The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-04-02
BRIGHAM YOUNG.
First settlement OF Mormons In Ohio
.-DrIghn,n's First Marriage.

FIRST settlement OF MOrmOn9 In Ohio
.-Drlghaln's First Marriage.
A Chardon, o., correspondent of
The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
writes: Learning that there were in
the Office of the probate judge of Gcau-
ga county some interesting facts to he
obtained in regard to the early life of
Brigham Young, the great Mormon,
your correspondent paid that Office visit
and was by the courtesy of Judge Smith
enabled to obtain the following
facts. never before published. 1t will
bc remembered that the little town of
Kirkland, at that time part Of Geauga
county. was the first gathering place.
of the Mormons. Brigham Young was
one of the earliest of them to come to
Kirkland, and soon after coming to the
place he met and soon married Miss
Mary Ann Angel. This was his first
and legal marriage. In the old records
of the probate court may still be seen
the original application Of Brigham
for the necessary license for this marri-
age and the certificate of the marriage
by Sidney Rigdon, another prominent
Mormon. BY the way, this Sidney Rig
don was at one time Baptist preacher,
afterward joined the Disciples, or, as
they were then called, Complexities.
and finally became Mormon. and
soon was among the greatest of that
sect. He was ut one time after he join
ed the Mormons, indited for solemniz-
ing the marriage of Orson Hyde, anoth-
or prominent Mormon, without legal
authority, but was acquitted on trial.
The copies for the application for IL
ccnsc and the certificate Of marriage
are US follows:
1.-The State of Ohio, Geauga County, 1855"
PERSONALLY appeared Brigham
Young and made application for u mar
riage license for himself and Mary Ann
Angel, of the township of Kirkland, in
said county. and made solemn oath that
he. the said Brigham Young, is Of the
age of twcnty-0ne years, and the said
Mary Ann Angel is Of the age of cigh-
teen years: that they are both single,
and not nearer ok than first cousins;
that he knows of no legal impeachment
against there being joined in marriage.
'.BRICKHAM YOUNG
"Sworn and subscribed this 10th day
of February, 1884. before ME.
..RALpH CowLEs, Dep. Clerk"
"Be it remembered, that on the thirty
first day of March, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-four, Brigham Young and Mary
Ann Angel, of the county of Geauga,
were legally joined in marriage by COM
petcnt authority, in conformity to the
provisions of the Statutes of the State
of Ohio, in such cases made and provid-
ed, and a certificate of the said marriage
signed by Sidney Rigdon, minister
who solcmnized the same, has been fill
ell in the Office of the clerk of the court
of the common pleas for the said coun-
ty of Gcauga. this the third day of
April, Ammo Domini one thousand eight
hundred and thirty-four.
"Attest: d. ID. AIKEN, Clerk"
The signature of Brigham Young to
the application above is a fac smile of
the original signature on the record. 1t
will be noticed as an evidence of Brig
HAMS illitcracy that he spells his name
Brickam Young, and spells the last
name with small or lowcr-casc 'y."
How such q man could obtain such a
control over the people as he did can
only be explained upon the hypothesis
that they were very ignorant or very
vicious, and his great personal magnet
ism and insight into human nature and
faculty of adapting himself to the diff
ferent natures, showed them that he
was II born leader.
There still live in Kirkland and in
Munson, in this county, ncphews Of
Mary Ann Angel, and they confirm all
the foregoing statements. There is still
living in Kirkland a small band of Nor
mons who cannot swallow the polyga-
nous portion of the religion. They
still hold meetings occasionally in the
old Mormon Temple in that place, and
crowds of curious people come from the
neighboring towns to see their pro-
ceedings: