--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Madsen, Victor E. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 22 number: 1 published: 1918-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Madsen, Victor E., "Oldest Ward Clerk in the Church," *Improvement Era* 22, no. 1 (November 1918): 63–64.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2201unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2201unse start_page: 63 end_page: 64 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1918-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2201unse publication_year: 1918 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1918, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Oldest Ward Clerk in the Church Oldest Ward Clerk in the Church By Victor E. Madsen, Editor "Box Elder News'' Elder Lars J. Hailing of Mantua, Box Elder county, Utah, undoubtedly has the honor of being the oldest ward clerk in the Church, in point of service, if not in years, also. Born on the island of Feio, Denmark, February 18, 1840, he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, January 23, 1855, immediately sent on a mission to Lolland and Falster, and was ap- pointed clerk of that conference, traveling from branch to branch to assist in keeping the records in order. Emigrating to America in the fall of 1855, with his father and mother, brother and family, he land- ed in New York on February 16, 1856. The company was in charge of the late President Knute Pe- tersen, of Sanpete. The journey west was continued by rail to Alton, 111., where the emigrants took steam- er for Louis, re- St. maining there until spring, when they continued on to Flor- ence, to be outfitted Lars J. Hailing, Oldest Ward Clerk in the Church 64 IMPROVEMENT ERA for the journey across the plains. Mr. Halling's father died at Florence, June 27, 1856, being buried the same day. On the following morning, the family began the journey across the plains, arriving in Salt Lake City on the 20th day of Sep- tember. The family went on to Brigham City, but Lars started back to Fort Bridger, 113 miles, to get an ox that had strayed while the company was camped there. He walked the entire distance, and was successful in finding the ox. He then returned to Salt Lake City with one of the hand cart com- panies, arriving in the Valley early in October, and continuing to Brigham City. He participated in the move south, in 1858, traveling as far as Fort Ephraim where he remained until fall then returned to Brigham City. During the summer of 1861-2, he went with ox-team back to the Missouri river, to assist the poor emigrants across the plains. In the spring of 1863, Mr. Hailing and wife removed from Brigham City to Mantua where he has since resided. In 1865 he was appointed clerk of the Mantua branch, serving until September 9, 1877. When the ward was organized that year, he was chosen ward clerk a position he has held continuously ever since. Mr. Hailing is a beautiful penman, and despite his years, writes a splendid hand today. His ward records are the last word in neatness and accuracy. He has served, at various periods, as recorder for the Logan temple, and done much vicarious work for his dead kindred, having a genealogical record containing 2,800 names. Elder Hailing has been married twice, and has eight children by his first wife, and eight children by his second wife. One of his sons, Elder Wilford Hailing, is now the second counselor in the Mantua bishopric, and his youngest daughter is at present filling a mission in the Western States Mission. This information of this good man was obtained after much importuning, since he is a very modest character and shies at publicity. His record is so unique, however, that I feel it will be of interest to readers of the Era. Elder Hailing is at his post at every meeting in the Mantua ward, where his presence is re- quired. He has outlived four bishoprics, is one of the pio- neers of the town, and a most splendid character. His active service as ward clerk, extends over a period of 53 years. Brigham City, Utah