The Heber Valley Heritage Foundation Midway Fort family of the week is that of David Woodruff Provost written by Larry Moulton.

David Woodruff Provost and his brother James are listed on the Midway Fort map as living in a shared cabin in the southwest corner of the Midway Fort. Their cabin was sandwiched between the John VanWagner Sr. and the David, James, and Andrew Hamilton cabins. He was one of the original signers of Incorporation of Midway on a document recorded October 22, 1891.

In the book “How beautiful Upon the Mountains, pages 668-669 is the following. “ David Woodruff Provost, second son to his family, truly added his strength to the pioneers of Midway and Wasatch County. He lived with and helped support his widowed mother and her family until he married.

He was a Black Hawk War veteran. He was Captain of the Ira N. Jacobs company in the Utah Militia Infantry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor presented by the State of Utah. “Uncle Dave” carried the first tape in the original survey of Midway. He also held the first plow for first irrigation ditch made in Midway.

He played the snare drums in the Martial Band for years.

He and his brother, Luke owned their own brick kilm and made brick which they sold to build many homes in Wasatch County. He was a brick layer, good carpenter, shoemaker, barber, butcher, wood carver and farmer. He did a lot of step dancing for public entertainment.

With the help of his good wife, Clara, they raised a big family. Many sad experiences came into their home such as sudden death and much sickness. Times were hard for them but in spite of this, their home was open to the public at all hours. Many friends, both young and old, came for musical entertainment and good visits. They raised three children of their son Luke, whose wife had died leaving the tiny tots to their care.

Aunt Clara was a spotless housekeeper and a good cook. She was pleasant to be with always having faith in the Lord and that everything would work out all right.”

Brief Life History of David Woodruff Provost

David Woodruff Provost KWCG-79C was born on 29 January 1850, in Newark Township, Essex, New Jersey, United States, his father, Luke Provost, was 41 and his
mother, Julia Ann Wheeler, was 33. He married Clarissa “Clara” Van Wagoner on 22 October 1876, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 5 daughters. He died on 13 June 1933, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 83, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.

Brief Life History of Clarissa “Clara”

Clarissa “Clara” Van Wagoner KWCG-79H was born on 22 December 1858, in Provo, Utah, Utah, United States, her father, John Halmagh Van Wagoner, was 47 and her mother, Clarissa Tappen, was 34. She married David Woodruff Provost on 22 October 1876, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 5 daughters. She lived in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States for about 50 years. She died on 10 January 1940, in Provo, Utah, Utah, United States, at the age of 81, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
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• Marriage
22 October 1876 – Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States

Children (9)
Elizabeth Florence Provost
Female
1877–1958
Elizabeth Florence Provost L196-LZ9 was born on 25 July 1877, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, David Woodruff Provost, was 27 and her mother, Clarissa Van Wagoner, was 18. She married Fletcher Arthur on 7 March 1923, in Utah, Utah, United States. She lived in Provo, Utah, Utah, United States in 1935 and Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States in 1940. She died on 19 November 1958, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 81, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.

David William Provost
Male
1878–1913
David William Provost K2HH-WB4 was born on 24 December 1878, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, David Woodruff Provost, was 28 and his mother, Clarissa Van Wagoner, was 20. He lived in Elkhorn, Wasatch, Utah, United States in 1900. He died on 6 February 1913, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 34, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.

Luke Alma Provost
Male
1880–1918
Luke Alma Provost KWCC-756 was born on 4 October 1880, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, David Woodruff Provost, was 30 and his mother, Clarissa Van Wagoner, was 21. He married Mary Tryisha Vail on 22 January 1908, in Wasatch, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 daughters. He died on 21 October 1918, in Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 38, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.

George Ammon Provost
Male
1883–1902
George Ammon Provost K2HH-WRM was born on 5 January 1883, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, David Woodruff Provost, was 32 and his mother, Clarissa Van Wagoner, was 24. He died on 7 July 1902, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 19, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.

Mary Molinda Provost
Female
1884–1885
Mary Molinda Provost K2HH-WPH was born on 1 December 1884, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, David Woodruff Provost, was 34 and her mother, Clarissa Van Wagoner, was 25. She died on 7 December 1885, at the age of 1, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.

Cynthia Loretta Provost
Female
1886–1888
Cynthia Loretta Provost K2HH-WYV was born on 11 December 1886, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, David Woodruff Provost, was 36 and her mother, Clarissa Van Wagoner, was 27. She died on 20 December 1888, at the age of 2, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.

Acie Luvella Provost
Female
1889–1980
Acie Luvella Provost KWCS-B1K was born on 20 March 1889, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, David Woodruff Provost, was 39 and her mother, Clarissa Van Wagoner, was 30. She married Franklin Shelton Giles on 24 February 1909, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. She immigrated to Canada in 1917 and lived in Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1940 and World for about 20 years. She died on 12 August 1980, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 91, and was buried in Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.

Trella May Provost
Female
1893–1918
Trella May Provost KW85-4LH was born on 26 March 1893, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, David Woodruff Provost, was 43 and her mother,
Clarissa Van Wagoner, was 34. She married Ray Giles on 9 January 1917, in Nephi, Juab, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. She lived in Elkhorn, Wasatch, Utah, United States in 1900. She died on 30 October 1918, in Eureka, Juab, Utah, United States, at the age of 25, and was buried in Heber City Cemetery, Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States.

Earl DaRel Provost
Male
1900–1941
Earl DaRel Provost KVG6-5CH was born on 7 January 1900, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, David Woodruff Provost, was 49 and his mother,
Clarissa Van Wagoner, was 41. He married Freida Eliza Roylance on 17 January 1927, in Murray, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. He died on 6 December 1941, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 41, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.

Heber Valley Heritage Foundation