Adams County ID Archives Obituaries.....Clark, Vina Latham 1941 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cheryl Hanson ihansonb@fmtc.com August 18, 2006, 8:01 pm Adams County Leader 12-19-1941 Adams County Leader Council, Idaho Friday, December 19, 1941 SERVICES HELD AT NEW MEADOWS FOR GRANDMA CLARK BELOVED PIONEER OF MEADOWS VALLEY SUCCUMBS TO HEART ATTACK - OTHER ITEMS NEW MEADOWS , Dec. 16 - Thursday morning, December 11, Grandma Clark slipped away very quietly in her home at New Meadows. She had been quite well recently although for several years she had been confined to her home. Death was due to a heart attack. For many years Mrs. Clark has made her home with her son, Fred Clark. She had many friends and her stories of pioneer life in our valley were immensely interesting. It is hoped that they will be collected and published for future generations. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon. Honorary pall-bearers were; Bill Howard, George Mitchell, Artie Hollenbeak, Harold Campbell, Edward Osborn, George McMahan. Regular pall bearers were R. L. Campbell, Steve Wisdom, Chas. Hawthorn, Howard Dryden, Ernest Watkins, Harry Johnson. Interment was made in Meadows Valley cemetery. Obituary Vina Elizabeth Latham was born in Quincy, Illinois on December 24, 1864 and passed away quietly in her home in New Meadows, Idaho, Thursday morning, December 11, 1941 at the age of 86 years, 11 months and 17 days. When she was 8 years old, she came west by oxen train, with her sister and two brothers, and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Pleasant Miller Latham. They started for California. Many adventures on the long trek westward were remembered and recounted by Grandma Clark. Her youngest sister was born on the way westward. One time little Vina Latham fell from the brakelocks of the wagon and the wheel passed over her body. She was severely bruised and shaken, but otherwise unhurt. She told of seeing many Indians along the way and of the circling of the heavy wagons at night, giving protection to the people and oxen with the circle. Great hardships were experienced by those early pioneers in coming to a new and unknown land. The Latham family stopped in the Willamette valley and farmed there for three years. Then they removed to Boise Valley to what was then Fort Boise in 1864. They lived there for may years. On June 12, 1870, at Star, Idaho, Vina Latham was married to George W. Clark who had come west in the same wagon train that the Latham's did. The young couple made their home on a farm near Star. They were both very active in church affairs joining the Christian Church together the first winter they were married. Mrs. Clark told of their baptism in Boise River, remarking that it was necessary to break ice in the river in order to baptize them. Mr. and Mrs. Clark lived on their farm near Star until 1888, when they came to Meadows Valley where they farmed for many years, what is now the Hawthorn place. They were one of the very first families in Meadows Valley. Her husband operated the first sawmill in the valley. The mill stood on the ground where Tom Hubbard's house now stands. Logging, in those days, was done with oxen. Grandma Clark often told of their trips down to the lower country, when they used to drive a four or six horse team, the long hard trip to Boise for the year's provisions. She told of the complete isolation of the few pioneers in this valley when winter came. Then the malt was packed in on skils. The only means of transportation was ox sled. Yet many happy times were had, for occasionally families would bundle up children and all, and drive miles to have a gay time with good friends. These priceless stories of our early pioneers were given freely by Grandma Clark, who spent 77 years in Idaho, and 53 years in Meadows valley. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark, six of whom survive her. Her husband passed away in 1933. The entire valley mourns the passing of the pioneer mother and extends deeper sympathy to her survivors. She leaves one sister, Mrs. Ida Yoakum of Baker, three daughters, all of Portland, Mrs. Bertha Rinker, Mrs. Nettie Victor and Mrs. Thursa Blacker; three sons, William Clark of Boise, Alfred and Fred Clark of New Meadows, eleven grandchildren, and eight great-grand children and a great many friends. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/adams/obits/c/clark2055nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/idfiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb