William and Clarissa Beal

Clarissa Allen Beal joined the Church with her husband and was a woman of great faith.

William and Clarissa with their little family suffered like the rest of the people who had

embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints, and with the rest of the saints were

driven from City to City, County to County, and from one State to another. The saints were

honest upright and thrifty. When driven from one place, they would start homes in a new

locality and soon begin to prosper. Then again the mobs, led by so-called ministers of the

different faiths, would set upon the saints, burning their homes, killing their cattle, stealing their

horses. Many Latter-day saint women suffered far worse than death at the hands of the mobs.

Being driven from one place to another, William and Clarissa were in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois,

in June 1844. June 21st, 1844, their little son Francis L. Was born. Some four days later the

Prophet Joseph Smith was taken to Carthage to be tried on a trumped up charge, and on the 27th

June 1844 the prophet of the living God was murdered in cold blood by a mob with painted

faces. Not only was the Prophet Joseph murdered, but also his faithful brother, Hyrum, also a

man of high integrity.

The Saints were again driven by the mob. William and Clarissa were in Middleburg during the

persecutions of 1850 and 1851. At this place on 30 June 1850 their little son William Francis

was born. While here also William and Clarissa were gathering things together to be ready when

the next emigrant train started for the Rocky Mountains. They had purchased a bolt of cloth that

would do for shirts for the boys as well as dresses for the girls. A number of pieces of cloth for

Clarissa and also a pair of new shoes. There were also many other such things that they would

need in a new country where there would be no place to buy good. The 17 June 1851 Clarissa gave birth to the little twins, Henry and Henrietta. Having suffered so much persecution, Clarissa was weakened in body but her spirit was unconquerable. After the twins were born she did not improve as she should. She called for the Elders to come and administer to her that she might get well. But there were no Elders there and she became weaker

each day she realized her time on earth was almost over. She called her husband and children to

her bedside and insisted that her husband promise in the presence of their children that he would

keep the children together , and go with the saints to Zion, the valley of the Mountains, to Salt

Lake City. The 24 June 1851, this faithful woman bid farewell to her family and went to receive

the reward of the just. The husband and children were stricken with grief at the passing of their

wife and mother. The next day, 25 June 1851, the little twins joined their mother. Now the

emptiness of that home was terrible to bear. William’s despair was terrible to witness. Nine

children; the youngest now just a year old. William said it was impossible for them to go on

with the saints now. But the children would not let him forget the promise he had made to their

Mother before she died. So there was nothing he could do but prepare to go to Utah with the

saints in 1852.

Before Clarissa’s death one of her people told them if they would let them adopt Eunice Amy,

they in turn would help them to go to Utah by giving William a fine span of horses, with new

wagon and harness. Eunice was the most beautiful of the children, according to her sister

Harriet. Clarissa told them no, that the children must all be kept together. Having been driven

by the mob so much they now only had one wagon and one span of horses.

Now plans were being made to start with the emigrant train in 1852. A short time before starting

this long journey, William made the acquaintance of a strong, healthy woman who showed great

sympathy for him and his little family, saying that what he needed was a woman’s hand to help

him with the children on this long journey. To this William agreed. Clarissa had always been

the one to keep moving toward their goal in the West and since her passing, William was lost.

This woman seemed to be the answer to this trying situation. So he asked her to marry him and

care for his children. This she was overwilling to do and they were married just a few days

before the journey was to start for the West again. But imagine, if you can, William’s surprise to

then learn she had a large family of her own. She also reminded him as his wife, her children

were entitled to ride in the wagon with their mother. As there was not room in the wagon for all

the children, William began to look about to see what could be done. The older boys could drive

team, and herd and cattle. The older boys did this, while Harriet was able to ride with a family

by caring for the children. Alma drove team for his passage way to the West, the smaller

children rode in the wagon with their father, Emily, Almira, Eunice Amy, Francis, L, Nancy Jane

and William Francis who was now two years old.

