The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-09-06
Death of Brigham Young.

Brigham Young,tle head OF the M0rmons,
died at Salt Lake City August, 29th. He
was born at Whitman, Vermont, June l,
1901. He was the son of a farmer who had
served in the Revolutionary war, and receiv-
ed very little education. He learned the
trade OF painter and glazer, and mutually
cunning, he acquired plausible address,
and, joining the Baptist Church, he preach
ed occasionally, though he was never ordain.
ed. In 1882 he joined the Mormons at kirt-
land, Ohio, then under the leadership of
Joseph Smith. He was ordained Elder, and
was very successful in making proselytes in
the Eastern States. whittier he was sent for
that purpose. His shreWdness and energy
soon gave him influence with the ignorant
and superstitious adherents of Smith, and
he was chosen one Of the twelve apostles in
1885, and after the death OF Smith was made
President by the unanimous choice of the
apostles. His practical rival, Sidney Rigdon,
was communicated and Young was sent
ont to make converts. After the charter of
the city of Nauvoo had been revoked and
the city bombarded Young set out with his
followers in 1916 and going through weary
march across the plains, they reached the
Great Salt Lake valley. which he persuaded
them was the promised land Here he found
ed Salt Lake City, in July, lS47, became the
absolute ruler of the colony, and in 1919 Or
ganzed the Territory Of Deseret, and appli-
ed for admission into the Union. This was
denied by Congress, but the Territory of
Utah was organized in 1850, of which Young
was appointed Governor for four years. He
remained in authority till 1854, when, on
appointment Of Governor who was not a
Mormon, he felt strong enough to defy the
Government. The new Governor, Alexan-
der Cumming, was sent out with a military
force of $500 men. This brought matters
to crisis, and the Mormons submitted and
became peaceable. In 1852 Young ordained
the celestial order of marriage sanctioning
poygamy, which he declared had been re-
| vealed to Joseph Smith in July, 1858. Smiths
widow with her four sons at once denounc-
ed this as forgery, and headed a schism.
ThonglfShe Mormon apostles had repeated
| ly replied to the imputation OF such doc
trines or practice with the most emphatic
and explicit denials, the personal power of
Brigham Young was such that he had little
difficulty in establishing polygamy as an in
stitution of the Mormon Church.
| He took to himself large number OF
wives, most of whom reside in building
known as the ''Lion House, from large
lion carved in stone, which stands on the
portico. In 1864, his fifteenth wife LEFT him
and petitioned the United States Court for
a divorce. In addition to his Office as Presi-
dent of the Church, Young was Grand Ar
chez Of the Order of Danites, secret order
within the Church, which was one of the chief
sources of his absolute power; and by organ
izing and directing the trade and industry
of the community for his own advance he
acquired immense wealth.
The funeral Of Brigham Young took place
at Salt Lake on the I'd inst.
| An immense concourse of people from all
parts of the Territory assembled to attend.
There was probably twelve or fifteen thous-
and persons in the Tabernacle. The reli-
gious services commenced at II and contin-
ued until 2; remarks were made by Wood
ruff, Hyde, Cannon and Taylor eulogistic Of
the deceased and the great work he had per-
formed. The body was enclosed in plain
red wood coffin, and was borne to the grave
by employees of the late president.
The cortege was preceded by a band, and
followed by the family, the different orders
| of priesthood, and adherents, all on foot.
| The order of Brigham Young as to the
disposition of his remains, written in 1873,
was read, but nothing from him has been
made known as yet as to the successor to
the leadership of the church or disposition
OF his property.