Mary Page

Mary Page Cloward, 1825 - 1908, age 83, was born March 24, about 1824, in Pennsylvania. Known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, she also prided herself being a Quaker. Her father died before she was born and her mother died at her birth, so little is known about her family. She claimed kin to Elijah Sheets, on of the early bishops and also Bishop Edward Hunter. She was reared in a family by the name of Mallen, which name she was known by until she married Thomas P. Cloward, who also was one of the first to come to the valley, arriving here in July 23 in company of two other men as scouts. He story begins in Winter Quarters where she stayed for two years before they immigrated to Utah in 1849. She must have been about 17 years old when she married and her husband was about 19. Thomas Cloward's family included his father, mother, four brothers and three sisters. They were all very close-knit family. They each had a small house and a small tract of land which was well-cultivated and planted. In the meantime, while Grandfather was making this trip out back, the family was busy making plans for the final move, forgetting all the property losses and hardships encountered. They planted and saved, gathered food, and sewed, make quilts and clothes for all. While grandmother never learned to read or write, she was skilled in the art of hard work. She was a very wonderful seamstress and cook. Her days began at 4 a.m. every morning. A few hours in the garden, then a cow to mild, chickens to feed and a pig to slop (as she called feeding the pigs), then breakfast at six so when their time was up to leave, they had their wagon all prepared and food and clothing on hand for at least a year. These supplies consisted of dried corn, dried peas, squash, and all kinds of dried berries which grew abundantly along the banks of the streams, and especially the Pottawatomie plum, which grew abundantly in that part of the country, also barrels of salt pork. Their teams consisted of three young steers, a cow, while we remembers as Old Spot (a character that went along with grandmothers life) who did not only did her share of the pulling the load but gave milk for butter as well. I remember a little pine church that was placed in front of the wagon. The mild was put there the night before and in the mornings, and by the evening of the next day, the jolting of the wagon had make butter and they had buttermilk for their evening meal. It was a beautiful morning. Everyone was excited. All preparations had been completed. Wagons were gone over for repairs. Two extra rack were built on the back of the outside of the wagon box- one for a few chickens and a young roster, and the other held two young pigs. Everyone was happy as it appeared and still there was sadness. The hours were spent in preparation for their journey. Their crops were bountiful as every seed had produced to their fullest. The house had been renovated and left in a good state of repair, waiting for the next occupant, as that was the plan for those in charge. On one side of Grandmother's wagon was a barrel of bran especially for her cow. There were nine wagons in this group. With two little boys and Grandmother on the front seat, Grandfather with a "glee" and a "haa" started the caravan, waving goodbye to the first place they had every felt secure and safe, but they were happy, thankful group. I forgot to say that their bed ticks were filled with corn fodder in case the feed was low for the animals. The amount of mileage covered per day was ten miles; travel was sun-up to sun-down. When I listened to her story, it sounded like a big picnic party as every day about 4 p.m. you would see the woman with their large sack cloth aprons all along the road was gathering buffalo chips for fuel for cooking the evening mean. Can you imagine anything more pleasant then the smoke from so many fires and when there seems to be sadness or discouragement, someone would start to sing "Come, Come Ye Saints." One of their fears was a buffalo stampede, which they encountered once. I don't know how long they were on this journey, when they left, or when they arrived, but I do know that they followed Fremont's Map under the instructions of Orson Pratt. They rested Saturday to wash and clean and repair and wagon that was in need of it. Sunday was the day everyone rested and went to church. They had evening for dancing and other recreations of a lighter mood. My people were sent to Provo where they remained until the Allotment was made, and Grandfather was given a quarter section est of Salem, Utah. Soon after arriving in Utah, Grandmother gave him another child, a little girl, Amanda Jane. This made three with two boys William and George. For help while this mother was convalescing, Mary Ann Gardener