Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-11
Brigham YOung's Wives.
Who They Were and Their History

Correspondence Ofhe Cincinnati Gazette.
Brighams physique was the very best that cool'
hardy Vermont could furnish. He was put up by
nature to last the century, but it appears that
tronble, dissipation and certain mysterious accI-
dent of six or seven years ago have shortened his
life twenty -four years His youngest child, daugh-
ter OF Margaret Van Colt Young, was born IN
1870; his eldest, now the wife of Edmund Els
worth, must have been born as early as 1873, Tor
b * ham was widower with two daughters when
he Joined the Mormons; and his grandchildren in
this line are now well advanced men aud women.
So his active parental lie covered a period OF
forty five years, and (thougn have no late re-
turus) his children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren number at least 10. Not bad for
an akali country Add widows and sons in-law,
and the number interested in the estate amounts
to nearly 200.
The cid man has outla,ted three generations OF
wives, and made pretty good start on the fourth
for he married Amelia Folsom eleven years ago,
and the last time saw her she was beg inning 10
look like an old woman. Brigham lost his hrs
wife quite young. Her daughters are both IN
polygamy-that is, their husbands have other
"women" than them, and have large families.
Their daughters also have many children, and
counting his first and second wives, it is sand by
some who ought to know that Brigham's legti-
mate offspring are, after all, nearly as numerous
a. his illes itmste. About the time he was "con-
verted," he married Mary Ann Angel. She is
| his present legal wife, and has lived for many
lyears in the white cottage on the bench that
| IL, on the hill Just back of Biigham's. She was
| OF the same age Brigham, and, about 1913 he
began on his second lot OF wives. Joe Smith got
| his "Revelation ON Celestial Marriage" July r.
| 1913, and, as soon the eater as Brigham could
get authority, he married the Decker sisters. One
of them Lucy, had been tor some time married
to DIR. Seely, of Nauvoo, but the IIign Council
set that mani age aside, and Brigham took her
and the doctor Went to grass
His iouith wife was Harriet Cook, whom he
took soon sitter the exodus from Nauvoo; but she
was a "rebe llous sLiriI," and at Winter Quarter
now Florence, Nebraska 1.-The devil entered into
and did possess her.' (tor possession" and the
pan of relief adopted, see Captain Dan Jones
| account IN the llth volume OF the Mileunial
Star; also Pratts Key to Tn, oogy, and other
Mormon work-.) As result she rallied on Brig
ham aud denounced poIygamy, and ended by n.y.
ing 10 straugle her baby, Oscar Young. Bnghe IN
managed to prevent that, aud IN due time the
devil leil her, but he swore sue should never be-
| come u mother the second time Aud sne did
not lie marrItd a few more wives while esta1-
| shipg the settlement IN Utah; but all ol this
| lot teured as carly as 1900 or 1860.
Ills great favurIle then, aud the one who re-
| tanned his affections the long est, was Emmelln,
| Free, iron NV Hampshire. Aud she was lruly
| II lovely woman. Her chIdien are, | thine, the
| handsomest OF BlIghans offspring, and she bore
| hun ten. lie was proud OF her beauty aud &c.
| cumpllshments, auu Tor at least twe.ve years she
Was beyond question the q1eeu Of his heart. But
youth and beauty can | last always, aud about
| 1860 81 igh ham began 10 hauker Tor new deal
| linen Eumeine became desperate. she applied
| TO Mary Ann Augel, the first wife, for hep 10
prevent another mari lsgc, but the latter long
past taking any interest IN sucu tnlugs. Atei
| two Oh three TRIALS vita rather common wives
| who did not please him more than few moutns,
| 81 hams affections twlned around Amelia FoI.
| som, aud there they have ~clung ever since, save
| Tor u few SIDE disturbances, most noted oil winch
| was the allmoLious Anu Eliza. Emmelne was ut
orally heart brohen, aud, 10 add to her troubles
she had To bear the Ouches and tauuts o thOst
sue had once displaced. she took 10 opium foi
consOiatlon, and died IN the summer OF 1879 a
perfect wreck-a confirmed "mUrpnIue drama
| aTd!'