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THE MORMON PROPHET AND HIS HAREM; OR, AN AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG, HIS NUMEROUS WIVES AND CHILDREN MRS. C V. WAITE, — " And with a piece of scripture, Tell them, — that God bids us do good for evil. And thus I clothe my naked villainy With old odd ends, stol'n forth of Holy Writ, And seem a saint, when most I play the devil." FIFTH EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. CHICAGO: J. S. GOODMAN AND COMPANY, CINCINNATI: C. F. VENT AND COMPANY, 1867, Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by CATHARINE V. WAITE, Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Second Judicial District of the Territory of Idaho. RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED H. 0. H0UGHT0N AND COMPANY. PREFACE. No apology is offered for presenting to the public the only authentic account of Brigham Young, of his polygamous family, and of that complicated and incon- gruous system of social and political machinery, called Mormonism. The only form of religion in this country which re- fuses to conform either to the spirit of progress and im- provement and enlightened humanity which charac- terizes the age in which we live, or to our laws and the genius of our free institutions, — drawing constant- ly from foreign countries hosts of votaries, impelled hither not by a love of republicanism, but rather by a desire to exchange a political for a religious mon- archy, — is Mormonism, which presents an antagonism to our Government, and can scarcely fail to result in national trouble. The elements of a second rebellion are in active pro- gress in Utah, and, as in the case of the slavery rebel- lion, the great danger lies in failing to place a proper estimate upon the power of those elements for mischief, and to take the proper precautions in time. Religious fanaticism is more active, and, when hostile, more dan- gerous, than political ambition; hence the arrogant and intolerant spirit, and the bitter hostility of the Mor- mons, are more worthy the serious attention of our 4 PREFACE. statesmen than would be the opposition of so many mere political traitors. Again; their power for mischief is much increased by the position they occupy upon the great thorough- fare between the eastern and western portions of our country. It is with the view of calling the attention of the Government and of the people of the country to the dangerous character of this monarchy growing up in the midst of the Republic, that the political history of Utah has been written. The chief interest of the work, however, with a large class of readers, will doubtless consist in the in- formation it contains, relative to the family and social relations of the celebrated Mormon leader. These, and all other facts contained in this volume, may be relied upon as true, and many of them are now pub- lished for the first time. The subject of polygamy is treated thoroughly, and as dispassionately as the writer's utter abhorrence of the system will permit. A residence of two years in the midst of this state of society, could not fail to afford me a tolerably good view of its inside workings, and this view I have presented to my readers. Some of the facts narrated in this volume have been furnished by persons in Salt Lake, who are thoroughly conversant with them; in some cases, by persons who have long been in the service of Young, and know whereof they relate. While I am not at liberty to mention their names, I take this opportunity to return them my thanks for such valuable information. This book is believed to be a desideratum demanded by the social and political well-being of the country, PREFACE. 5 and as such it is presented to the consideration of the people of this country, and especially to my own sex, who are deeply interested in preventing the frame- work of our social system from being broken up and superseded by the customs and maxims of the worst ages of barbarism. To the suffering women of Utah, I especially dedi- cate this result of my labors in their behalf; and I am not without hope that many of them may, upon a pe- rusal of its pages, be induced to retrace their steps, and rescue themselves from the snares of the religious impostors now seeking their destruction. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. PAGE The Birth and Parentage of Brigham Young. — His Brothers and Sisters. — He embraces Mormonism, and becomes a Leader. — Is appointed President of the Twelve, and finally placed at the Head of the Church, to succeed Joseph Smith.—-Establishes the Mor- mons in Salt-Lake Valley ......... 1 CHAPTER II. POLITICAL. Brigham as Governor of Utah and Superintendent of Indian Affairs. — Formation of the State of Deseret. — Proceedings of the Utah Legis- lature.— Brigham's Proclamations. — Difficulties with the Federal Officers. — Proceedings of the First Judges. 11 CHAPTER III. POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. Colonel Steptoe and Brigham Young.—Brigham reappointed Gov- ernor.— John F. Kinney. — Western Utah, or Nevada. — Letter of Hon. James M. Crane. — Judge Stiles and the Records.