Journal of Elijah Charles Clapp
FORWARD
Several years ago my husband and I were visiting in Iona,
Idaho. As we left we drove around by the cemetery. There looking down at
the graves of my grandparents I suddenly had a strong desire to know more
of my grandfather. I knew that somewhere there were some little books that
grandfather had kept as a journal. I had two of these and my brother
and sisters produced several more. Then my sister Doris found some more
pages from his journals and Martha Walker sent me some copies she had. So
I finally had something to work with. I am grateful for this help.
I did not try to write the history but to compile all we could find about
him. So included here are some things written by some of their children.
Also included is a brief history of grandfather's mother, Ann Christine
Mortensen.
Since undertaking this history, I had a desire to see the place where most
of the children were born. So in July 1980 we went to Colorado. The "We"
means Doris, Whilden, Winston and Oscar, Phil and Hortense, and Dorothy and
Ike. We all went in my son's van. It was the most wonderful experience.
Dear Sister Johnson fed us dinner, offered us beds, and took us to church.
We met people whose grandparents had known our grandparents. We went to the
cemetery in Sanford where two of the children were buried. Then we drove
to where Eastdale used to be. There is nothing there now except the little
graveyard up on the hill. As we stood by the graves of Amanda and William
Henry and looked over the barren hills, we were grateful for the chance to
walk where our grandparents had walked. In a small way we understood what
they had done for us and felt them close.
The great love they had for each other is evident in the lives of their
children. Deprived of luxuries and many of the necessities of life, their
children grew up rich in the love of family and of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. As they made this struggle for their children, so they made it for
you and me.
So as you read this history of Elijah Charles Clapp and Mary Caroline
Nielsen, I hope you will read beyond the brief words he wrote and feel the
love of this great man.
Winston Robinson Crandall