Clarissa “Clara” Chase Ross was born to devout Quakers, William Ross and Phoebe Ogden June 16, 1814 in Genoa, Cayuga County, New York. Clara’s father died in 1817 and her mother was remarried to Isaac Chase the following year. Isaac was a successful miller in New York, and later in Nauvoo, Illinois. The family was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early days of the church.

Some time after moving to Nauvoo, Clara was married to Brigham Young on September 10, 1844. She emigrated west to the Salt Lake Valley in 1848. Together, Brigham and Clara had four children.

She is described as “of medium height, had dark hair and brilliant brown eyes and withal bright and intelligent. She was devoted to her children, but was not allowed to enjoy their society long, as she was called away to that great beyond from whence borne, no traveler returns.” (1)

Her daughter, Maria Dougall, shared the following memory of her mother while living together at the Lion House in Salt Lake City:

“This daughter of President Young first saw the light of day in the old “Log Row,” which was near the sight of the Eagle Gate. It was one of the first houses built by our great pioneer leader, and consisted of ten log rooms… While Sister Dougall was a very little girl, her mother moved into the big “white house” on the hill. Here the child amused herself for hours playing “make-believe” piano. A large tin trunk stood in the best room under an old gilt-framed mirror. Her lively imagination made it a fine musical instrument.

‘Can’t you hear the music, mother dear? Now listed and tell me what tune this is.’

At six years of age, this little child with blue eyes and auburn curls down to her waist moved into the dear old Lion House; then it was new and oh so grand. She remembers that her father came to ask each wife, after she had selected her special room, what color she wanted it painted. When her mother said, ‘I want my room painted in peach blossom,’ the little girl pondered over that word and wondered what color it would be, for in all her life, she had never seen a peach blossom. Two years from this time, her mother, Clarissa Ross Chase Young, died, but the little children never knew her loss, for Aunt Zina, another wife of President Young, lavished upon them the love and tender care of an own mother.” (2)

I was able to find little else describing the life and character of Clara Chase Ross Young. However, if the reader would like to know more about her family, there are several wonderful stories about her mother and step father on FamilySearch.org. (3)

If you have more information about the life and character of Clara, please email us at bygranddaughters@gmail.com and we would be happy to add it to this post!!

Notes:

1 - Pictures and Biographies of Brigham Young and His Wives. James H Crockwell publisher.

2 - The Children’s Friend, Volume II. 1903.

https://books.google.com/books?id=UdgRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA231&lpg=PA231&dq=Clarissa+Chase+Ross+Young+obituary&source=bl&ots=HH7tt4glSK&sig=ACfU3U2aJdExBrvw9AqAxCMeoXcbpU9ubg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjiu67F3tnnAhWJ9Z4KHdUeCCwQ6AEwBnoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=Clarissa%20Chase%20Ross%20Young%20obituary&f=false

3 - https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJH-97S