The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-04-01
A TALE OF HORROR.
A Mormon Bishop Married Five Girls
of One Family.
SISTER MARRIAGES A CUSTOM

SISTER MARRIAGES a CUSTOM.
Old Brigham Young Was Among the
First to Set the Example, and
it Has Been Religiously
Tolerated.
When Andrew Jansen, of Salt Lake,
the historian Of the Mormon Church,
was recently called to testify before
the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections in the Smoot trial,
resident of Utah who was in the COM
mittee room said:
Now you'll hear startling story.
Jansen has three wives. He married
two sisters, and he was later sealed
for eternity to their MOTHER
This was promptly verified by Jan
sen. He said that lie had married
two young girls who were sisters, and
that both these girls were then living
with him in one house in Utah.
Investigation disclt SIS that these
sister marriages" are now, aud have
been, customary among the Mormons.
Brigham Young was among the first
to set the example. In th3 early part
OF his matrimonial career he made the
acquaintance of two beautiful girls in
Utah. Soon after he met them he
received divine revelation" admon-
iShing him to endow them with all his
worldly goods that is, all that had
not been distributed among the wives
he already had. These girls were
twins, and it was difficult even for
members of their family to distinguish
one from the other. brigham Young
determined to wed one of them.
TWIN TAKES BRIDES PLACE.
On the day Of the ceremony, how
ever, tue chosen sisters heart failed
her, and she persuaded the other one
to take her place at the altar. Brig
ham Young did not discover the de-
ception for several days. When he
learned the facts he sent the bride
inoo eXile-forbidding her all com
pany for Il number of years. Soon
aftcrward he welded the other sister.
1t is fashionable for high dignita
rcS OF the Mormon Church to enter
these sister marriages" Among the
wives vi the late president OF the
Church, Lorenzo Snow, we're two sis.
ters. Joseph Il. Smith, president of
the church, welded the two LamSon
girls, first Julia and later Edna.
Francis Marion Lyman, an apostle OF
the Church has plural wives. Among
them are the Calister girls Clara
and Susln, OF Fillmore, Utah. George
TeaSdalc, another apostle, welded
Mary Loretta PiXton ana her sister,
Of Ncphi, Utah.
Angus NJ. Cannon, State President
at Bluiliale, Utah, numbers among
his wives two sisters whose maiden
name" was MouSlcy. One ceremony
was sufficient for both Weddings.
THREE SISTER WIVES IN ONE HOUSE
The late Bishop johnson, of Spring
vile, Utah, welded five sisters. Ste
phen Moat, of American Fork, Utah,
welded three sisters, all of whom,
with their score or more of children,
live in one house at American Fork.
Ions Newman, of Monroe, Utah,
varied the mOnotony Of his matrimo
nial life by marrying two buXom Utah
wOmen-the first Of whom is the
mother of the second. Joseph Atkins,
of Preston, Idaho, followed Newman's
example.
William Parkinson, of Franklin,
Idaho, welded a woman whom "the
cruelty of fate" placed in his hands.
In 1857 company of pioneers max
ing their way to California, was at
tackled by MnrmOnS, seeking wives.
All were ma. sacred except the wo.
men and seventeen children from one
TO eight years of age. These seven
teen children were reared by the Nor
mons who had slaughtered their ia.
theirs. One OF them, when she grew
up to womanhood, became the plural
wife OF Parkinson.
BISHOP HOLDS THE RECORD
William Vaughan, the Bishop Of
Milisylle, Utah, holds the record for
sister marriages" Among his wives,
are three pairs OF sisters. He went
through the temple" three times, and
each time he carried two sisters on his
arms.
The late George @. Cannon, one of
the apostles, welded the Tully sis
tcrS.
Emanuel Bailey, of Oakly, Idaho,
married three sisters Charlotte, Lot
tie and IIulda. Another Mormon
who welded three sisters is George
Stanger, OF Warm Creek, Idaho.
Alma Merrill, son Of Apostle Mer.
rill welded the two Hendricks girls.
They live at Richmond, Utah.
Ole Berg, Of Richticld, Utah, has
two wives. They are sisters and their
names are Brighamina and JCslphina.
Mariah Smart and her sister, Char
lotte, are the wives Of S. r.. Parkin-
son, Of Preston, Idaho.
Ilyrum Watson'S case may ftly
close the list. Hyrum welded two
sisters on the same day. Less than a
year after wife No. had twin boys.
Four days later wife No. 2 had twin
girls.
MORMONs WHO MARRIED SISTERS.
Brigham Young, two sisters.
Andrew Jansen, Church Historian,
two sisters.
Lorenzo Snow, late president, two
sisters.
Joseph +. Smith, president of
church, two sisters.
Francis Marion Lyman, apostle,
two sisters.
George Teasdale, apostle, two sis
ters.
Angus NJ Cannon, State President,
two siSserS at one time.
Late Bishop johnson five sisters