In the minds of the curious there is a peculiar interest in the complex family life of a people where numerous families center in a single head. Although an occasional guest at the president's home, I found it impossible to learn with certainty how many persons were comprised in his family, and much diversity of opinion seemed to exist in the minds of those who would be most likely to know the facts. On many semi-public occasions I have seen sixteen of his wives and was led to believe that to be the number then living. In 1869, after the completion of the railroad, when the Boston Board of Trade visited the city, in reply to a direct question made by one of the visitors, Brigham stated that he had 16 wives and 49 children. In the Utah notes MS., the statement is made that this was the first occasion on which he publicly gave the statistics. During our stay I noted such information on this subject as could conveniently be obtained. These notes have been revised after reference to some later official publications and being now substantially correct may be of interest, especially as the names of his consorts are also given. The following is a summary of the names of the wives of Brigham Young, the dates of their births as fully as can be ascertained, also the dates of their marriages to the president, also the number of children resulting from each union. BORN MARRIED TO DIED NO. OF BRIGHAM CHILDREN -------------- -------------- ---------- -- Miriam Works Oct. 8, 1804 Aug. 8, 1824 Sept. 8, 1832 2 Cayuga Co, N. Y. State Mary Ann Angell June 8, 1803 Feb. 18, 1834 June 27, 1882 6 Seneca, N. Y. Lucy Decker May 17, 1822 June 16, 1842 Jan. 24, 1890 7 Phelps, N. Y. Harriet E. C. Nov. 7, 1824 Nov. 2, 1843 1 Campbell Whitesborough, N. Y. Augusta Adams ------ 1802 Nov. 2, 1843 ------ 1886 Lynn, Mass. Clara Decker July 23, 1828 May 8, 1844 Jan. 5, 1889 5 Phelps, N. Y. Louisa Beman Feb. 7, 1815 ------ 1844 Mar. 15, 1850 4 Livonia, N. Y. Widow of Joseph Clara C. Ross June 16, 1814 Sept. 10, 1844 Oct. 17, 1858 4 N. Y. State Widow of Joseph Emily Dow Feb. 28, 1824 Sept. 1844 -------- 7 Partridge Painesville, O. Sealed for time Susan Snively Oct. -- 1815 Nov. 2, 1844 Nov. 20, 1892 Woodstock, Va.