Biography Of Bishop Wilford W. Clark

Leave a Comment / Idaho, Utah

Wilford Woodruff Clark, bishop of the Montpelier ward in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has risen by successive steps from deacon to elder, from elder to one of the seventy, thence to the office of high priest and finally to that of bishop. As a member of the seventy he performed a mission in the south, principally in North Carolina, where he met with great success in establishing churches. In civil life he is known as Hon. Wilford Woodruff Clark. He was elected, as a Republican, to the third Idaho state legislature, of which he was an active and useful member. He introduced the bill giving the state legislature its present membership: one senator from each county and representatives according to population, and was influential in securing the passage of the bill which gave the franchise to women.

Bishop Clark was born at Farmington, Davis County, Utah, February 2, 1863. His forefathers were among the first settlers of our American colonies and were prominent in fighting the fight of liberty and in making our primitive national history. Ezra T. Clark, his father, was born November 25, 1823, in Illinois, where Bishop Clark’s grandfather was a pioneer, and married Mary Stevenson, who had the unique distinction of having been born on the rock of Gibraltar, in 1825. They were converted to the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints early in the history of the church in Iowa, and in 1848 crossed the plains to Salt Lake City, and were among the earliest emigrants who braved the dangers of that long and perilous journey. In 1849 they located at Farmington, Davis County, Utah, on a farm which Mr. Clark made one of the best in the vicinity and on which he yet lives. He has been an active and efficient member of his church, and has faithfully and successfully performed several important missions in its behalf, in the United States and in Europe, and now has the great honor of being one of its patriarchs. The wife of his youth has been spared to him and they are living out their days calmly, peacefully, without regrets and with the hope that is given to those who labor for their fellows and trust to God for their ultimate reward.

Bishop Clark was educated at Salt Lake City Deseret University, now the Utah University, and at Brigham Young Academy, at Provo, Utah, and engaged in farming and stock-raising, which he has continued to the present time, with increasing success. At Montpelier he has a farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres, and with his father and brother, he owns a ranch of twelve hundred acres at f Bear Lake County, Idaho, where they have a herd of cattle and also a herd of horses. They began to import Shorthorn cattle about thirty years ago, as a means to the improvement of their own stock, and as a result they have been instrumental in improving to a degree the stock of the whole county. They are breeding a fine grade of horses, and are among the most successful farmers in their part of the state.

July 22, 1885, Bishop Clark married Miss Pamelia Dunn, a native of Plain City, Utah, and a daughter of John Dunn, a prominent citizen of that town. They have had eight children: Wilford Woodruff, Jr.; William O.; Vera Pamelia; Royal D.; Ernest, deceased; Elmer R.; Homer, and Howard, twins, born on their mother’s thirty-fifth birthday.

‍

From the Author

Prepared by a number of writers, and deriving its information from various sources, the History of Idaho is now submitted to the reader for his criticism. The compilation covers a long period of years, extending from the epoch of glorious statehood and the dawning of a new century back to the time when the untutored savages roamed at will over the plains and through the mountain fastnesses of this now opulent and attractive region of the great northwest, with none to dispute their dominion. In the collation of subject matter recourse has been had to divers authorities. These have been numerous, including various histories and historical collections, and implying an almost endless array of papers and documents, public, private, social and ecclesiastical. That so much matter could be gathered from so many sources and then sifted and assimilated for the production of one single volume without incurring a modicum of errors and inaccuracies would be too much to expect of any corps of writers, no matter how able they might be as statisticians or skilled as compilers of such works. It is, nevertheless, believed that no inaccuracies of a serious nature can be found to impair the historical value of the book, and it is also further believed that the results of our work will supply the exigent demand which called forth the efforts of the publishers and the editorial staff. Numerous extracts from other volumes and minor compilations, considered authoritative, have been made, with an eye ever single to the historical value of the matter used, while acknowledgment must be made to many who have come to our aid by personal contributions and the offering of data otherwise impossible of securing. To many are we indebted for such kindly courtesies and assistance, and with so much accredited authority, even in the face of seemingly insuperable obstacles, the publishers feel confident that a valuable book has been produced, one whose intrinsic worth will be cumulative and be the more appreciated as time advances.

Illustrated History of the State of Idaho

Biographies of the State of Idaho
These 480 biographies were extracted from the Illustrated History of the State of Idaho and represent the leading men of Idaho at the turn of the 20th Century.

History of Mining from the Illustrated History of the State of Idaho

Idaho Mines and Mining
Idaho is essentially a mining territory. It was her mines that first stimulated immigration to within her borders, and it is to the results of the mines that her present prosperity is due in a great measure. Now that mining has been reduced to a legitimate occupation, there is less reckless speculation, perhaps, than of old, but more solid, substantial business. The days of stock gambling in mining properties are about over. Science, aided by practical experience, has taught the best methods of treating ores. Capitalists no longer purchase prospects for fabulous prices on the strength of picked specimens or the vicinity of rich claims. It is a fortunate circumstance for Idaho that mining has been for the most part a steady, productive industry, yielding rich returns to the patient and intelligent prospector, and that it has not been necessary to rely on fictitious "booms."

History from the Illustrated History of the State of Idaho

‍

Purchase Options

Internet Archive

https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto00lewi

‍