Many times Harriet has told of the journey to Zion. When it rained, there were puddles of water

in the rocks and crevices and Harriet would take the slats out of Eunice’s little slat bonnet and

wash the bonnet, also her little apron that she had been wearing, and by placing them on rocks or

bushes they would dry quickly while the meal was being prepared and eaten and dishes washed

if there was water. Before starting the journey again Harriet put the slats back in the now clean

bonnet and slipped the little apron on Eunice and as the wagons started on their long journey

again, Eunice was nice and clean and sweet, as Harriet used to say. Clarissa had told Harriet she

must always look after Eunice. I do not remember why her more than the others. Often Harriet went to her Father’s wagon to get little William Francis to care for while looking

after the children in her care. One evening the wind was blowing cold. She wrapped him up,

putting a cloth over his head and was taking him for one wagon to the other, when the cloth blew

off and the little fellow took a heavy cold which caused his death. Again death took one of the

family of William Beal, and this time the dearly loved little son and brother. Their sorrow as

increased at the thought of buying the little fellow on the plains without a coffin to protect his

little body from the wolves and coyotes, for these sulking creatures would dig up the bodies that

had to be buried without a box or coffin to enclose them. They dug up the bodies, eating the

flesh from the bones where they bleached under the hot sun and cold winds and driving sand.

There was plenty proof of this from the bones lying all across the trackless plain.

The death of little William Francis, following the passing of the wife and mother and little twin

babies was a heavy cross for William and his sorrowing children. Sad indeed were their hearts

as they had to leave that little unprotected grave so far from where they were going. All along

the wagon trail was to be seen graves of bleaching bones of someone’s loved ones, left behind,

who were not able to stand the hardships of the long, hard journey, and had died by the way.

After traveling between three and four months the journey was at the end. On arriving in Salt

Lake City the woman William had married informed him she was leaving him, saying she only

married him to get herself and children to Utah. The sad part of it was when she left she left she

family much poorer than when she came, as she took Clarissa’s new shoes, her dress goods, and

also the bolt of cloth bought for the children’s clothes, and many other things of use in such an

out of the way place. The journey had been long and the clothes they started the journey with

were worn out and no money to buy more and to place to buy if there was money to buy with.

So the children resented this woman very much and didn’t agree with their father William in

letting her take the things they so much needed. Yet she must have been much help to him in

bringing that large family across the plains.

William located his little family in a one room house with a fireplace, the front of which was

even with the wall of the room inside, the fireplace itself outside, thus giving more space in the

room , which served as living-room , dining room, bedroom, and kitchen. The fireplace itself

was a very important part of the home as it served for heating water for bathing and washing, for

cooking and also for heating the room. The floor of this little home was of earth, made smooth

and then scoured until it was like cement. The walls of this home were of logs, the fireplace of

rock. This was much better than many others had to begin with.

Harriet again resumed the responsibility of the house, preparing the meals and looking after the

smaller children. This was the wish of their father William and accepted by all the older children

except Emily. Harriet was one year seven months older than Emily, so naturally Emily felt

Harriet should not try to tell her what to do. Harriet, on the other hand, felt it was up to Emily to

do as she was told, as the work was heavy and very hard. Emily, when angry, would get behind

the door and pout until the family came and begged her to come out. Harriet felt this was quite

an accomplishment and felt she would like to try it when she herself got angry. Harriet said she

was never successful at pouting, as when the other children began talking about something

interesting, she always forgot all about pouting and flew out from behind the door to tell what she thought on the subject. She would laugh when she told of this and always said she never

could keep her mouth shut. So she said she never found out whether the family would come and

coax her to come out from behind the door and not pout anymore like they did Emily. She said

she always wanted to know. Harriet felt the pouting act of Emily’s was quite an

accomplishment.

Most children quarrel more or less, but where there was no Mother or older person to direct the

children in more desirable ways, in William’s family the quarreling between Emily and Harriet

was terrible. William had a very heavy load to carry, and with the girls quarreling it made his

troubles worse.

