Sarah Clegg

   In a happy home of Sagarfold, Lancashire, England lived Thomas and Susannah Redman Clegg.  To their great joy four daughters came to bless their home.  Their third daughter, Sarah was born August 21, 1851.  One year after the birth of their fourth daughter, Eliza, the mother, then only 26 years and 7 months of age, died.  Leaving the father with his four daughters.  This was a great sorrow to their once happy home.  Sarah was then three years old.  In his sorrow the father was forced to leave his little family to provide for their wants.  One year after the mother’s death, sorrow again came into their home.  Eliza, their youngest child, then 2 years old died, January 14, 1855.

     As soon as Sarah’s two older sisters, Mary and Ann were old enough to work in the factory, they did so and Sarah had to remain from school to do what she could in keeping house for father and sisters, so that her schooling all told was only a few short months.

     She thereby became attached to home and home life.  This characteristic has remained with her and through which she has greatly endeared herself to family and friends.

     The family were impressed with the message brought them by the Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and were converted to the truth.  Sarah was baptized June 13, 1864 by Thomas Myers and confirmed June 19, 1864 by Thomas Greenledge.  Two years later Brother Thomas Clegg and his three daughters left England, June 1, 1866, on board the ship “St. Mark”.  Their people were so bitter towards them for joining that Latter-Day Saints that they even went so far as to wish the ship that was carrying them away would sink.

     While on the ship, Mary, Sarah’s oldest sister was married to Brother Ambrose Myers, a young man whose family left the same town and too were coming to Utah in the same company for the Gospel’s sake.

     They crossed the plains in Captain Andrew Scott’s company.  While at Green River, the second daughter, Ann, who had been suffering with mountain fever, died September 1866, and not being able to get lumber to make a coffin they wrapped her body in a bed tick and buried her by the side of the river.

     Lonely and sad they continued their journey.  They were four months on the way, arriving in Salt Lake City, October 6, 1866.  Mary and her husband went to Farmington to make their home, thence to Tooele, and finally located in Ogden.

     Two days after arriving in Salt Lake City, Brother Clegg and his daughter Sarah then 15 years old, came to American Fork, October 8, 1866, where they permanently resided.

     Soon after their arrival here, Brother Clegg met and was married to Mrs. Susannah Proctor, then a widow with whom he was well acquainted, being raised together in England.

     February 21, 1870, Sarah then between 18 and 19 years old, was married to Brother Stephen Shelley, in the Endowment House, Salt Lake City, a young man of a family who had emigrated from England about 15 years before.

     To this union five children were born: Eliza, Jane, June, Amy and Stephen T.

     About the year 1919 her husband’s health began to fail and on August 11, 1921, he was called from her and she was left a widow.  This was the first time their numbers in their happy home had been broken into, but one year after her husband’s death, her daughter, Jane, and wife of Brother John M. Thornton, mother of seven children was also called by death.

     Her life has been a checkered one, and although many times she was called to taste of sorrow, she has put her trust in the Lord and filled her children with sympathy and love and faith in their Heavenly Father.  She loved to see them engaged in the work of the Lord.

     She was ever the devoted wife and mother.  Her home was her Heaven and her great desire was to make her husband and family happy.  Her children in turn have never waned in their devotion to mother which has been a source of happiness to her.  Her health has not been the best for many years but they have tried in every way possible to make her happy until Father called her home, December 17, 1928.

   She is survived by her remaining four children, Eliza Wild, June Wright, Amy and Stephen T. Shelley.  All of American Fork, nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

               We thank Thee Father that her life

               Has been spared to us ‘till now

               That she has taught us faith in thee

               And to thy mandates bow.

               Help us to live each day and hour

               That we may worthy be

               To meet and dwell with those we love

               Through all eternity.