Item Detail
-
Clarke, Margaret Vilate Green
-
1874-1965
-
MSS SC 1447; BX 8670.07 .C554b
-
Biography
-
Vilate was born August 17, 1874 in American Fork, Utah to Alva Alphonso and Elizabeth Lucretia Buckwalter Green. As a youth, she attended the west school house in American Fork, and was active in various church and social activities. She taught in the Primary grades of the west school and attended Brigham Young Academy for three terms. She married Peter Gemmell Clarke February 5, 1894. They lived at the Green's home for some time, and then later moved to Vilate's brother John's farm while he was on a mission. Their first child died after three days, but and they had another child, in 1896. On April 28, 1897, her husband received a call to serve a 28-month mission in the South-western states and Indian territory. Vilate taught school and sent him a monthly check. He was released September 4, 1899 and then attended Brigham Young Academy so the family lived in Provo for two years. In the summer of 1901, Peter traveled to Alberta, Canada. While away, a daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, was born, and the family joined Peter in Canada in November. The next year, Peter bought a farm which proved to be poor, and he was forced to work road construction and other jobs during the summer. February 1, 1903, they had another boy, James Green, and in 1907, Peter was chosen as a supervisor of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. They had three more children, Donald Alphonso, Alva John, and Jesse Buckwalter, although Jesse died a year later. In 1912, they had another child, Wilson Jay, and in that same year, Peter grew sick, and the oldest son, Drew, was forced to take over his job. When finances and Peter's health worsened, the family traveled to Utah, leaving Drew behind to tend the farm. Peter died in Utah on August 28, 1913 after receiving a blessing. With money being tight, the family decided to return to Canada, where Drew went to school, taught, and worked on the farm. Drew began to be obsessed with gambling until their bishop spoke to him about repenting and going on a mission. Drew finally agreed to go, although he worried that the family wouldn't be able to survive without him. While he was gone, his brothers, Wilson and James, died from illnesses. Yet, upon his return, Vilate had been able to pay all the debts, install a furnace, get new furniture and install electric lights. After Vilate's children married, she traveled frequently, visiting with them and their children all over the country. She last lived with her daughter Sadie, and Sadie's husband, Dr. Boyer. Vilate died April 9, 1965 in Provo, Utah.
-
This is an 86-page typescript biography of Margaret Vilate Green Clarke as written by her daughter, Sarah Elizabeth (Sadie) Boyer. She begins with a description of her mother's home, and provides elaborate details concerning the lights, home-made rag carpets, kitchen, locust trees, bedrooms, beds, and garden. She says that the family did not experience poverty when they were young, and that they had various fruits and vegetables stored during the winter as well as their own meats. She describes some of the activities her mother enjoyed as a youth, such as the various dances she liked (Mazurkas, Two-steps, Virginia Reels, Schottishes, Square Dances, and Waltzes). She describes her mother has having dark brown hair and large wide open brown eyes. In Canada, Vilate experienced much loneliness with Peter working away from home frequently. She struggled to keep the children fed and warm although she was still a charitable woman and always helping the sick. Sarah describes Vilate as a woman who was hospitable, kind, thoughtful, and always willing to provide service. Yet, though she was honest and humble, she lacked self-confidence.
BX 8670.07 .C554b: This is identical to the manuscript, except that it is bound in a book format, entitled, 'A Life History of Margaret Vilate Clarke, As Told by Her to Her Daughter, Sarah Elizabeth (Sadie) Boyer.' It includes Vilate's patriarchal blessing, and an expansive list of her posterity, up to the year 1959 (totaling 89 pages). Teacher -
1852-1911