Here, at this point in the story I wish to call special attention to that great pioneer and colonizer

Brigham Young. Many thousands of people had been coming every year into the Salt Lake

Valley since 24th of July 1847. These people came from all parts of the world. Many of these

people were those who had joined the Church of Jesus Christ and were among those who had

been driven time and again from their homes, their crops destroyed, their cattle and horses killed

or stolen by the mobs. When they reached the Valleys of the Rockies they were destitute. The

first to reach the valley had found desolation. By the time William Beal and family came much

had been done, many thousands of people were there. The Saints had been driven out of

confines of the United States of America by the order of Governor Boggs and others like him.

He said, “Drive the Mormons out of the United States or exterminate them.” That was Bogg’s

order. God have mercy on his soul. Brigham Young saw the Great Salt Lake in vision before he

came there, and when he saw it he said, ‘THIS IS THE PLACE.’ Also the prophet Joseph Smith

before his death told the saints they would finally be driven to the Rocky Mountains.

Although the Saints were persecuted from the first the missionary work was carried on and

people came from all parts of the world, leaving nice homes, often driven from their families for

joining the Church, they came into Salt Lake in great numbers; England, Germany, France,

Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Denmark, Sweden, the isles of the sea. Many people, many languages.

Yet the great Pioneer Brigham Young and his associates were able to handle the situation

without friction. He put all men to work and each was allowed to progress if he would. Each

was given land and helped to build homes. All were fed. No one had much but all had

something. Many came with little faith and caused a disturbance among those finding it hard to

get started in this waste land. Brigham Young loved his God and worshiped Him. He loved the

memory and teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and followed those teachings as they had

been given the Prophet from on high. Through the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost, he was

able to keep these people busy and happy as a whole. Each man had his work to do. William

Beal began his day, except Sunday, by going to the public square and with his drum, called all

men to the Square to receive their instructions for the day. Each man was made responsible for

certain work, and was given greater responsibility as soon as he showed he was able to do it.

As I said before, among some people gathered there, there were those who would like to

overthrow the success of the undertaking. They carried on a whispering campaign against

Brigham Young and the other leading brethren. William listened to their complaints and was

soon partaking of their views and complaining also. Brigham Young was not dismayed. He

looked after that large group of people like a father looking after his own family.William received little encouragement at home. The girls quarreling and squabbling among

themselves all the time. To add to the confusion Harriet became very sick and seemed to get

worse all the time. The night she was so sick it seemed to her the children would never quiet

down to sleep. At length the room was quiet and what follows Harriet always spoke of it as a

dream. She said:

“Lying in my bed I was overjoyed to see my Mother there by me. I was not afraid and began

telling Mother of all that had happened since Mother’s death. I told her that Father had hired one

of the women to make over Mother’s dresses for us girls. Mother answered, ‘Yes, I know. And

the right sleeve of the black dress she is making for you is not sewed in, but is only basted. Get

me a needle and thread and I will sew it in for you.’ I brought the needle and thread and gave it

to Mother, who began to sew the sleeve in but soon pricked her finger and exclaimed, ‘Oh, I

have pricked my finger, see how it is swelling! I cannot sew it in for you, but tell the woman in

the morning and she will sew it in for you. I am too pure for this life now. Come with me.’ I

told Mother about Father marrying that woman, who only married him to get across the plains

and then left us, taking all the cloth, shoes and other things Mother had bought for us, and

Mother answered, ‘Yes, I know.’ I told Mother that Father and all us children had gone to the

Endowment House and had all been sealed to her and Father, and that we had also had little

William Francis sealed to her and Father. She answered as before, ‘Yes, I know.’ I asked her

where she got that dress she was wearing, as it was not the one she was buried in, and she

answered, ‘The Lord gave it to me.’”

“I then said, ‘Mother, Emily and I quarrel terrible, and the other day we got in a fight and when

we were angry we tore each others apron off and threw them in the fire and burned them up, and

they were made out of one of your dresses.’ She answered so sadly, ‘Yes, I know and if you and

Emily do not stop quarreling you can never come where I am world without end, remember that.’

Then Mother again said, ‘I want you to come with me, as I have much to tell you.’ I followed her

from the room and we then left the place and floated through the air, side by side. When we

came to a certain place Mother said to me. ‘Now hold your breath until we pass this place as the

air is too light for mortals.’ I held my breath as instructed. All the time Mother was talking to

me, telling me things she wanted me to tell Father and I was afraid, , for Father was a strict man.

