Clara Louise Yoakum1 
F, (22 February 1896 - 18 January 2002)
- Relationship
- 9th great-granddaughter of Herman Op Den Graeff
Clara Louise Yoakum was born on 22 February 1896 at New Meadows, Adams County, Idaho.1 She was the daughter of Henry Clay Yoakum and Hermione Elizabeth Foss. Clara Louise Yoakum married, at age 29, John Ericcson Claghorn, age 27 on Saturday, 7 November 1925. Clara Louise Yoakum died on 18 January 2002 at Boise Samaritan Villiage, Boise, Ada County, Idaho, at age 105 years, 10 months and 27 days.1
She From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and comp., 'Obituaries - Clara Louise Yoakum Claghorn,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 5 No. 4 (February 2002), pp. 22 - 23.
CLARA LOUISE YOAKUM CLAGHORN
Clara Louise Yoakum Claghorn passed away Thursday, Jan. 17, 2002, at the Boise Samaritan Village. She was one month away from her 106th birthday. A celebration of her life will occur this spring when her ashes are interred at New Meadows.
She was preceded in death by her brothers Roy, Warren, and Marvin, sisters Nancy Rowland, Geraldine McCoy, and Viola Howton, daughter Darlene Garland, and grandson Steve Claghorn.
Her son John and his father died a week apart in 1969. She is survived by her son Richard, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
Clara was born in New Meadows, Idaho, on Feb. 22, 1896, to Hermione and Henry Clay Yoakum, among the original settlers of the Meadows Valley. The family homestead was located at what is now Zimms Hot Springs. At the age of 9, Clara and her six brothers and sisters tragically lost their mother during a driving snowstorm as Hermione sought help for a premature birth. Shortly after, her father died as well, Clara believed due to a broken heart. Many of the children remained in the McCall area for the rest of their lives.
She married John Ericcson Claghorn on Nov. 7, 1925. He spent some time as a singer in a vaudeville act, and they toured together for a period with the Houdini's. After vaudeville, John and Clara lived for a few years in Chicago, Ill., where son John was born. They moved to Portland, Ore., in early 1930. Son Richard and daughter Darlene were both born there, some seven years apart. John Sr. found work during the Depression years as a carpenter and eventually moved the family to Deadwood Mine in central Idaho where he built several cabins and where Clara was employed as a cook for the 55 miners who worked at the Callahan Zinc-Lead Mine. Clara and John divorced and she took the three children back to Portland where she purchased a three-story house and operated a boarding house during the World War II years. Clara added to her income as a seamstress, fashioning shirts, dresses and trousers. She returned to her native Idaho in 1970, where she lived the remainder of her life. Clara was an accomplished self-taught painter and won awards for several of her efforts. Gardening brought her a great deal of pleasure. She also enjoyed writing throughout her life. One of her printed works told the tale of a Christmas long ago at the family homestead. Her writings over the last 30 years became centered on a theme dear to her heart, her unique vision of the final days according to the Bible. 'Echoes From the Dust' was one of these works and was published in the 1970s. An enduring image of Grandma that many will share is of her greeting all visitors with 'When was the last time you've had something to eat?', followed by a burst of energy in the kitchen to make sure no one went hungry. Her home became a shelter for many during difficult times. The care she provided for her daughter Darlene during her battle with cancer was a testament to her love. It was her giving nature and her love of God, family and friends in good times or bad that truly defined her character. She was featured as one of 'Treasure Valley's Treasures' by Channel 2 News in October. The family would like to thank the staff of the Boise Samaritan Village for their kind and attentive care of 'Grandma' over the last decade. Any contributions made there in Clara's name will be greatly appreciated.
The Idaho Statesman -- January 22, 2002.
She appeared on the census of 11 June 1900 in the household of Henry Clay Yoakum and Hermione Elizabeth Foss at Meadows, Washington County, Idaho. According to the Social Security Administrations Death Index Clara's last known residence was Boise, Ada County, Idaho.1
She From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and comp., 'Obituaries - Clara Louise Yoakum Claghorn,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 5 No. 4 (February 2002), pp. 22 - 23.
