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Dear Ellen property to their son-in-law William J. Jones. It is quite likely it was then that they moved to California, where they made a home in Santa Ana, not far from Ellen's sister Frances, and then later at Garden Grove. Although the Reorganized church leaders in California were frequent visitors to the McGarys, William had his name removed from the rolls of that church January 19, 1887. These last years must have been happy, certainly happier, years for Ellen. Nellie and her large family also lived nearby. Ellen was near her sister Frances, she was reunited with her first love, and she was near where her father was buried. On August 9, 1885, Ellen Pratt McGary died at her home in Garden Grove, California. A niece recorded in her diary; "Such a quiet peaceful death, that we could not but feel thankful, in spite of the grief we had, at the loss of such a good, happy, cheerful person as she always was." Ellen Spencer Clawson The later years of Ellen Spencer Clawson's life were also eventful. As seen, the year 1868 was a difficult year for each Ellen. It was only a fortnight after Hiram returned to Salt Lake City with Alice that he was off again to the East on immigration business. He was gone a month. And so it was, with few exceptions, for the last years of Ellen Clawson's life. Much of Hiram's efforts, 1868 to 1875, went into the ZCMI. In 1875 when the directors chose to retire from the agricultural, hide, and wool business, Clawson proposed to buy out those departments. His offer was accepted; he resigned the superintendencv, and devoted his attention thereafter to his own business. But in June 1883 his premises were destroyed by a fire. It is doubtful that he recovered from that loss, yet he seems always to have been successful in providing for the wants of his large family. Just what the financial arrangements were with ZCMI upon Hiram's resignation is not known. It is apparent, however, 72 |
