Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-08-30
Death Of Brigham Young.

Brigham Ycu0g, the head Of the Morm0ns,
died at Salt lake City yesterday afternoon tie
vas born at Whittubam. Vermont June i,
1901. lie was the son of a farmer who had
served ia the Revolutionary war, aud received
very little education. lie learned the trade OF
painter aud glazer, aud naturally cunning,
be acquired plausible address, and, joining
the Baptist Church. he preached occasionally,
though he vas never ordained. Ia 1882 he
oucd tim Mormous at Kirtland, Ohio, then
under be leadership of Joseph Smith. He was
ordained Elder and was very successful in max
Jog proselyte5 in the Eastern States, whittier
be Was SEPT Tor that purpose. Ills shreWdness
and gucrgy soon gave him lohueDce With the
Ignorant and superstitious adhercnts OF Smith,
and he vas choseu one CT the twelve apostles
ic 1885, and alter the death OF Smith was
made President by the uDaumOus choice OF the
apostles His practical rival Sidney R:gdoo,
was communicated and Young was sent cut
to make converts. Alter tie charter OF the city
uf Nauyoo had been revoked and the city bonn.
barted Young set out with his followers in
1916 aud going through weary march across
The plains, they reached the Great Salt Lake
u W
isel Land. Here be founded Salt Lake City, in
co!ooy, aud n 1919 organized the Territory of
Deseret, and applied for admission into the
Union. This was denied by Congress, but the
Territory CT Utah was organized in 1850, of
which Young was Appointed Governor for four
years lie remained il authority till 1854,
When, on the appointment ola Governor who
was rot Mormon, he felt strong enough to de-
~ toe Government. The new Governor Alex.
aoder Cumming, was sen: out with a military
force O! ., 500 men. This brought matters to o
crisis, and the MOrmons submitted and became
pcaocabie, ln 1852 Young ordained the celestial
order Of marriage sanctlonng po|ygaDy, which
nc declared had been revealed 10 Joseph Smith
in July, 1858 Smiths widow with her four
sens at once denounced this as forgery, and
headed schism. Though the Mormon apos-
ties bad repeatedly replied to the imputaion
Of such doctrines or practice with the most en-
rhatic and explicit denials, the personal power
of Brigham Young was such that he had little
difficulty in establishing polygamy IS an lnsti-
tutian Of the Mormon Church.
lie .o2k to himself large number Of wives,
most Of whom reside in building Known as
the Lien House. from large lion carved in
store, which stands on the portico. Ia 1874,
his fifteenth wife left him and pctitioned the
Unilcl States Cous, Tor divorce. In addition
to his Office as President of the Church. Young
was Grand Archee Of the Order Of Danites, 8
secret order within tho Church, which was one
Of the chief sources of bis absolute power; and
by organizing and directing the trade and in.
dustry CT the community for his own advance
he acquired immense wealth. An accusation Of
being accessory to the horrible Mountain Mead.
CIV Massacre was pending against hin. The
evidence was sufficient to cause the execution
Of Bishop Lee, one Of the principals in the
murder, and was, it is said, equally as strong
against Young.