The Life of Hannah Maria Clark Parkinson

Hannah was the daughter of Thomas H. and Charlotte Gayley Clark.  She was born at Herefordshire, England, on July 8, 1832.  Her father was converted to the Mormon Church by Wilford Woodruff and was baptized by him.  Brother Clark baptized all of his children and confirmed them.  On April 6, 1841, the family left England and immigrated to America.  They came over on board the Catherine.  This ship was lost at sea on her next voyage.

They went direct to Nauvoo, arriving there on the 8th of July, 1841, on Hannah’s birthday.  They remained there until the Mormons were driven out of the state.  They went with the main body of the Church in Winter Quarters where the father was called on a series of missions for the Church ad the family was cared for by the oldest son, John William.  In 1852, they joined the main body of the Church which had gone to Utah.  They landed in Salt Lake City October 10, 1852, and almost immediately moved to Grantsville.

Grantsville has always been the home of the Clark family.  There Hannah’s father built a one-room house made of logs.  This house was built in the corner of the lot.  Later on, he built a two-room house made of adobe which is still standing.  Their home was always filled with happiness and contentment; the father always living his religion and keeping commandments of the Lord.  His law was “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Hannah was married to Charles G. Parkinson on October 15, 1855 by her father, Bishop Thomas H. Clark in the Clark home, then they went to the Endowment House later.  At the time of her marriage she was at the spinning wheel, spinning yarn for winter.  Stockings and her dress were made from cloth that her own mother had made, even wove the cloth.  It was a sort of gay color; she stood up and was married in bare feet.

Charles first met her at a dance in the early spring of 1854 and at that time he said “That young woman will be my wife” so Hannah had to take him, even if he was called a tenderfoot.  (See Life of Charles G. Parkinson, this issue).  Charles always said she was the best looking of all the Clark girls, he would, of course.  Their married life was most happy.  They were very congenial.  Their first home was in the corner of the lot where the high school now stands, just a small one-room place.  Here their first child was born, a boy, they named him Charles G.  Then they had to move into the fort.  They lived there for a number of years on account of the Indians making so much trouble.

Charles got a piece of land from Hannah’s father and built a two-room house.  This was built of logs.  This was in 1863.  Hannah’s fifth child, a daughter Mary Ann, was the first child born in the new home.  Then came Maria, Helen, and Joseph.  Charles went back to the States to meet the emigrants in the early fall of 1863.  On his return he brought his wife a brand new stove, the first one they had ever had.

Now here is another story; Charles went to work one day, did not cut Hannah any wood for the stove, so in her good-natured way, she prepared the evening meal, she put the dishes on the table, a bowl of potatoes, all peeled and cut, a plate of raw meat, and a plate of dough, and a pot of cold tea.  Charles liked the supper so well.  Hannah said, that he always remembered to see that the wood was chopped before he left home.

Hannah was a very happy turn of mind, always singing at her work and seemed to enjoy her everyday life.  She sure made the best of everything.  She taught her children how to use their hands as well as their heads.  Jut as soon as they were old enough they were taught to sew and knit, even Charles and Henry could knit stockings and gloves as well as she.  Hannah was a very good entertainer, everyone liked to visit her home and have a good laugh and something to eat.  Her sister, Mary Ann Anderson, liked to come and do her part too.

When the baby boy, Joseph, was 8 months-old, she took one of her severe headaches and was sick for about 24 hours and passed away.  Today we would say, she had a stroke, but at that time they knew nothing of such things.  She left a family of 8 children, the oldest 12 and the youngest 8 months.  She died on the 17th of March, 1869, and her mother died on the 18th of April, 1869.  It was noted at Hannah’s funeral that almost as many Indians as white people attended.  She, as well as Charles, were very kind to the Indians and made friends with them.  Her son, John, was the first of her family to pass away.  He died at the age of 20 years from typhoid fever and a great many Indians attended his funeral too.  They had not forgotten his mother.

You can find among her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Presidents of Stakes, Bishops of Wards, Choir Leaders and organists and many are working in the organizations of the Church.  Also a great many are to found in the Armed Forces of the U.S.  Two have given their lives.  Her memory lives on.

(Taken from an account of the life of Hannah Maria Clark Parkinson, published in the Clark News for July, 1950.  Historian Alice Knowlton, written by Ann Jefferies, daughter of Charles Parkinson’s second wife.  Submitted by J. Allen Parkinson.)