The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-12-27
A WIDOW OF TWO PRESIDENT

The Death of Mrs. Emily Young,
One OF the Seventeen Wives of
Brigham Young-.Tbe First Wo-
man to be Joined in n Plural
Marriage.
The seventeenth grave in the burial
plot reserved for the wives Of Brigham
Young In the cemetery at Salt Lake
City, Utah, WAS filled few days ago
when the remains of MIS-. Emily Dow
| Partridge were laid In their last rest
ing place. The death of this woman,
which occurredIon the 9th inst, leaves
only two OF Brigham Young's wives in
1he land Of the living: They are Ann
| ELIZA, who became famous throug h
her lecturing tour ard who Is now liv-
ing In little Wisconsin town, and
Amelia Folsom, the last and favorite
wife of Brigham Young, who lives In
Salt Lake City.
Mrs. Emily Dow Partridge Young
occupied unique place In the history
OF the Mormon church. She was the
only woman who was eyor the wife of
| two presidents of the ecclesiastical
body. Her first husband was joseph
Smith, the original prophet, seer
and revelator " OF Mormoni.m. She
married the prophet In Nauvoo,
ILL.,, shortly after the "revel elation" per.
mitting plural marriages was received
by Smith.
At chat time Smith had but one
wife, Emma, and it is related that sh e
Cnered no objection when her husband
proposed to increase his domestic me.
mage by wedding Emily Dow Part.
ridge. Miss Partridge had gone TO
Missouri with her parents, who had
embraced the Mormon religion as the
result of visit OF Smith to their
home In Massachusetts. She became
one of the most devoted adhereuts OF
| the new faith, and when Smith cx.
| pressed desire to marry her she CON
| sented.
1t Is stated that she was the first
woman to become the Joint owner
with another woman OF husband.
Mrs. Smith lived with the prophet -
until he was stoned to death by a
Nauvoo mob In the meanwhile she
had met Brigham Young, who had
come into prominence as one OF the
leaders of the church. AS In the case
OF smith, Young was already married,
but he, too, was desirOus of other wives,
he proposed to Mrs Smith and she
married him. Later she crossed the
plains with her second usband and by
him had many children. To Mrs.
4onng,. probably more than to any
other Mormon woman, was due the
fastening OF the plural marriage system
on the church. She firmly elieyed
that the glory OF q man la the celestial
world would depend almost entirely ON
tho number OF wives he had in this
one. She urged her husban to tax,
more wives and insisted that her wo.
man acquaintances enter the plural re-
lation.
Although Amelia Folsom is called
the "favorite" wife OF Brigham Young,
and although he built palace for her
opposite to the chur ch offices, 1t was
to the relict OF Joseph Smith that he
turned oftenest for counsel and for
comfort In the troublous times that fol-
lowed the flight OF the Mormon colony
from Missouri. All Of Mrs. Emily Dow
Partridge YOung's children and grand
children are thorough Mormons. Two
OF her daughters became plural wives,
ono OF hem marrying George O. Can
non, who Is rated as the shrcwdost
Mormon OF them all. Another Of Mrs.
Young's daughters married FL. b.
ClawsOn, who ls prominent blshop
and Cannon's righthand man.
Mrs. Young's daughtor, Jose phine,
married DR.. Abort Darlington Young,
grandson OF Brigham Young. Thus
the husband Is his wifes nephew, his
father being the son of his spouse's
father. Brigham Young Ia at the same
time the grandfather and great-grand.
father OF their children. Dr.. Youne's
father is the father-in.law OF his sister
and grandfather Of his nephews and |
nieces. The mother OF these children |
10 their great aunt, and their father is
their cousin.
Mrs. Young was rs years old when
the end came. In spite of the hard.
ships she had endured, incident to the
early settlement OF the country, she
remained In vigorous health up to q
year or two ago: During the last few
months she failed rapidly, and sha
died at the residence OF her son -in-lsw.
Bishop ClawsOn The burial OF Mira.
Young brought out large gathering
OF pioneers. She was known to all Of
them, either personally or by reputa.
tion, and the last tribute to her mem
ory was impressive.
Amelia Folsom Young Is reported to
be In failing health and her demise ia
LOOK for at almost any time. 1t is like
ly that her grave will be the last n
The local Brigham Young burial plot.
Ann ELIZA renounced her Mormon re-
liglon at the time ,he went on her
.ecture tour In the early '7Os, and even
II she desired 1t the authorities would
not permit her burial near the other
wives.
1t is a curious fact that Brigham
Young expressly stipulated that none
)f his wives should be- buried In the .
same lot with him. He has grave
yard all to himself In the center OF the
,ity. 1t is a let that covers half an l
scre and 10 one OF the attractions for l
,Ourists who visit Salt Lake CITY. {