Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-09-04
BRIGHAM YOUNG AND his WIVES
What wife Number Seventeen Has to Say oil
the Prophet-Her Own History-His
Meanness and Profanity.

| Meanness and Profanity.
A correspondent of the New York
Sun has been interviewing wife num-
Der seventeen and from his report OF
the interview we select the follow
ing
MRS. YoUNG's PARENTS.
Correspondent-Mrs Young, | be-
ieve you were born in Nauvoo.
Where were your parents born, and
who were they.
Mrs. Young-My fathers name
was Chauncy G. Webb. He came
from New York.
Correspondent-New York city :
Mrs. Young-York State; | be-
lieve that's what they call it. Cay
uga county.
Correspondent-Were your father
and mother Mormons
Mrs. Young-My parents joined the
Mormons when my mother was but
sixteen years old. They were among
the original members of the Morn on
Church.
Correspondent-Was your first
husband a Mormon
Mrs. Young very sadly)-Yes
Correspondent-Did he have moro
than one wife 2
Mrs. Young-No.
Correspondent-Hew did youcom
to marry Brigham Young2 Did you
marry him of your own free will, or
were you forced TO marry him
BROTHERS TROUBLE.
Mrs. Young (rubbing her forehead
as if in pain, -Well,it is a long story
| did and | didn't. In the first place
the leaders of the church controlled
everything. Their will was law.
If one OF them said that he wanted
a woman, no woman dared refuse to
marry him. However much she
hated him, she sacrafced herself to
her fears. My first marriage was
an unhappy one, and my life had
been blighted. My brother was in
trouble, and l thought that by sacri-
fcing myself / could help him. He
had contract with Joseph Young
(Brigham's eldest SOM to put up q
great many telegraph poles. 1t cost
him great deal of money. The
President was concerned in the con-
tract, although his name did not APP
pear. When the work was complet-
ed they refused to pay my brother,
and he dared make no complaint.
Everyone was afraid of the Presi-
dent, and he did as he pleased with
out much regard to his promises.
NY brother couldn't meet the de-
mands against him, aud was forced
into bankruptcy. The Gentiles got
hold of his property, and this made
the President very angry. He had
intended that Col. Hooper should
take possession of my brothers. as
sets.
CONGRESSMAN HOOPER FoILED.
Correspondent Cnterrupting) =
Was this Congressman Hooper?
Mrs. Young - Yes, Congressman
Hooper. He is no more of Mormon
than you are, though ne pretends to
be. lie is closely associated with
Mr., Young, and is in the church for
what he can make, Well, the Presi-
dent was mad because my brothers
estate fell into the hands of the GEN.
tiles instead of Hooper's, and he cut
him off from tho church. IT was a
terrible blow to my brother, and we
all felt it very keenly. He seemed
to think chat if L married Mr.. Young
it would help him, and probably re-
store him to his position. So | sac
rifced myself as much as anything
else to help my brother.
Correspondent-How did Brigham
come to propose marriage to you?
BRIGHAM's CoURTsHIP.
Mrs. Young-We lived at Little
Cottonwood. ten miles south of here.
The President was down there at
tending one of his big meetings.
When the meeting was out he aske d
me if could walk home from church
with him. | said, 81 have no objec-
ton" He took my little boy by the
hand, and walked home with me.
On the way he asked me if l had
thought of getting married again,
and whether l had received any Of
fers of marriage. said that | had
two or three offers, but had refused
them. Then he said, "Let me give
you little advice. Don't marry
any man because you love him, but
marry some one that you can look
up to respect" That was all that
was said about marriage. had no
idea that he was speaking for him.
self. / looked upon him as father.
Why, he had always known me. He
held me upon his knee from the time
that | was baby. didn't imagine
that be wanted to marry me. He
stayed at our house TO dinner, al
though he had been invited and had
promised to go somewhere else. AT
ter dinner he took my father one
side and
PROPOSED TO MARRY NE.
| He said that he had always loved
me, and that be meant TO marry me
in the place. He would have done
il only that it was about the time
that Congress passed the act against
poly gamy. He thought that il
would be dangerous for him to take
another wife as soon after the pass
age of that act. While he was in
this quandary, and before he was
aware of it, | was married to my
| first husband. He told father that
| he didn't wish to force himself upon
me against my will, but that be al
ways loved me, and that had bet
ter consider the matter well. Ht
also asked father and mother bott
to use their influence with me. HI
left the house without saving q wore