Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-07-17
Nellie White, the Mormon.
Kate Field in Boston Herald.l

Who is Nellie White? She is a
tall, good looking girl, with brown
eyes and beautiful auburn hair aged
twenty, of English parentage. Her
mother is the sister of Mrs. 7. B. H.
Stenhouse, who apostatized fifteen
years ago and wrote book on polyg.
a my which has thrown no little light
upon this divine institution Mrs.
White was so devout a Mormon in
the old country as to obey counsel
and ''gather to Zion with her child
rem during her husbands absence at
sea. "Join the faithful" urged the
Elders, "and your husband will be
sure to follow" Sister White was
able to do so, for the reason that her
husband made her his banker. He
did follow her, and to-day both man
and wife are ardent saints. Mrs.
White is especially fanatlcal. and be-
lieves in polygamy as the sure road to
heavenly bliss. Some years ago when
living in the country, she told her
husband to go to Salt Lake City and
select new wife. The obedient
spouse did as he was told, found a
Scotch girl at his boarding house suit
ed to his requirements, and the nee
essary sealing" was soon performed.
Those who know the legal wife do not
think her as happy as in former years,
but never word passes her lips as to
the trials of polygamy. What can be
expected of the daughter of such a
mother? Nellie White, though pos
sessed of more than average intelli-
gence for girl born and reared in a
Mormon settlement, and is of re-
liglous temperament, believes implic-
itlv in her mother. From her child
hood she has known nothing but Nor
monism. She has been taught that
the revelation on marriage is from
God. When, then, Bishop Roundy.
of Wanship, aged sixty-fve, asked
Nellie White to become his third wife
and her mother encouraged the mar
riage, is it strange that the inexper.
fenced and obedient girl accepted the
proposal? How many average girls
anywhere brought up under similar
influences, would do differently 1t
is said that Nellie White was engaged
to young man before the ancient
bishop entered the lists as suitor, and
that the youthful rival was sent on q
mission in order to get him out of the
way. This holy game has been SO
often played here as to make it quite
credible in the present instance. That
Nellie White should have given up
monongomy and youth tor polygamy
and old age is quite possible, consid.
ering the influence of her mother,
which would all be thrown in the
religious" balance. The marriage
with Roundy occurred, I think, on
Thursday December Goth, 1883. l
heard of it through friends of the
Whites, who we're very indignant at
this violation of law and decency. ]
know, too, bow secretly the sealing
was consumated. Several days before
this event, Nellie White was ques.
toned by q friend as to the stand she
would take if she ever entered polyg-
amy and the law laid its hands upon
her. They might send me to prison,
they might do what they liked" re-
Piled the girl, with flashing eyes.
I'd die before I'd betray my
husband" Little did that friend
know what tender tender ground she
had been treading upon. After five
months of polygamlc honeymoon. Mel
lie White, otherwise Mrs. Roundy No
| 3, is shut up in prison.