the ships and the waves.
My parents provided us children with a spiritual home. It was a home of culture, refinement and comfort We loved books and music. In fact, my father and I would walk almost five miles over rolling green hills every Sunday to sing in the church choir. I loved to sing, to cook, and to do needlework and dressmaking, which skills I had learned from my_aunt.
The Mormon missionaries visited us, and in fact, stayed in our home for some time. I remember the first time I saw Ezra. I was about 16 and it was the house on Fanning Street - he was one of the missionaries. Over a period of ten years all the members of my family were baptized and then began to plan for the journey to Zion. Of course, this required savings and sacrifice over a period of many years. I truly loved my home in dear old England -such a beautiful place --but as soon as I learned about the principle of gathering, I had a restless feeling come over me and pleaded with my dear father to allow me to go. He believed as I did and relented somewhat reluctantly as we were very close and it was a trial for him to see me leave. Since I was the oldest of the children it was felt I should go first. He saved the money for me and then Aunt Sarah came - then Grandma - and then the rest of the family - and then his own dear self.
Though I was 22 years of age, it still took some courage and determination on my part to begin such a journey all alone. I was among strangers on a coach traveling to Liverpool, but there found some friends, elders and other saints who would all board the ship to cross the ocean.
Luckily my friendliness and desire to be useful won the favor of the captain and his wife and I was engaged to sew for them. As a result I enjoyed some or the best accommodations on board. After six weeks on the ocean we arrived in New York, and then I wondered how I would ever be able to travel across the plains. But, I met a family with small children and asked the parents if they would like my help on the journey. My offer was gladly accepted so I traveled with them and helped with the children. During some free time along the way I was able to do much sewing and embroidery work for them.
At one time along the trail an Indian chief: accompanied by some of his braves, came into our camp. Apparently the chief was pleased with my presence and offered five ponies in exchange for me. I was tall and slender and had lots of dark hair which I guess he liked. Thankfully the family I was with refused the offer, but from then on, they kept me hidden in the wagon box when we traveled through Indian country. We had left in April and arrived in Salt Lake City in September.
The names of the emigrants regularly appeared in the local paper in Salt Lake. Ezra, recognizing my name, left his home in Farmington and came to meet me. He had not forgotten the hospitality of my father's home and I was to learn later that he had promised himself that if I ever came to Utah, he would win me for his wife. I was now 23, and two months later on Nov. 8, 1861, I became the 2nd wife of Ezra T. Clark. I was accepted wholeheartedly into the home and was made welcome by Ezra and Mary. Ezra was 38 and Mary, who then had five sons and a daughter, was 36.
At once I busied myself sewing for the family in the Clark home - making pants, coats and dresses. Soon I was given a commodious home of my own across the street from Mary and in due time became the mother often children. I was joyfully immersed in home and family. The lives of all the Clark children became intertwined and they enjoyed love and respect among themselves and their elders. Mary's and my children got along well, and it can truly be said that no harsh words ever passed between us mothers. She was known as Aunt Mary and I as Aunt Susan.
Through the years I enjoyed church work and was often asked to sing at different functions. My aunt from England came and lived with me for ten years before she died. My father continued his vocation as a gardener upon his arrival in Utah. He was very dear to me and always reminded his children that a prophet of the Lord had told him his children should be the noble sons and daughters of the earth. He meant not only his own children, but his grandsons and granddaughters down to the latest generation. And, if this were to be accomplished, they must be told about it very often.
I studied about nobility and wondered what one would have to do to be considered noble. It was impressed upon my mind that I wanted to do good things. My every act was influenced by it. I tried to encourage my children to be good.
My dear father died at age 94 so then my mother came to live with me the last four years of her life. I have borne ten children and have delighted in their lives. Three of my sons filled honorable missions and I, too, lost one of my beautiful sons in the mission field. John Alexander died in Palestine where he had been called to labor. He contracted -smallpox and was buried in a cemetery at the foot of Mt. Carmel in Palestine.
After having lived 64 happy years, I was to die on Noy. 6, 1902 after a short illness, and would be known to have uttered as my last words, "Ezra, you came for me. I knew you would."
