Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-09-13
Obituary.
Cincinnati Enquirer.

Mormon Church, died Wednes-
dry, 29th nit, at Salt Lake City,
having attained the age of sew
! ty-six years. Though not the
founder of the strange reli-
gious sect which has filed, SO
important a part in the history
of the last forty years, be was
| its ablest support, its Executive,
its perpetuator in fact; and with
his demise it is more than prob
able that the Church itself will
soon drop out of existence.
Brigham Young was born at
Whittingham, Vermont, on the
first day of June, 1901, and
grew up, as many New Eng
land boys do, under the strict
religious teachings. of Calvin-
ism. He was married while
still living in his native State,
and at the age of thirty he be-
came a convert to the preach
ing of 10 Smith, the founder
of the Mormon Church, who,
with Sidney Rigdon, had COM
menced their work of proselyt-
ing in Northern New York,
where the Church had its ORR
gin, ,-and speedily extended their
labors to New England. Brig
ham speedily became imbued
with ambition, and took rank
almost at once as one of the
leading spirits Of the organiza-
ton. In 1881, when Smith
claimed that he had a revela-
ton commanding him to lead
the people to Kirkland, in this
State, Brigham was one of his
most earnest believers and most
willing followers. With the
little band of seventy-five or
one hundred, which then con-
stituted the Church, he came to
Kirkland, and assisted in organ
izing their Church, and, few
years later, in building the first
Mormon Temple, a building
which stands in that now al
most deserted village. In 1882
Brigham was made an Elder in
the Church, and began preach
ing. Three years later he was
made one of the Twelve Apos-
ties that 10 Smith sent out, hav-
ing for his associates in that
calling Orson Hyde and Heber
G. Kimball. In 1888, when
10 Smith and Sidney Rigdon
were mobbed at Kirkland for
their wildcat banking opera
tions, and fled. to Missouri to
escape the indignation OF the
"Gentiles," Brigham remained
with the band of believers at
Kirkland, and helped to settle
up their affairs preparatory to
their exodus to the West. He
and Kimball were installed as
leaders of the Church in their
migrations, and in spite Of the
rigors of the winter season and
the long distance which had to
be traversed in wagons, and by
many on foot, he succeeded in.
some two thousand
believers to the haven of rest,
that 10 Smith had assured them,
they wotld enjoy in Missouri.
Here he remained with them for
two years, or until the exaspe-
rated Missourians drove them
away once more. Next he went
with them to Nauvoo, Illinois,l I
where, in I841, he assisted ini
building the second and greater
Temple. In 1874 10 Smith was
killed by a mob while in Jail in
Carthage, Missouri, and Brig
ham Young became the ruling
spirit of the Mormon Church.
Sidney Rigdon aspircd to be
recognized as the President of
the Church, but Brigham de-
feated him at the election for
that Office, and made his seat
secure for the future. Rigdon
was cut off from the Church,
cursed and formally delivered
over to damnation.
In the year 1915 the town
charter of Nauyoo was Repealed
by the Legislature of Illinois,
and the Mormons were again.
compelled to seek safety from
the popular uprising of the peo--
pie by flight after the town had
been bombarded for three days
and its people driven out at the
bayonet's point. Brigham
Young at this time decided to
make a final stand somewhere
in the extreme West, aud for
this purpose set out for q trip
across the Plains. He arrived
at Salt Lake Valley July q,
1917. and decided 20 found his