Israel Justus Clark

A real pioneer! See the memories! Israel Justus Clark Birth: Dec. 25, 1821 Dansville, Livingston, New York. Death: Sep. 13, 1905 Vernal Uintah, Utah. Son of Eli Clark and Mary Tiffany Smallage Married Elizabeth Angeline Tuttle, 1839, Ossian, Allegany, New York Married Louisa Eynon, 24 Nov 1851, Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois Married Emily Jane Pearson, 24 Jan 1853, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah History - Israel was seven years old when his father died, leaving a large family. His oldest brother, who now managed the farm, was a hard-working, severe man. He gave his younger brother little time off even for school. When Israel was 13 years of age, he worked for a carpenter who had a turning lathe, and they made chairs. He went with the carpenter down the river on a flat boat to deliver the chair to a merchant. The merchant wanted the chairs painted, and Israel gladly took the job. From then on, he was on his own and never saw his family again. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints March 9, 1844 at Osian, Alleghany, New York, at the age of 23. Israel migrated to Utah with the Brigham Young Company in 1848, settling in the Salt Lake Valley. He was ordained an Elder December 10, 1848. Israel was truly a pioneer, an outstanding colonizer and builder, a great missionary to the Native Americans (or Lamanites) assisting in the settling of Fort Lemhi in the Salmon River country Lemhi, Idaho from 1955 to 1958. He was an Indian interpreter and an Indian War veteran. He worked with the Nez Perce, Blackfoot, and the Shoshone of the Northwest. He was also great friends of the Indians of the Northern Utah and Utes of the Uintah Reservations. He could speak their language perfectly. He was one of the original pioneers of Logan, Utah, camping on the Little Logan River in 1859. Israel moved to Clarkston, Utah, in 1867 and was the first bishop of this ward, Clarkston was named in his honor. Israel returned to Logan, Utah, in 1871. He was called on a second mission on October 11, 1875, laboring with the Native Americans (or Lamanites) in the vicinity in Corrinne, Utah, which was then a part of an Indian Reservation. Israel had a wonderful personality. He was 6 ft. tall and walked straight as an arrow. His hair was auburn in color when he was young but turned white early in life. His keen blue eyes could look a Native American down, yet twinkled when talking to a child. His voice was clear as a bell and could be heard a long distance. When he came to Ashley Valley, he would stand outside his door and call to his neighbors half a mile away, "Bartlett, Ashton, Henry, get your teams the ditch has broken." Israel came to Ashley Valley in the fall of 1877 with his family, food, and implements over the road from Heber City, Utah, that was little more than a trail crossing Daniels Creek many times. They entered Ashley Valley through the gap at the west. Israel and his sons were soon in the mountains, getting logs and poles for their house and fences on their homestead southeast of Vernal, Utah. More and more people were coming to the valley, and Native Americans came, too. In the fall of 1879, after the Meeker Massacre, his friends, the three chiefs of the Uintas, came in the night and told him to get his people into the fort for safety. This was done at once. Many times, he fed his Indian friends at their table and kept them while they jerked their meat and tanned their hides. On May 1st, Israel started to Heber City for flour. When he got to Current Creek, he encountered snow. He had to leave his teams (four horses and one wagon) on Red Creek and went the rest of the way to Heber City on foot. He arrived in Heber on Saturday, May 14th. He was in a helpless condition, he was forty miles from his teams, and on the day he reached Heber City, there was four feet of snow on top of the Strawberry Mountain. Before he could return to Duchesne, Lake Fork, and Uintah, streams rose, and he could not get back home until the 4th of July. When the Uintah Stake was organized in 1886, he was chosen as the first high councilman. On May 29, 1905, he was ordained a patriarch. He was indeed a patriarch at heart and looked much like a prophet. His carpenter trade was put to good use in Ashley Valley, as he made most of the coffins there. The first was for Mrs. Joseph Black, the first person to die in Ashley Valley, and the first to be buried in Vernal Memorial Park. Helping to build churches, school houses, and furniture was his specialty. He was blind for a number of years before he died in Sept. 13 1905 in Vernal, and is buried in the Vernal Memorial Park. Israel Justus Clark is recalled with gratefulness by the members of Clarkston Ward, Vernal, and Ashley Valley. He was an organizer and a spiritual leader. He has left us many inspiring testimonies. He was truly a pioneer who battled and overcame opposing forces. He gave freely of all he possessed to his fellow men and left us a rich heritage.