—W. W. Drummond 26 CHAPTER IV. POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. — THE MORMON WAR. Report of the Secretary of War. — Proclamation of Governor Brigham Young, declaring Martial Law. — Correspondence. — Sermons of Young and Kimball. — Proclamation of Governor Cumming. — 8 CONTENTS. PAGE His Echo Canyon Adventures. — Col. Kane. — The Mormons leave Salt Lake. — Commissioners appointed by the President. — Peace restored. 40 CHAPTER V. POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. The Mountain Meadow Massacre, and other Crimes of the Mormons. — Attempts to bring the Perpetrators to Justice. —Doings of Judge Cradlebaugh. — Governor Cumming and the Military Officers. — Judge Sinclair's Court. — Governor Dawson and his Misfortunes. — New Governor and Associate Justices appointed 60 CHAPTER VI. POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. Arrival of the New Federal Officers, in July, 1862. — Colonel Connor arrives with his Command. — The Message of Governor Harding. — The Mormons Indignant. — The Legislature refuse to print the Mes- sage. —Action of the United States Senate thereon. — Forgery in the Mormon Legislature. — Bill of Judge Waite to amend the Or- ganic Act. — Indignation Meeting. — Governor Harding and Judges Waite and Drake requested to leave the Territory. — Their Replies. —Brigham. — The Federal Officers. 78 CHAPTER VII. BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. Organization of the Mormon Church. — Functions of the various Offi- oers. — The Two Priesthoods. —Mode of treating Dissenters or "Apostates. "—Divisions in the Church. — The Gladdenites. — History of the Morrisites. — The Josephites. — Return to the True Mormon Church 114 CHAPTER VIII. BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. Nature of the Trusteeship. — The Tithing System. —Brigham's Pri- vate Speculations. —The Emigration Fund. — The Hand-Cart Com- pany 132 CHAPTER IX. BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. Brigham's Position as Head of the Church. — Mormon Theology. — CONTENTS. 9 PAGE Brigham's Theology, or Utah Mormonism. —Adam as God. -— Brigham Young as God. — Human Sacrifice. — Introduction of Polygamy. — Polygamy no part of the Original Mormon Religion. —The Revelation, or Celestial Marriage. — The Ceremony of Seal- ing. — Consequences and Incidents of the Doctrine. — Incest. -— Summary of the Mormon Religion 153 CHAPTER X. BRIGHAM AS LORD OF THE HAREM. Brigham's Block. — The Lion House. — The Tithing-House. —The Bee-Hive House. Office, etc. — Description of the Harem, — Plan, Rooms, etc., of each Floor, and who occupies the same. — Life at the Harem. — Brigham at Home 177 CHAPTER XI. THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. Mary Ann Angell Young, the first wife. — Her Family. —Lucy Decker Seely, the first wife in Plurality. — More of " My Women ": Clara Decker, Harriet Cook, Lucy Bigelow, Twiss, Martha Bowker, Har- riet Barney, Eliza Burgess, Ellen Rockwood, Susan Snively, Jemi- ma Angell, Margaret Alley, Margaret Pierce, Mrs. Hampton, Mary Bigelow, Emeline Free, or the Light of the Harem. — Proxy Wo- men: Miss Eliza Roxy Snow, Zina D. Huntington, Amelia Par- tridge, Mrs. Cobb, Mrs. Smith, Clara Chase, the Maniac. — Amelia, the last love. — The Prophet in love the Thirtieth Time 191 CHAPTER XII. POLYGAMY. Condition of Woman among various Heathen Nations. —Influence of Christianity. —Mormonism and Woman. —Brigham offers to set the Women Free. —Arguments in Favor of Polygamy. — The Argument against it. — Abraham and Sarah. — Appeal to Mormon Women. —Their Unhappy Condition. —Evil Effects of the System. — Illustrations. 215 CHAPTER XIII. THE ENDOWMENT, A Mormon Drama 244 10 CONTENTS. PAGE CHAPTER XIV. BRIGHAM AS GRAND ARCHEE OF THE ORDER OF THE GODS. Organization of the Order of the Archees. — The Grand Archees. — The Archees. — The Danites. — Organization of Brigham's Celes- tial Kingdom. —Doctrine of Adoption. — Case of Dr. Sprague. — Description of Leading Danites: Bill Hickman, Porter Rockwell, Robert T. Burton. — Affidavits 261 CHAPTER XV. RECENT EVENTS. — CONCLUSION. Personal Appearance and Character of Brigham Young. — His Aims and Purposes. — Solution of the Mormon Question. — New Compli- cations. — Military Reviews of Mormons. — Governor Durkee. — Counteracting Influences. — The Mines and Miners. — Rev. Norman McLeod. — The "Salt Lake Vedette. " — Administration of General Connor. — Murder of Brassfield. — Order of Young for the Expul- sion of the Gentiles. — Order for the Murder of Eighty Men. — Diffi- culties concerning the Public Lands. — Murder of Dr. Robinson. — The Gentiles flee in Terror. — The Government fails to protect its Officers and Citizens. — The Hero of Three Wars of the Republic hunted through the Territory. — Rev. Mr. McLeod warned not to return to Utah. — The Reign of Terror commenced. — The Gentiles call for Help. 273 THE MORMON PROPHET, CHAPTER I. EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. The Birth and Parentage of Brigham Young. —His Brothers and Sisters. — He embraces Mormonism, and becomes a Leader.