Samuel Claridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Samuel Claridge |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 5, 1828 Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England |
| Died | September 11, 1919 (aged 90) Thatcher, Arizona, United States |
| Resting place | Thatcher Cemetery 32°49′59″N 109°45′43″W / 32.833°N 109.762°W |
| Spouse(s) | Charlotte Joy Rebecca Hughes |
| Children | 15 |
| Parents | David Claridge Elizabeth P. Hopkins |
Samuel Claridge (born December 5, 1828 – died September 11, 1919) was an important early settler. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He helped settle areas in the Muddy River Valley in Nevada and also Thatcher, Arizona.
Contents
Early Life and Joining the Church
Samuel Claridge was born in Leighton Buzzard, a town in Bedfordshire, England. His parents were David Claridge and Elizabeth Pratt Hopkins. In 1849, he married Charlotte Joy. A couple of years later, in 1851, Samuel and Charlotte decided to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Moving to America
In 1853, Samuel and Charlotte Claridge moved from England to the Utah Territory in America. They settled in a town called Nephi. This was a big journey across the ocean and then across the land.
Settling in Nevada
Years later, in 1868, a church leader named Wilford Woodruff asked Samuel Claridge to lead the Latter-day Saints living near the Muddy River in Nevada. At that time, this area was still part of the Utah Territory.
However, the border of Nevada was later moved. This meant the people living there were suddenly in Nevada, not Utah. The state of Nevada tried to make them pay taxes from previous years. Because of this, many Latter-day Saints, including Samuel Claridge, decided to move away. Claridge then moved to Kane County, Utah.
Building New Communities
In 1875, Samuel Claridge was one of the people who helped start a new community called Orderville, Utah. This town was known for its unique way of living, where people shared their resources.
Serving a Church Mission
In 1877, Samuel Claridge left his family in Orderville to serve a church mission in Britain. This meant he traveled to England to teach people about his faith. After his mission, he returned to Orderville for a while.
Life in Arizona
In 1883, Samuel Claridge moved to Thatcher, Arizona. He became a very important leader in the church there. He served as the bishop of the Thatcher Ward. A bishop is a local leader who helps guide the church members in a specific area.
Later, he became the first patriarch of the St. Joseph Stake. A stake is a larger group of church wards. A patriarch gives special blessings, called patriarchal blessings, to church members. One famous person who received a blessing from him was Spencer W. Kimball, who later became a president of the church.
Claridge Family Connections
Samuel Claridge had a large family. He and his wives had 15 children.
- His daughter, Elizabeth (1852–1924), was married to Alfred William McCune, Sr.. She was known for being a generous supporter of the church in the 1920s.
- His grandson, S. George Ellsworth, wrote a book about Samuel Claridge called Samuel Claridge: Pioneering the Outposts of Zion.
- Another daughter, Charlotte, was known as "Lottie." She married Brigham Young III, who was a son of Brigham Young, Jr..
- One of Samuel Claridge's sons, David Claridge, became a member of the Arizona House of Representatives. This means he helped make laws for the state of Arizona.
