Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-09-07
Brigham Young.

born in Vermont June / 1901. His father
was small farmer, and Brigham enjoyed
very few advantages in the way of edu-
cation. While yet quite a boy he was
apprenticed and learned the trade of
painter and glazier. During his early
youth he developed strong religious pro-
clivities and united with the Baptist
Church, and 1t is even said occasionally
preached about the country as he trav-
eled working at his trade.
In 1882 he was ordained an Elder of
the a' Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints" having been converted to
the Mormon faith a short time previous
ly, and began his peculiar and celebrated
career as preacher in the Mormon set
tlement at Kirkland, Ohio. Since that
time he has been closely identified with
the rise, spread, and interior history of
this religion, being for most of the time
practically the " Church" itself.
/ The church had already been started
as an organization in Manchester, N. Y,
and in 1891 removed, with all its mem
bers, to Kirkland, Ohio, under the leader
ship of Joseph Smith. At the period of
Young's ascension the government of the
church consisted of Presidency, of
which Smith, Rigdon and Frederick G..
Williams were the incumbents. His
talents and shrewdness speedily made
him prominent, and in February, 1885, a
further step in the organization was
made by the institution of the twelve
apostles, and he was ordained one of the
twelve and sent forth with the other
apostles. His field of labor was the
Eastern States, and he was signally sue
cessful in making converts.
In 1886 large and costly temple,
which had been for three years in proc
ess of building, was oonsecrated at Kirt-
land, and in 1887 OrsOn Hyde and Heber
G. Kimball were sent as missionaries to
England. In 1888, the bank at Kirkland
having. failed, Smith and Rigdon fed to
Missouri in the night, hotly pursued by
their creditors.
The Prophets were soon surrounded by
the faithful in Missouri, and the colony
throve for a while notwithstanding the
enmity of the Missourians. This broke
out at last in a fierce contest, and the
Saints to the number of 10, 900 took ref
uge in Illinois. The town of Nauvoo
was started under charter from the
Legislature of Illinois. When the reve.
lation of celestial marriage became pub
lie, great deal of Indignation was felt
even in Nauvoo, and serious disturbances
took place, the result of which was that
Smith and his brother Hyrum were
thrown into prison at Carthage, ILL.,, where
they were murdered by mob June 81
1874.
Smiths death caused great agitation
and confusion among his followers, but
the Council of the twelve apostles unan-
imously elected Brigham Young, and
from that day to the day of his death the
history of Brigham Young and the his
tory of MoPmonism are one.
In 1S45 the Legislature of Illinois re
voked the charter of NauvOo, and THE
Saints determined to emigrate beyond the
Rocky Mountains. In February, 1916
the first emigrants crossed the ice bound
Mississippi, stopped while in Iowa, ant
then marched under strict discipline
across the great wilderness. Brigham
Young arrived in the Salt Lake Valley
July "a, 1S47, and the main body of the
Mormons in the fall of 1S4S.
Salt Lake City was soon founded, ar
emigration fund established, and settlers
poured in from all over the world. Ii
1850 the Government admitted the new
Territory under the name of Utah, anC
commissioned Brigham Young as Gov
ernor and Indian Agent. District Judges
were also appointed by the Federal au
tkority, but these were regarded with
great dislike by the President of th'
church and the Saints generally, anC
were finally driven out of the country il
| 1851.
Brigham Young was now suspended
from his office of Governor and Col. Step
toe appointed in his stead. He arrives
in Utah in 1854, but found it prudent t
withdraw from the country. The Nor
mon President said boldly at this time
Il am and will be Governor, and NJ
power can hinder me until the Lord Al
mighty says; Brigham, you need not b
Governor any longer" During the en-
suing year collisions between the churcl
and Federal officials became so frequen
that the whole of the latter were force,
to leave the Territory. A new Governor
Alfred Cumming, was appointed in 1857
as also a new Superintendent of India
Affairs; besides force of 2, 800 was sen
under Gen. Harney to enforce obedienc
to the national laws. Brigham Youn
attacked the supply trains and forced tn
expedition to winter at some distanc
from Salt Lake. Early next year negC
tiations were had, and the Mormons sui
mitted to the Federal authority.
A nominal regard for the suprem
authority OF the General Government ha
been maintained ever since the time al
luded to, but there was and is but on
law or authority recognized by the MOI
mons, and that is the church, throug
its hierarchy. ..
Brigham Young was assisted in tn
Presidency by Daniel @. Wells an
Heber G. Kimball, with twelve apostle
and two bodies of the priesthood bui
while the doctrines Of the church Civ
these some authority, as a matter OF fac
everything and everybody over the lengt
and breadth of the great Territory Q
Utah has bowed to the iron will of Brig
ham Young. rraHs51
There are many dark and bloody page
in the history of the Mormon occupatio
of Utah, the most terrible and notorior
of the list being the Mountain Meade
massacre, for which John ID. Lee suffere
death but little while ago. The gel
eral history of that deed is so fresh
the minds of the people that it is unne
essary to speak of the details beyond Il
implication of Brigham Young in u
crime. 1t is more than probable that hi
Brigham lived the onus of that massac
would have been liked upon him legall
even IS he has borne itnOrally for maj
years. Evidence In the hands of the a.
thorities is said to fix upon him beyoI
peradventure the instigation of q
! whole fiendish job, and there has been
growing determination on the part Of q
Government lately to bring him to justiC
| Yet despite all that is charged again
/ him there is a side to the late prophe
character which demands some attentio
! He found the greater part Of the count
: occupied by his people as a wildernel
] without rain, without verdure. He
7 troduced comprehensive system OF u
a cation, which has changed that wild
= ness, for the most part, to gards
: The public works Of his capital are ere
I table, and the natural prosperity OF
t Mormons as a community is not oI