May's Ancestor: Mary Sophronia Archibald

Compiled by Aunt Sarah:

Mary Sophronia Archibald was born May 26, 1888 at Lewisville, Jefferson County, Idaho. The daughter of James Mark Archibald and Rosetta Eliza Myler

Not much is known about our Grandmother Sophronia, I have asked a lot of people about her and this is some of the things that they had to say. She was a tall slender girl with beautiful long black hair and dark brown eyes, she was very well mannered, shy and quiet. Having her mother die at an early age, she had to help around the house, learning to cook and sew at an early age. She also helped her sister Julia with the younger children.

As to where they lived here in Clarkston is unknown. Some say it was on 1^st West and 1^st South. Later when her mother died Grandpa took his family to live with his mother Mary Mark Archibald, who lived out on the Archibald Farm, which was at the end of the lane south of my home. From there Sophronia had to walk to school unless someone came along and gave her a ride in their bob sleigh in the winter time, or sometimes she rode her pony she would tie him up until after school was over and then ride him home. To a young person, it must have seemed along way from the end of the lane to the old school house to attend school.

The following poem was written by her sister Zina Archibald Thompson:

Sophronia was born in the month of May

I was four years younger but how we did play

Down by the creek we built a willow play house

Made rag dolls, used corn silk for their hair

And dressed them in shirt and blouse.

With a green willow we made them hats

Trimmed with wild flowers gay.

We made them cradles of willows too,

And rocked them to sleep every day.

In Julia’s long dresses we would tog ourselves out

And make believe we were fine ladies strolling about

Sometimes we’d go picking wild flowers and chock berries

And some times play selling milk to the dairy

We built a cellar and striped an old cow, skimmed the cream off the milk

And fed the mild to the sow.

Riding horse back was one of our sports,

Playing cattie and doggie and jumping the rope

We also had chores to do in the house

Washing dishes, scrubbing floors, working quiet as a mouse,

‘Cause the baby was asleep in the next room.

In winter to school in a sleigh we would ride

Snow flakes in our face and wind stinging our hide

Those good old school days I love to recall

They bring back sweet memories of teachers, schoolmates and all

Sophronia grew to womanhood and fell in love

And I missed her companionship which I thought so much of

But was glad she was happy in her young romance

Till she announced she was going to marry Thomas Hans

In the Temple at Logan she was happilly wed

To the man of her choice and clean life she led

She bore three sweet children, then her health failed her fast

Two more years and her life on the earth was passed

But we know she went to a place more bright

Where she is watched over by God’s Heavenly light.

Grandpa Tom courted Grandma Sophronia in the good old horse and buggy days, driving his team out to the end of the lane to take her on a date. After they were married they lived with Grandma Lucy, until their home was completed, she watched as her new home was being built, looking forward to the day when it would be done.

Tom and Sophronia also had a home over the short divide where they lived while Tom worked his farm. He owned a lot of land just above the town of Plymouth, Box Elder County, Utah.

Lenora tells this story: one day some Indians came up the lane and she grabbed Lenora and Etta and they hid in the closet until the Indians had left, she was so scared, and was so happy to see Tom when he came home.

One of her good friends in town was our Aunt Addie sister of my Dad Maynard Clark she said that they had such good times together, and were the best of friends.

When her health failed her, Tom took her to Logan to the Budge Clinic for some help, Grandma Lucy always said that because Grandpa Tom didn’t have a lot of money they refused to help her, she felt like a simple operation would have helped.

Lenora remembers her mother being sick and laying on a long couch in the kitchen. When it was apparent that she was going to die, Grandmother Lucy got some men to ride over to the Plymouth area to find Tom and tell him, the men from town stationed horses along the short divide so he could go so far and then get a fresh horse which made it faster for him. He arrived before Sophronia died.

She died the 30^th of May, 1913 at her home in Clarkston, Utah leaving her beloved husband and her three small children, Lenora being just five, Etta four and Leonard two. She is buried in the Clarkston Cemetery. Tom put a beautiful headstone for her there.

Comments from our Uncle Dave, brother of Maynard: We double dated with Tom and Sophronia. They were such a pair of love birds, so much in love with each other and such a nice looking young couple.

This is a portrayal of our Grandmother Sophronia as she lived her life here on earth. She gave of her self freely to her husband and children and even though her life was short, she lived the kind of life that she knew her Heavely Father would want her to.

May we, her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren and her posterity, remember her. Grandma Sophronia, nay we some day in the future meet you and get to know you. We thank you for giving us the gift of a wonderful mother and grandmother, Lenora Lucy Jensen.