offered her service. She was ambition, kinds, and thoughtful, and a very likable person. When her services ended, she had no particular place to go, so Grandfather suggested to Grandmother that he take Marry Ann for his other wife. This was a shock for Grandmother, as she never thought such a thing should come to her and the first person she loved and loved her. Could she, should she, share her husband with another woman? Surely the prophet had taught it. Most of the authorities were living it. She had always listened to her husband now the decision was hers. It was the first big sacrifice she had to make. She had always accepted the rules of her leaders. Now, what to do? Grandfather was a shoe maker by trade and able to support a large family, which he did. As his family grew, his life had become more complicated, so he made a home on the farm for Old Aunt Mary and house for Mary Ann in Payson. Most of the children were born in Provo. Grandmother had two more boys and two girls; Mary Ann had six boys and two girls. The farm was productive and all the boys grew up one the farm under Grandmother's care and direction. They always said they did not know which was their other. Besides cooking and feeding the family, she washed for other people and did housecleaning. She loved nice things, especially silverware. She did three washing for twenty-five cents and bought three silver spoons. I remembered using them when I went to see her. As time went on, the family out-grew the farm so Grandfather divided among his ten living sons. He built a two-plex on the lane between Salem and Payson and moved is two wife's there. Everything was going fine until the polygamy raid. Grandfather spent six months in the Salt Lake Prison (for conscience sake, so he said). When he was released, he had to choose on or the other, so he took the youngest wife. Grandmother then moved by herself in town, and for sometime she took in boarders. As soon as the government released his property, he made a settlement in the bank to Grandmothers credit. She always had plenty. Finally, she gave up her rented house and moved in one room at one of the daughter's where she lived at the age of 84. She was always a busy woman. She spent her summers with her family in Grassvalley, Sevier County, Utah. Her coming was Santa Claus to us. We always had material for a new dress one time she had pieced each of her granddaughter a set of quilt blocks. She always brought her feather bed and enough Arbuckle coffee to last out her visit. As long as I can remember she brought five gallons of peach preserves and nearly as many pears and a sack of dry apples for us. In return we had one hundred pounds of flour, one pork ham, and lard sausage for her. She was a typical pioneer with many more like her.. Mary Page Cloward. Since i started this manuscriptm I have been trying to find to find some dates. So far i have been able to find Grandmother's story corresponds with the history i have read. She was a very quiet and observing person. As small, thoughtful woman, she loved her family, especially her husband. Although she suffered many disappointments, she was never known to complain. She never spoke an unkind word against her husband; she would refer him to as Thomas and he spoke of her as Mother. They were very mild and thoughtful. she always had something nice for her husband when he came to see her. She kept up his mending, especially his socks, as she called his hose. She was a Quaker by heart. I can see her now in her back dress, a little black bonnet with the ribbon boy under her chin, black cape and white apron, her hands folded in her lap with hear bowed as she sat in worship in church. She would walk at least three miles to Relief Society a day a month on Thursday. She would always attend Sacrament meeting. Quilting was her hobby. Food was her pride and joy. Following are some of her menus: Corn Meal-Worst broth thickened with corn meal and seasoned pepper, salt and sage Mince Meat Head Cheese-Meat scraps cooked, ground, seasoned, served cold Sausage Scraps or Meat Ground-seasoned pepper, sage, and salt, stored in musiline sacks and kept cold in storage Philebump-scalded milk thickened with four mixed eggs Bread Pudding-stale bread soaked in milk, eggs added seasoned to taste and bake Milk gravy served with stale bread Meat pie, Spare ribs cooked, add potatoes and onion water. Season, place in pan lined with dough and back, also cover with soda dough Salt rising bread, soda biscuits, molasses cookies, flapjacks Cooking Utensils-Dutch oven, iron kettle with heavy lid that could be buried in the coals, an iron rack to use for heating water and a large brass kettle for heating water and a large amount of cooking -continued in memories section excerpt by Arminta Cloward Waters, Granddaughter