The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and ChildrenWaite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
History
The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and Children
Waite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
Latter Day Saint churches; Young, Brigham, 1801-1877
She is high-spirited and imperious. She once returned to her family in
Boston, and remained two years, but was too deeply involved in the
meshes of Mormonism to be satisfied away from Zion, and again returned
to Salt Lake. She now lives in a neat little cottage near the Lion
House, and is supported by Young. Her son, James Cobb, after finishing
his course of study in the East, came to Salt Lake, and after some
years, through the influence of his mother, joined the church. Previous
to becoming a Mormon, he expressed much anxiety about his mother and
sister Charlotte,--now an interesting young lady,--and used many
arguments and entreaties to induce them to leave, but finally himself
yielded to the seductive influences which surrounded him.
Charlotte at one time enjoyed the proud title of "the belle of Salt
Lake." She has steadfastly opposed polygamy, and hence has remained
unmarried.
_Mrs. Smith_ is an elderly woman, who admired Brother Brigham very much,
and desired to be sealed to him, to insure her salvation. Young did not
reciprocate her sentiments toward him, but compromised the matter by
sealing her to Joseph Smith for eternity, and to himself for time. After
this ceremony had been performed, he committed her to the care of the
Bishop of the ward, directing him to support her.
There are many of this class of women in the Territory.
_Clara Chase, the Maniac._
This woman was of medium height, dark hair and eyes, rather sullen
expression of countenance, low forehead, and her features indicative of
deep-seated melancholy. When Young married her, he treated her with
marked consideration. He assigned to her an elegant apartment, in which
hung the only oil-painting of himself. She from the first distrusted the
principle of polygamy, and had many misgivings of conscience in regard
to her course in marrying the Prophet.
For a time she lived in this way, in a strait between two opinions. When
her husband treated her kindly, she tried to be happy, but when he was
cold and unfeeling toward her, she was driven well-nigh to desperation.
In the mean time she had four children, two of whom are now living. They
are bright and intelligent girls, fourteen and sixteen years of age.
As she approached her fourth confinement, her fits of remorse became
more frequent and more terrible. She reproached herself with having
committed the _unpardonable sin_. Her condition was truly pitiable.
During her sickness Brigham treated her with such coldness and neglect,
that she became actually insane, and raved incessantly.--"Oh, I have
committed the unpardonable sin! Oh, warn my poor children not to follow
my bad example. I am going to hell. Brigham has caused it. He has cursed
me, and I shall soon be there. Oh! do not any of you go into polygamy.
It will curse you, and damn your souls eternally." When her husband
appeared, she cursed him as the author of her destruction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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