She said, ‘Tell Father if he does not stop using tobacco, he can never come where I am. Tell him

if he doesn’t stop talking about the authorities of the Church and especially President Brigham

Young, he will lose his testimony of the Gospel and will apostatize; therefore he will never come

where I am, worlds without end. Now remember to tell him what I am telling you, Harriet,’ I

replied, ‘But Mother, I would not dare tell Father that, and if I did he would not believe me.’ She

answered me by saying, ‘You tell him every word I tell you and he will believe every world you

say.’”

After some time, we came to a beautiful building, very large but as yet unfinished. We seemed

to light very easily on the porch that was around the large building as far as I could see. All the

time Mother was telling me things to tell Father. She told me of temple work she wanted done

and wanted Father to do it with me to help him. She said there were sealings to be done. That

Mother’s sisters wanted to be sealed to Father, especially one who had married a very unclean

man. My Aunt, Mother said, did not want to be sealed to this man Gordon. Mother told me my

aunt had prayed to the Lord after she found out what a wicked man Gordon was, she prayed that she would never have children by such a man and that is why Mother had given little William

Francis to my Aunt, but we had him sealed to his own parents. I wish to say here, Father and I

have done all the temple work Mother told me to have done.”

Mother then led me into a most beautiful bedroom which was very large. The workmanship of

the room was beautiful as was also the rest of the building what I could see, although it was as

yet unfinished. The floors of the bedroom were as of gold and on the floor playing was out little

darling William Francis that we buried on the plains. And with him were the twins. William

Francis was trying to pound golden nails into the floor. Lovely beds were in the room and on

one of these I noticed Mother’s sitting and the wife of Gorden was weeping bitterly. I asked

Mother why Aunt was crying she said, ‘She doesn’t want to be sealed to Gordon. Remember to

tell Father to have her sealed to him. Now don’t forget and also the other sealings I have told

you to ask Father to do.’”

Mother then said to me, ‘I must go to the kitchen for awhile and I want you to sit right there in

that chair until I return.’ I said, Mother what is that loud noise I hear, the roosters crowing,

people yelling at one another. Such confusion. What is it?’ She said that was hell and was a

long way off but at times one could hear the confusion. She then said, ‘Don’t leave this room

and I want you to sit right in that chair until I return.’ I asked her if she had to work in the

kitchen and she said, ‘Of course, I take my turn just like the rest.’”

I sat still watching the children at play, also thought about my Aunts and their sorrow. I could

hear Mother tripping down the long hall. I so wanted to see if she tripped along like she did in

life. She never seemed to touch the ground. So I got up and went to the door and looked out and

sure enough, there was Mother tripping along just like she used to do. One of the string things

about this visit for me was that although I loved little William Francis so much and was glad to

see the little twins, they did not seem to notice me at all. My Aunts, although II had known them

well, did not act as though I was there. It made me want to be with Mother and I made no

attempt to speak to anyone else. Watching Mother down the hall I turned to go back to my chair,

but in turning I saw the door across the hall just a short distance from where I was standing, and

it was open. Well I just had to see what was in that room, so I crossed very carefully and looked

in. All my life I have been of a very inquisitive nature. Many times it has caused me much

trouble. But this time I was very pleasantly surprised to see the Prophet Joseph Smith walking

up and down a very long room and he had his hands clasped behind him, his head bowed as

though in thought. At long tables on either side of the room and down the center also, many men

sat writing as fast as they could and once in awhile the Prophet would stop and speak to one of

the men and they would answer and then go right on writing as fast as before. Among these men

were the Prophet’s brother Hyrum, also other men I had known well. I was also present when

the mantle of the Prophet Joseph Smith fell on Brigham Young and his voice for a time sounded

like the Prophet Joseph and it was a testimony to the thirty thousand more saints gathered there

that Brigham Young should lead the Saints since the death of the Prophet Joseph, who was

murdered in cold blood. The great audience of more than thirty had returned, and then learning

it was Brigham Young, they knew Brigham Young was chosen of God to lead the Church.”

