The daughter-in-law in the Sam and Ella Clements home recognized In Ella Kroth Clements a very good mother, loyal friend and neighbor, and devout Christian. There was no selfishness, no deceit or unkindness where this mother reigned. Thouse there was no great evidence of wealth, her home was truly a queen's domain. She ruled In humility because she was a sensitive, retiring woman, but her capacity for love and unselfish work dominated her life.
Her husband's pet name for her was "Ma Staples" taken from a Youth Companion story that stressed the good and abundant food that Ma Staples fed her family. His pet name for their daughter, Ina, was "Madam." Those words spoken by him somehow denoted great respect and pride, evident to all who knew them.
To "Live By The Side of the Road,' across from the church, all their married life meant that ministers, evangelists, "Pre- siding Elders," funeral directors and grave-stone men found this a convenient place to stop. They were urged to stay to drink the very cold water from the open well, to eat with the family and to visit. No one was ever turned away, they were fed and entertained, given the best bed and their teams of horses were "put up".
No college diploma hung on the walls of this house though Sam attended Campbell College when a young man. There was unmistakable culture in the habits and conversation of the family.
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