Clement Franklin Spurlock

Clement Franklin was born in Iowa to John and Eliza Spurlock on a farm. He was the second of eight children. He was a "tow head" as a child but his hair leaned more to light brown or red. Frank, as his family called him, was lively and had quiet a sense of humor. He loved horses and with his brother, raised and traded horses from a very young age. They both were musical, picking up instruments and playing these with no formal education. They played for barn dances and at events. When their younger brother, Guy was old enough to join them, they played to open shows for other entertainers. As Frank's sons grew up, they too joined in as the Musical Spurlocks. They loved to spin yarns and joke with family and friends.

Frank was also a very hard worker. He married Helen Hiatt in 1909 in Fort Collins on their way to a rodeo. Helen was also an experienced horsewoman and rodeo rider. The couple made their home in Pueblo with Frank's brother and his wife, while taking a homestead near Helen's relatives homestead. They moved to a small house Frank had built on the property in the hills not far from Canon City Colorado.

Here they raised horses and had 4 children. The first baby died at birth. Frank carried it to town for burial in the Canon City cemetery. Their next three children were little cowboys. These children had small ponys of their own and rode with Helen and Frank to the shows, rodeos and horse sales.

Unfortunately, their house burned down in an accident. Frank and Helen took their family to camp out at a park just outside of Colorado Springs (where the Stanley Hotel now stands). They rebuilt only to have another accident burn the second house. One event Homer related to his family was when he was very small. Just as Frank rode his horse over the hill to town, little Homer (about 3 years old) fell down the well. Helen tried in vain to call to Frank and then to reach something down to her son. It did not work, so Helen climbed down using the small water pipe and reached Homer to bring him up to safety.

After "proving up the land" (a double homestead because one lot was to raise horses and one to raise hay to feed them), Helen and Frank pulled up stakes and moved to California. The 1930 census has Frank and Helen in San Diego with a note in the 1940 census as them being there in 1935. By 1940, they were in Crescent Township with Frank ranching and working with horses in Del Norte County.

Frank and his boys are said to have been in or helped start the Oregon Fiddlers Association. They played festivals in Oregon, California and even Idaho. They still returned to visit family in Colorado, regaling them with the wonderful bluegrass and old time music.

Helen and Frank loved being around their boys and when those married, being with their grandchildren. These children remember with fondness going to grandpa's house and being spoiled by grandma.

Helen died in 1951. Frank wrote a letter to his sister to let her know and to tell her the details. He speaks with such love and tenderness of his life partner. Frank followed Helen in 1954. We would like to think that somewhere they are riding off into a sunset on their favorite mounts.

Frank and Helen were buried in the International Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in Crescent City, side by side.