Seeing many of these men at these long tables writing was like seeing friends as there were many

I had known. But many had been put to death by the mobs for their testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were all wonderful men and had not been afraid to seal their testimony with

their life’s blood.”

“Just a word of the mantle of the Prophet Joseph Smith falling on Brigham Young. Before

Brigham Young began to speak, Sidney Rigdon had talked for two hours, telling the people why

he, Sidney, should lead the church. And then seeing the manifestation we saw, it was a

testimony we never forgot and never will as long as we live. I was seven years old at the time.

Some things children never forget and I will never forget that grand occasion. And the

wonderful Spirit of the Lord that was there made it all the more unforgettable.”

Back to the story:

Fearing Mother would fine me across the hall I hurried back to the room and sat in the chair, and

had only a short time to wait until Mother returned. Another characteristic of myself was, I

could never keep anything secret or be underhanded. It must have been in my face for anyone

could fine me out in no time and so there was no use in trying to hid anything. So as usual as

soon as Mother came the first thing I did was to say, ‘Mother, what is the Prophet Joseph and

Brother Hyrum and all the rest of the men doing in there?’ Mother looked at me as much as to

say,

‘Harriet, I told you not to leave this room or even the chair.’ I said, ‘But Mother, I just looked

in.’ She said, ‘Well , you must go now, come, I will go with you to the porch and remember

when you come to that place, be sure to hold your breath.’ ‘But Mother,’I said, ‘What is the

Prophet Joseph and his brother, Hyrum, and all the other men doing in there?’ She answered,

‘Preparing genealogy so that the work can be done on earth for those who have died without

having the privilege of hearing the gospel themselves.’ There for the third time she told me

everything over again and told me to tell Father and he would believe very word I said to him.

She put great stress on me telling Father that he should stop speaking evil of the authorities of the

Church, especially President Brigham Young. And if he did not cease he could never come

where she was, worlds without end. She came to the porch with me and I started out,

remembering to hold my breath. The next I knew it was morning and I was in bed. I was still

very sick but better than the night before, and so I dressed and went outside and sat in the

chimney corner as the fire from within had melted the snow from the rocks of the chimney and

warmed them. All were asleep within the room. The snow was all over the ground. I crouched

down, frightened and crying, for I did not dare tell Father what I had to tell him.”

“My sisters found me there and Emily ran to tell Father. Emily told Father I was outside in the

chimney corner crying and had said I had something to tell him but I was afraid to do so. Father

came out and asked me what was the matter and I told him I had something to tell him but I was

afraid he would not believe me. Father said, ‘I will believe every word you say.’ This startled

me for those were the very words Mother said to me when I told her I was afraid to tell Father.

So, sobbing, I told Father my story, frightened all the time. When I had finished my story,

Father said, ‘I believe every word you say.’ From that time forth I never head my Father speak ill

of anyone in authority and he would not allow anyone to do so in his hearing or in his house. My

Father, outside of the use of tobacco was a very exemplary man. We went in the house to look at

the dress Mother had called my attention to the night before and sure enough the right sleeve was

only basted in.”“Father took me to the Endowment House and had me tell my dream to those in authority there

and they said to him, ‘Brother Beal, your daughter has had a vision from above and has been

permitted this visitation for the good of you and your family. Teat it as sacred.’”

“My Father let me help him do the temple work Mother had told me to tell Father to do. Emily

and I stopped quarreling. I being the oldest girl, Father put me in charge of the house, but I

never forgot my Mother’s warning about quarreling. Again peace was in our home. Not so long

after this, Father married again. Then the new Mother took over the house and I and Emily

found it a pleasure to do her bidding.”

“This new wife and Mother was Mrs. Eliza Nielsen Brown from Copenhagen, Denmark. She

had married Brown in Copenhagen, Denmark, and he was the father of her five oldest children;

Adam, Victoria, and also his little children, and when he was angry he would whip the children

and also his wife. Eliza heard the Gospel preached by the missionaries from Utah, at once she

had a divine testimony of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She

was anxious to become a member of the church as its teachings, its truths, answered the longing

of her heart. When Brown understood she wanted to join the Church his abuse was so great she

could no longer endure his persecution. Getting her little ones ready she left Brown’s house

forever, then joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and emigrated to Utah with

other members of the Church. She and her little ones came to Salt Lake City and in this place

she met Father and they were soon in love with one another, although she spoke no English and

he could not speak Danish. They went to the Endowment House and were married and sealed

for time and all Eternity and four of the children were sealed to Father and their Mother Eliza.

