PRESIDENT OF THE PRIMARY ASSOCIATION OF THE SALT LAKE STAKE OF ZION.

Ellen Curtis Spencer Clawson was born in Saybrook, Conn., Nov. 1, 1832. She is the eldest daughter of Spencer Clawson, A. B., and Catherine Curtis, and grand daughter of Daniel Spencer, who fought in the Revolutionary War. Her father graduated at Union College, Schenectady, New York, and also at the Theological College at Hamilton, as a minister of the Baptist denomination. He received the gospel when his daughter was seven years old. He immediately sold his effects and went to Nauvoo, where he became intimately associated with the Prophet Joseph. At the age of nine years, she was baptized in the Mississippi river. During the exodus from Nauvoo her mother died from exposure and exhaustion, through leaving a comfortable house to camp out in mid-winter. Six months later her father was sent to Great Britain to take charge of the mission there. It was there he wrote the celebrated "Spencer's Letters," a little volume well known among the church works. He also became editor of the Millennial Star, which position he held for three years. He was obliged to leave his five remaining children in Ellen's care, she being now only thirteen years of age. During his absence the little family crossed the plains with ox teams, in President Brigham Young's company, taking five months to complete the journey, and suffering all the privations and hardships with the rest of the Saints.

Miss Ellen C. Spencer was married in March 1850, by President Brigham Young, to Hiram B. Clawson, who soon after became to President Young, business manager, a position he held for a number of years; subsequently superintendent of the Z. C. M. I., and is at present Bishop of the Twelfth Ward, Salt Lake City. Mrs. Clawson is the mother of fourteen children, four sons and ten daughters, seven daughters and two sons of whom are now living. In April, 1879, Mrs. Clawson was called to preside over the Primary Association of the Twelfth Ward, Salt Lake City, and later was ordained to preside over all the Primary Associations of the Salt Lake Stake of Zion.

Think of this noble girl, hardly more than a child, taking upon her young life the duties and cares of a loved and lost, a martyred mother! Surely she was precious in God's sight; and his arm must have sustained her through that long and lonely journey through the wilderness. That same strength of character, that same sweet patience of spirit, gentle manner, have upborne her through later eventful periods. A prominent and beautiful feature in her life, one that has won to her the truest respect, the unperishable love of her friends is the position she has maintained amid her husband's family, like a loving queen mother, in his home circle.

Mrs. Clawson's two sons, H. B. and Spencer Clawson, are in the mercantile business, the latter a wholesale merchant, both men of high social and business standing, and an honor to their parents.