Harmer, Mabel, 1894-

Clarissa Young Spencer

Clarissa Young Spencer was born July 23, 1860 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her mother was Lucy Decker Young, Brigham Young's first plural wife. Clarissa was Brigham Young's fifty-first child and enjoyed a close relationship with her father. Clarissa was her mother's sixth child out of seven. She grew up in the Beehive House, which her mother who owned the title. She married John Daniel Spencer on January 19, 1882 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Clarissa wrote down many of her memories which have been published in several books, including ‘Brigham Young at home' written in 1940.

Mabel Spande Harmer

Mabel Harmer was born September 28, 1894 to Stanley and Katherine Harmer. She was the third of five children. Harmer was an accomplished author with 17 books and over 3,000 children's stories (written for Deseret News) to her name. She received numerous awards and honors over her 97 years. Harmer taught at Brigham Young University, as well as many public schools. Harmer enjoyed music and the arts, travel, camping, tennis, and swimming. She also founded The League of Utah Writers. Mabel Spande Harmer died on August 3, 1992 in Salt Lake City.

Sources:

Boren, R., (1998, January 1). Tours recall cozy evenings at Brigham Young home [Electronic version]. Deseret News Archives, C1.

Family search by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (2002). Retrieved October 29, 2002, from http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp

Family search by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (2000, September 30). Retrieved October 19, 2002, from http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp

Harmer, M. (1935-1940). Drafts: One who was valiant. MS #21 Utah State University Special Collections and Archives.

Mabel Harmer, former news writer, dies [Electronic version]. (1992, August 4). Deseret News Archives, B3.