Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-04-15
Ann gsliZH Young.

RECITAL OF HER EXPERIENCES IN THE roIHGAMIG
RELATION IN UThH-TItE WIFE OF THE CHIEF RU-
LER, BUT NEGLECTED. IMPOVERISHED, HGnuI.IA-
TED.
Mrs. Ann Eliza Young told in simple narrative
at theOpera House, Friday evening, the sad stoly
of her life spent almost wholly in Utah, and a
part of the time as tho nineteenth wife of Brig
ham Young. Her audience was a fine ono for a
lecture and with tho exception of Coughs, was
probably tho largest drawn by and lecturer in
Wilmington for years.
Mrs. Young said she was reared in Utah, and
the doctrines of the Mormon faith were inatilled
into her mind at an early ago. Her parents
were Eastern people, her mother school teach
or of good education and refinement, but they
immgrated to Utah soon after tho birth of her.
self, the youngest child. After their arrival in
Utah, her father brought to his homo second
wife, WHO lived very pleasantly with her mother
for twelve years, but strong M was her mother =
belief in the Mormon faith she could detect traces
OF sorrow in her life Which she could not then
understand but which she now knows was occa-
stoned by tile system Of plural wives
When nineteen years of age Mrs. Young was
married to Mormon by whom she had two
children. They lived several years together in
n monogamc relation, bat all tho time Mrs.
Young says sle was in constant dread, and even
threats, OF the introduction OF another wife into
her home. This marriage was AZ unfortunate
as her second, for her husband treated her in a
brutal manner, she said, until she had recourse
to the Courts and obtained divorce.
Her marriage with Brigham Young was effect
ed in a sort of n business way, he seeking the
relation through her father and brother, between
whom and the latter existed a business trausac-
tion which seemed TO place the family at his
mercy To herself tho unIon was far from sat
isfactory. but they were finally married secretly
in the Endowment House, this being done Brig
ham said to prevent Interference from the U. $.
Courts. He had only three months previously
married his 18th wifo i'll a similar manner,
though the fact was not known to
the two wives. After her marriage
Mrs. Young repaired at once to her fathers resi-
denco, some miles distant from Salt Lake,
where she was joined by Brigham for a short
| time a week afterward.
This marriage seems not to have boon one OF
affinity, and Mrs. Young claims to have maintain
| iicult to sec how she could do even
this much. for according to hei
story, she was set up at housekeeping
with tho bare necessaries OF life, neglected, hui
inflated and even compelled to support herself
and children, and If she procured any linery she
| incurred the dirpleasure of her children. While
living on farm she performed nlena service
selling the products Of her dairy in Salt Lake
city herself, while her mother, who was thel
| living with her, performed the drnagery work o
| the household and when her health failed, theI
Brigham sought to cast her OIL, and her presenc,
was only tolerated by her brother paying hc
| board.
We cannot follow Mrs. Young in the sad reci
| tai of her trials. Suffice it to say they wer'
grievous and humliatiug beyond degree, ibu
She now rejoices in the ordeal inasmuch a
through it she was led to seek tho personal lib
orty and freedom of conscience Which she noN
possesses. She made her escape in close car
iiage, after spending few weeks with the Gen
tiles, driving to the Union Pacific r. Il. and tax
ing tine cars east. Her mother was much griev
| el Mt her ualgh err ADostaSy, and in lette
full of emotion conveyed her regrets, but she
too, has apostasized, but still remains int Utah.
Brigham Young is 70 years of age. She say
he has fifteen wives of his own. his other fo,l
boiug proxy wives of Joseph Smith, and Ii
claims that all tho children by these wives ar
the children of the dead prophet, and will be re
: Joined to him in heaven. Amelia il his fayoril
wife, and il so, 1st, because of her ability
fathom the man, rejecting his counsels an
scorning his religion; and 2nd., because of til
ungoveruaae temper which she possesses, al
to which Brigham bends with an almost servi
obeliencn