The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-08-07
AMELIA FOLSOM.
THE RULE OF BRIGHAM YoUN2s IA
voRITe, Number SEVENTEEN"
Not Pretty Nor Attractive, but Posssssed
OF Naive Shrewdness and Haot-Ths
Prophet Was Grfsvously
Afraid OF Her.
[Lisle Lester In New York World. |

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his sealed wives in glory only about one
year when his avorite-pslygamous favor
lite, Amelia Folsom stepped into another
harem number two in the household Of
Mormon railr nd official Amelia Folsom
was then about IS years Of are, and among
the younger women Of the Young harsm.
She was the first to re-enter polygamy after
Briglam's death, and her days Of mourn.
ing" were probably long enough to add zsst
to the new courtship As soon as Brigham
1shutilsd orr his mortality and passed be-
hind that vail where a score Of sealed divhi-
ties awaited him, the long petted Amelia set
about making "A change" She placed her.
self second in the new household. She
found that she could not live in the same ex-
travagance, as the property Of her much
marriel lord was subject to litigation, and
secured her chance against disaster in her
second polygamic marriage.
She went to Salt Lake City with her
parents, who were converts to Mormonism
in Council Bluffs. Ia. and emdgrated there
from in 1859. In 1851 Brigham had one Of
his convenient revelations to marry Amelia
She was not easily led into the family Of
sixteen other wives, and proved .
refractory subject for Mormon courtship.
Finally through what Is called "counssl,"
otherwise the will Of the prophet enforced,
which every good Mormon will obey ard re-
CARDS as the word Of superhuman prophecy,
she became the seventeenth wife. and al
ways held her place as his favorite. She Is
far from being an attractive woman and Il
without any special talents; but she Is
possessed Of naive shrewdnsss and tact and
was in constant employ in "moulding the
old man" to her capricious win. She was
ntxyn ha ,.nI 60 ~ aHr xxH
and she exercised her power accordingly.
She was unpopular with the rest OF the
wives, who usually companioned well to
gether; her unrefined, coarse nature stood
out prominently beside the others
1t used to be q common remark among
the more intelligent Of his wives that the
lack Of refinement in Amelia and her taste
for vulgar repartess and wftticism was the
main attraction that kept the old prophet at
her side. He certainly enjoyed her society
and was afraid Of her tongue. which he
knew she could use to his modification and
disadvantage, not only In his househ old, but
In the church and where YER she might
choose to do so. Unless every thing W ent to
suit her will, she made things for the
prophet very lively. Her whims, freaks and
high temper were all borne with uncom-
planning patience by Brigham Young, while
all this rest OF the family wondered. For
over all his wives and children he held q
kind Of dignifsd reserve and awe that made
them all reticent and silent In his presence.
Amelia was the only exception.
Some years prior to Brigham's death she
was given a separate house and always
made o better appearance In dress than any
Of the rest. She drove in her own carriage
and was given the place OF honor at the
theatre in the prophets private box, while
his other wives and children occupied three
tires of the best seats in the parquet Other
ma ks Of honor fell to Amelia She was the
first partner In the dances they attended
and was always seated In the chair of honor
ut his side at all banqusts. His other "bet-
ter pieces of wives waited for such atten-
tions as fell to their divided lot after the
favorite was waited on. This marriage Of
the Mormon seer was highly disapproved by
the church authorities at the time No one
considered Amelia q suitable person for the
wifs Of a prophet
Amelia Folsom has blue eyes that open at
one in bold, steady defiance with a glance OF
naive cunning and shire ewdness; medium
height, a good figure brown hair, straight
thin nose and generally tapsring features
Her manner Is free and familiar, rather
boisterous at times, utterly regardless of the
feelings Of others, and she has a relish for
gossip. She was always q cause Of disturb
ance between the children of the other
wives and the prophet, but, being tho favor
ite, her intrigues were overlooked by her
polygamous master.
One Of her characteristic pasti1nss was
spending few hours with some Of the less
favored wives and indulging jokes and stor.
les on Brigham-telling what he had con.
fded to her, upon matters he did not expect
to be spoken of. Some of this gossip relative
to the ''old man" she spiced up with her ad.
ditions and merriment, always tending to
make him as ridiculous as possible
Amelia's open revolt to Brigham's author.
ity was one Of her chief boasts, and among
his wives it was a common remark, "H one
Of US had said or done what Amelia did we
should have heard Of IL before this" In her
way she was as great tyrant over him as
he was over the church. Whatever she set
her mind to do that she did, irrespective Of
his wish or opposition.
To have her enmity was dangerous to any
person, man or woman, who depended for
favor and prosperity on Brigham's favor.
They knew Amelia's power ovor the prophet
and stood in fear of her accordingly. Her
home in Salt Lake City before Brigham's
death was ono Of the best in the City Of
Saints. It stood opposite the Lion and Bee.
Hive houses, and was the envy Of others
who felt the need and realized the value Of
sole possession and authority Of ones own
household that this favorits wife practically
enjoyed.