Autobiography of Clarissa Isabell Wilhelm

We moved into the order in 1874 when I was four years old. My father Bateman H. Wilhelm was one of the men that was called by President Brigham Young to help take high charge. Howard 0. Spencer was president of the stake and Father was first councilor. The Houses were built in fort shape in a square. There was a large House built and a little one side where the officers lived. here is where we lived along with others. In the center of this square of buildings was the kitchen and Dining room, where everybody went to eat. The people were awakened at six by a bugle playing the Tune Hard Times Hard Time Come Again No More. They had a set of twelve women to cook for three weeks then they would be replaced by twelve more. Until they all had a turn that was able. They also had a man helper in the kitchen. In the Dining room they had three rows of tables the length of the room and had nice old ladies to serve us children. To the Tables where us children eat there was Auntie Clarage. Tater of Safford wife of Uncle Samuel Clarage. Auntie Blackburn. and Auntie Harmon. Then a man to keep order among the children. I don’t think the parents really understood just how he operated. I have had him hit me side of the head with a roll of paper he carried untill he would almost wacked of of the bench I was sitting on and my head would just roar a long time after. for just whispering to some other child. I guess us children just thought it had to be for my parents did not know if it. The old people were called first by the bugle call. To the Tune The Old Oken bucket or as we knew it then do what is right let the concquence follow. Then they would clear the dishes away and wash then reset it. Then the Bugle would call the young folks over Twelve years old. The Tune a school song Tune. Oh Come Come away from school and all its pleasure. Then the tables would be cleared again and the children below Twelve years of age would be called to the Tune of In our lovely deseret. That Tune always sounded like something to eat to me. Oh how hungry we got nothing to eat in the House. No sandwich between meals. They got along fine until they opened the gates and wanted every body that wanted to come and there was so many old people that couldn’t work and lazy people that would not work that the order was over done and dissatisfaction begin to creep in. I remember so well when they the officers were after the poglamists and they were after Howard Spencer for killing an Army officer in self defense. It seemed like something terrible to me. Just like a bad dream. One little instance that happened while we lived there always amused me. Quite a number of us children were playing and the bugle blew for supper. I said I did not want any I was so interested in my play. When the other children came back they said they had bacon for supper. I did not have the least idea what it was the children would not tell me. I sure did think I had missed a treat. It was here that I was baptised by man named John Robin. I wanted to get to he nine years old, for girls 9 years old and older could help waite on the big tables. I had three sisters borne here. One own sister and two half sisters. Amy Elnora was borne here and died here when she was two years old of indigestion. She was my own sister. Then Susan Amelia and Lucy Louisa she was born on my birthday March 27. Later Bro. Spencer stood his trial for killing the officer and was turned free. I started to school at four years of age, but they did not have any school book like they have today. I tried to read in the Bible and the Doctrine Coventens. It wasn’t much to interest children. But when I was 8 years I could read in the 4 reader. We lived here 4 years. Father was called to Help colonize Arizona by Apostle Erastus Snow and he came out into Arizona in 1878 and settled in a small place called Concho. here he was Bishop for some time. I was living here when I was married to Richard Giggons and then moved to St. Johns we had five children. Then we moved back to Concho and had two more children borne there this place tho small it has figgured a great deal in my life.

April 8th 1934

by her Mother

Clara Gibbons.