CLARA LOUISE YOAKUM CLAGHORN
Clara Louise Yoakum Claghorn passed away Thursday, Jan. 17, 2002, at the Boise Samaritan Village. She was one month away from her 106th birthday. A celebration of her life will occur this spring when her ashes are interred at New Meadows.
She was preceded in death by her brothers Roy, Warren, and Marvin, sisters Nancy Rowland, Geraldine McCoy, and Viola Howton, daughter Darlene Garland, and grandson Steve Claghorn.
Her son John and his father died a week apart in 1969. She is survived by her son Richard, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
Clara was born in New Meadows, Idaho, on Feb. 22, 1896, to Hermione and Henry Clay Yoakum, among the original settlers of the Meadows Valley. The family homestead was located at what is now Zimms Hot Springs. At the age of 9, Clara and her six brothers and sisters tragically lost their mother during a driving snowstorm as Hermione sought help for a premature birth. Shortly after, her father died as well, Clara believed due to a broken heart. Many of the children remained in the McCall area for the rest of their lives.
She married John Ericcson Claghorn on Nov. 7, 1925. He spent some time as a singer in a vaudeville act, and they toured together for a period with the Houdini's. After vaudeville, John and Clara lived for a few years in Chicago, Ill., where son John was born. They moved to Portland, Ore., in early 1930. Son Richard and daughter Darlene were both born there, some seven years apart. John Sr. found work during the Depression years as a carpenter and eventually moved the family to Deadwood Mine in central Idaho where he built several cabins and where Clara was employed as a cook for the 55 miners who worked at the Callahan Zinc-Lead Mine. Clara and John divorced and she took the three children back to Portland where she purchased a three-story house and operated a boarding house during the World War II years. Clara added to her income as a seamstress, fashioning shirts, dresses and trousers. She returned to her native Idaho in 1970, where she lived the remainder of her life. Clara was an accomplished self-taught painter and won awards for several of her efforts. Gardening brought her a great deal of pleasure. She also enjoyed writing throughout her life. One of her printed works told the tale of a Christmas long ago at the family homestead. Her writings over the last 30 years became centered on a theme dear to her heart, her unique vision of the final days according to the Bible. 'Echoes From the Dust' was one of these works and was published in the 1970s. An enduring image of Grandma that many will share is of her greeting all visitors with 'When was the last time you've had something to eat?', followed by a burst of energy in the kitchen to make sure no one went hungry. Her home became a shelter for many during difficult times. The care she provided for her daughter Darlene during her battle with cancer was a testament to her love. It was her giving nature and her love of God, family and friends in good times or bad that truly defined her character. She was featured as one of 'Treasure Valley's Treasures' by Channel 2 News in October. The family would like to thank the staff of the Boise Samaritan Village for their kind and attentive care of 'Grandma' over the last decade. Any contributions made there in Clara's name will be greatly appreciated.
The Idaho Statesman -- January 22, 2002.
She appeared on the census of 11 June 1900 in the household of Henry Clay Yoakum and Hermione Elizabeth Foss at Meadows, Washington County, Idaho. According to the Social Security Administrations Death Index Clara's last known residence was Boise, Ada County, Idaho.1
Children of Clara Louise Yoakum and John Ericcson Claghorn
- Darlene Claghorn (c 1927 - )
- John Claghorn+ (8 Oct 1929 - May 1969)
- Richard Claghorn
Last Edited=12 Jan 2012
Citations
- [S578] Social Security Death Index, RootsWeb online, at <http://ssdi.rootsweb.com> (Baltimore, Maryland: U.S. Social Security Administration, March 2005 update). The SSDI component of RootsWeb online is drawn from the Social Security Death Benefits Index of the U.S. Social Security Administration. CLARA L CLAGHORN, birth listed as 22 Feb 1896, died listed as 18 Jan 2002 (P), issued in the State of California. Last residence Boise, Ada, ID, last benefit (none specified). Accessed 20 Apr 2005.