Blocked

                   B: 27 Jan 1876
E: 21 Oct 1872

                                                                                -------------#----------------

Ada Winchell Clements

Ada Winchell Clements was born December 24, 1801 at Hebson, Washington County New York.  On January 21, 1821 she married Albert Nephi Clements and the young couple made their home in Fort Anne, New York until 1832.  While Albert was on a business trip he met Sidney Rigdon, a Mormon missionary.  The members of the Clement family were all baptized and very soon moved to Ohio to be near the Saints.  Seven children were born to them; two died in infancy, but their greatest sorrow came when their son Paul, then a young man, was killed during the persecutions of the Saints in Missouri.  Soon after the family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and there another son was born whom they named Albert Nephi.
	When Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred, Albert was away from home, working for the Church interests and also the support of his family.  When he heard the terrible news he immediately started for home.  On the way his horse took sick and he stopped at a store to obtain medicine,  He  met his friend Sidney Rigdon.  Sidney told Albert he was hurrying back to Nauvoo to be with the Saints during this time of sorrow, and to take his place as their leader.  Albert was happy to learn of Mr. Rigdon's decision.  On August 15, 1844 Albert arrived home, and Ada immediately told him all that had happened, including the meeting she had attended wherein the Saints had chosen Brigham Young as their leader.  He seemed shocked at the news and appeared deeply concerned.  This difference of opinion soon led to a rift in the once happy marriage, as Ada was convinced that Brigham Young was the right man to assume the leadership of the Saints, while Albert favored Mr. Rigdon.
	When the Saints began preparations for the westward journey, Albert asked his wife if she were going to leave him as he refused to follow Brigham Young.  Ada was sure in her heart that she must go with the Saints and share their fate even unto death.  Ada begged her husband to come with her saying "she would never cease to love him, and would always pray for him to see the truth and follow them to the Rocky Mountains."  Ada and the children were in the exodus to Winter Quarters.  Albert helped all he could to provide food and other necessities to make his family comfortable, and then bade them goodbye in great sorrow.
	It was some time before Ada could leave for Zion.  Albert Nephi, the youngest son, nine years of age drove the ox team most of the way across the plains.  The family came in Captain James C. Snow's company arriving in Salt Lake October 9, 1852.  Ada never forgot her husband and prayed always for him, with the hope that he would, in time, join them.  Some years later he sent a letter by an Elder asking his wife for a divorce which she granted.  He then remarried.  His son Nephi visited him twice while on trips back for immigrants, and the last time, in 1866, he left a purse, saying, "Father, here is a purse, I wish to give to you as a token, and pray it will ever be filled."

	In the meantime, Ada had married James Steers.  After his death she married a Mr. Wilbur who also passed away.  Then Nephi received a letter from his father, saying if he could send the money, he would come to the valley as he had lost his wife and was very lonely. Nephi sold a yoke of oxen for $100.00, borrowed a like sum, and sent for his father. Nephi, and his wife, had Ada come to their home for a visit.  Neither the mother or father knew of the meeting planned for them at their son's home.  A complete and sincere reconciliation followed; and the Clements family, and his many friends, rejoiced in receiving him back into the fold.  Soon after Nephi accompanied his father and mother to the Endowment House in Salt Lake City.
	Ada W. Clements passed away at the age of ninety years in Oxford, Idaho.

							 ----Bertha M. Linebarger

				 (Our Pioneer Heritage - Kate B. Carter)
				(Daughters of Utah Pioneers  Vol. 3 Pg.111)

This life sketch was sent to me by a cousin,Glenda Lloyd Mitchell  4-19-1985