But Adam, the eldest child refused.”

“Father and Mother Eliza were very happy from the beginning of their life together. All Father’s

children loved Eliza and gladly called her Mother. Father was very gentle and kind to her

children. Girls from Denmark often came to visit Mother and she enjoyed their visits very much

as she could talk to them in her own language. There was also a man from Denmark that used to

call to see Mother. Father did not object, as he felt it gave her pleasure to talk to people from her

own country. Father was away from early morning until late at night, making a living for his

large family. Soon after Mother met this Danish man she begin to be sad and each time this man

came to visit her, after his visits she would cry. One day, coming home from school, I heard

Mother crying and the Danish girls were talking to her. I ran into the room and demanded why

Mother was crying and what they were doing to her. These girls had been in America for some

time and talked the English language very well. They told me the man that had been visiting

Mother had told Mother, Father did not love her, that he was going to leave her and marry an

American girl. This man asked Mother to go away with him and be his wife. So Mother was

very unhappy as Father did not love her. I told the girls Father loved her very much and so did

all his children. They told Mother what I said. I put my arms around her and held her tight. She

laughed and hugged me and cried and laughed. I told the girls they had better get word to that

man and tell him not to come near our place again, that when Father was angry someone was

going to get hurt, and I knew he would be very angry when he heard the lies this man had been

telling Mother. They must of told him for he was never seen in that part of the country again.

Father and Mother were so happy again, now that things had been explained that had been causing all the sorrow to Mother. Father was a hard working man and soon began to get a good

start, then President Brigham Young called men to take their families and locate in different parts

of Utah and Arizona, selling what they had in buildings and lands to those who were coming in

all the time from most every country on the Globe.”

“Father took his family and settled in Manti. I married Alma Millet, Emily married Oliver

Demille and John Alma married Oliver Demille’s sister, Lovina Esther DeMille, and we all

moved down in the Dixie country, some twenty miles from St. George, Utah.”

“Adam never seemed to do much for himself but hung around Mother and of course Father. As

Father was getting old and was not too well he was glad Adam was near. Father and Mother

Eliza had four children, two boys, two girls. Elroy(Eroy) Deloss and who only lived a few

hours, then Eliza Amelia and Julia Caroline and then William. Each of these children married

well and had very fine families.”

“At Father’s death all his property was turned over to Adam, providing he would care for Mother

until her death, then the property was to be Adam’s .Adam said after Mother was dead and we

could not ask her about it, that he had persuaded her to be sealed to his father, Brown. Be not

troubled about that. She and her other four children were sealed to Father and Father’s and

Mother’s last four children were born under the New and Everlasting Covenant, and were

Father’s and Mother’s children throughout all eternity. So Adam has failed in that as he seemed

to fail in everything else in life. He was a very small person, with no meat on his bones and

seemed to be happiest when he was making someone unhappy. That is my impression of him.”

“I wept very bitterly when word came saying Mother Eliza was dead. But this I know: She went

to a great reward and in to the presence of Father who loved her very much and to also join her

little children who had gone on before, and to receive the love and praise of my own dear Mother

for the wonderful work she had done and the many blessings she brought to our own Mother’s

children. Great will be her reward and we bless her memory.”

Harriet Selvina Beal Millet as she told it to her niece, Cora Anna Beal Peterson.

Note 1. “Feeling incapable of the monumental task of trying to transport his ten young children

to Utah alone, William married a strong, healthy woman, Anna Wood, who showed sympathy

for his young family.” (Wesley R. Burr and Ruth J Burr, A History of the Burr Pioneers (Printed

by Publishers Press, Salt Lake City, Utah, and published by Charles and Sarah Burr Organization

in Provo, Utah, 1995),pg. 16