A Biography of Ezra Thompson Clark

Ezra Clark, page 059

EZRA THOMPSON CLARK 59 defied the laws of the land by placing, as they did, God's law above man's law, they now recognized their difficult position and concluded to honor their government. So they abandoned polygamy and decided to be less exclusive in- dustrially, socially, and politically, thus abiding by the fundamental principles of our American government. Successful as Brother Clark was in business and as a missionary and farmer, his greatest success was in keeping the love of his family. This quality of his character ac- counted for the harmony among his children and wives. His two families lived just across the street from each other. Every child found a delight in pleasing him. Every- one tried to anticipate his everv wish. "The home stretch" was his common expression when on the last lap of the journey towards home, where awaited the eager inmates to welcome his return. It seemed that each son vied with the other to be first to take the team to the barn and to carry in the packages or unload the wagon, and the girls to take his coat and look to his comfort. The first wife's home had all the joy of the homecoming scenes and the girls who met him there were those of the second wife. They were always welcome at Aunt Mary's and often helped the hired girl. There had never been but one daughter in the first family and she was among the older ones. The girls of the second family were quite com- panionable to the boys of the first. Whatever is said for or against plural families it is generally conceded that the children agree, especially if they are in love with their father and always if the mothers are respectful to each other. Many women living the principle of plural marriage were too noble to be ignoble. The pride of Aunt Susan, the