Biography
Clawson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory to Hiram Bradley Clawson and Margaret Judd of Canada.
While serving his mission in Georgia, he faced many challenges, not the least of which was the mounting anti-Mormonism in that sector. On July 21, 1879 were standing at Varnell Station, Georgia when they were surrounded by an angry mob of anti-Mormons. One of the mobbers shot and killed his companion, Joseph Standing. One of the mobbers then turned and pointed to Elder Clawson, and said, "Shoot that man!" Clawson coolly faced the mob and folded his arms. He exclaimed, "Shoot!" The mob soon dispersed in the face of young Elder Clawson's defiance and willingness to face the mob. He brought the body of his deceased missionary companion back to Salt Lake City, Utah where a public funeral was held in the Tabernacle. He became somewhat of a celebrity for his bravery that day.
August 1882 was a difficult time for Rudger Clawson. Clawson was the first practicing polygamist to be convicted and serve a sentence after the passage of the Edmunds Act. During the trial, one of his wives refused to testify against him. She was put in prison for contempt of court. Judge Charles S. Zane sentenced Clawson to the maximum possible penalty—he was punished with 31⁄2 years in prison and a $1,500 fine. For his final words before being sent to prison, Clawson defended his right to practice his religion and challenged the court's ability to enforce a law aimed at destroying a particular establishment of religion in violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. His appeal was heard and rejected by the Supreme Court of the United States in Clawson v. United States. He was pardoned in 1887 by President Grover Cleveland mere months before his sentence was going to expire.
Clawson was ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 10, 1898. He was asked to serve as second counselor in the First Presidency under President Lorenzo Snow on October 6, 1901, but Snow died just four days later.
In 1904, the town of Kingsville, Emery County, Utah renamed themselves to Clawson, Utah in his honor after visiting the town to organize a ward.
That same year, Clawson married Pearl Udall.
Read more about this topic: Rudger Clawson
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