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Show SNOW- CLAWSON > f R eturning from his mission for the LDS church in 1852, Lorenzo Snow was faced with the neces- - sity of building a more substantial home for his wives and family who were still making do in a log cabin. Financially destitute, he delayed his plans. However, a heavy downpour of rain caused damage to the roof of their cabin and forced him into action. He acquired property on the southeast corner of Third East and South Temple and commenced building a home that would adequately house his family. So in need of money was Snow that he wrote in his autobiography that he frequently knelt within the home's foundation and prayed that the small means he could command might be blessed and multiplied in its use. When completed, the two- story adobe home contained nine rooms. One large room to the front was used by his two families, and the rooms beyond on either side were private living quarters for each wife and her children. Lorenzo Snow was a prominent figure in the early Mormon community. He was a member of the territorial legislature and in 1849 became one of the apostles of the church. He was appointed president of the Box Elder Stake, organizing the settling of Brigham City. At age eighty- four he became the church's fifth president ( 1898- 1901). Lorenzo Snow 34 H iram B. Clawson purchased the home in 1862. He was the father of forty- two children, born to four wives. For many years Lliram held the position of superintendent over all of Brigham Young's private business. He also served in the territorial legislature. Later, he turned to merchandising, under the firm name of Eldredge and Clawson, and subsequently became superintendent of ZCMI at its founding. He was a leading performer in the Descret Dramatic Association, many times appearing on the Salt Lake Theatre stage. He had assisted in the building of this famous structure and for many years was its manager. No fewer than ten sons and daughters followed in his footsteps and took to the stage. The Clawsons enjoyed the company of many celebrities in this charming pioneer home. Dedicated to the principle of polygamy, Hiram Clawson was indicted for unlawful cohabitation during the antipolygamy crusade of the 1880s. In his defense he said that he could not renounce the ties with his wives and children with whom he had lived for thirty years. Stating that it was prison with honor or liberty with dishonor, he served the maximum sentence of six months in jail and paid the fine of three hundred dollars, & Hiram B. Clawson SNOW- CLAWSON HOME Southeast corner Third East and South Temple streets Built 1852 Builder: Lorenzo Snow Owners: Lorenzo Snow, Hiram B. Clawson Demolished early 1920s 35 |
