Background
Clawson was born in Utica, New New York
Clawson was born in Utica, New New York
He was educated at the Utica Academy. In 1841 they moved to Nauvoo. Clawson went west with the Latter-day Saints, arriving in Salt Lake City in 1848.
He supervised the building of the first adobe building in Salt Lake City and then was the head mason for the Council House of which Truman Angell was the architect.
Also for a time while Angell was away on a mission Clawson served as acting architect of the Salt Lake Temple. He also was involved in the building of the Salt Lake Theatre and was often a performer in its plays.
Clawson was also for a time manager of the theatre. Clawson served as an aide-de-camp to Daniel H. Wells in running the Nauvoo Legion in 1850.
He later served as adjutant general of the Legion from 1863 until the legion was disbanded in 1870.
Clawson and Eldredge dissolved their firm in 1868 and sold it to Zion"s Cooperative Mercantile Institution (Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution). Clawson was then the general superintendent of Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution from 1868-1873. After being replaced for a short time by Hooper Clawson took over the head of Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution again from 1874-1875.
In 1875 Clawson bought the agriculture, hide and wool departments of Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution which he ran as an independent business until 1885.
From 1884 until 1902 Clawson served as the bishop of the Twelfth Ward in Salt Lake City. Clawson had four wives.
Clawson"s second wife was Margaret Gay Judd, who was born in Canada. Clawson"s third wife was Alice Young, a daughter of Brigham Young and Mary Ann Angell.
Clawson"s fourth wife was Emily Young, a daughter of Brigham Young and Emily Patridge.
Clawson had a total of forty-two children.