Thomas Henry Clarke

Thomas Clarke was born 7 May 1805 in Acton Beauchamp, Worcestershire, England. Thomas joined a religious sect known as the Wesleyan Methodist and became a minister of that church. In 1825 he married Charlotte Gailey. The young couple made their home at Bishop Frome, Herefordshire, England. At Bishop Frome, two sons and five daughters were born to them.

Thomas became a member of "The United Brethren". Thomas and his wife were among the number that were baptised by Wilford Woodruff in 1840. From that time on, Thomas became a travelling Elder for the Latter-day Saint Church. On 6 April 1841, the family emigrated to America, crossing the ocean on the ship “Caroline”. They arrived in Nauvoo 6 July 1841. Thomas and his son John found employment working on the building known as the Nauvoo Mansion. Their home was a Blacksmith shop, and for their work they took for pay such produce as they could obtain. They passed through all the trying times and incidents of those days. Two daughters died at Nauvoo and two others were born. At the time of the exile from Nauvoo, a posse of men came to the Clarke home and gave them sixteen hours to leave the state under penalty of the father being given thirty lashes by each man, with a hickory switch. The family was forced to go, taking with them the few possessions they could collect in so short a time and joined the saints at Winter Quarters.

In the spring of 1846, Thomas was sent on a mission to Missouri where he remained until 1847. He then filled a mission to England, remaining until the fall of 1849.  He joined his family at Florence, Nebraska, where he remained until the spring of 1852. Then he, with his family, began their journey across the plains, Thomas being the captain of the company. The cholera broke out among the company of travellers and many died. Thomas was stricken but being a man of great faith, he was restored to health. On 10 October 1852 they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. From Salt Lake City he went direct to Grantsville, Utah, which continued to be the family home.

The following year, 1853, he was ordained the first Bishop of Grantsville Ward and he served the people many years in this position. He followed the occupation of farming and stock raising and always worked for the uplift and advancement of the community. He entered and patented the land where now stands the high school, the district school and the opera house. He was a very devout man in his church duties.

Thomas died at Grantsville, Utah, 14 October 1873 - Age 68.