The life of Brigham Young

HAROLD B. LEE UBRARY

BR*QHAM YOUNG UNfVERSm
PROVO. UTAH

^i-i-i-nr \^ K.-i-r

LIFE 0F BRIGHAM Y0yNS.

" When questions pregnant with great events pressed hard, he was
able to build upon the firm foundation of wisdom and justice, forecast the
future, meet the demands of the present, and then in a breath show his
confidence in God, his freedom from care, by caressing the lips of innocent
childhood and tenderly winning the love of babes." — Moses Thatcher.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH:

GEO. 0 CANNON & SONS CO., Publishers.

1893.

COPYE^IGHT AF'F'LIED F"OR.

HAROLD B. LEE LIBRARY

BBIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

PROVO. UTAH

PREFACE.

The following pages contain a brief outline of the
leading events in the career of Brigham Young, the
Founder of- Utah. It has been a difficult task to con-
dense, into the compass of a few pages, the story of a
life so full of important history as was his, and neces-
sarily the result of such an effort must be imperfect.

Disclaiming originality, save in the arrangement,
the author has woven the fabric of his interesting theme
from the threads of a score* of historical works. Facts
have been culled especially from Tullidge's "Life' of
Brigham Young; or Utah and Her Founders," and
"History of Salt Lake City;" Whitney's "History of
Utah," Vols. 1 and 2; Bancroft's "History of Utah;"
"Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt;" Cannon's "Life of
Joseph Smith," and "History of the Mormons;"
Jenson's "Historical Record;" "Death of President
Young;" "The Contributor," and other books.

The aim has been to make this 'Life" reliable and
accurate, in matters of fact; and the purpose, to interest
the new generation of citizens in the great founder of
our Territory, — a man whose genius is apparent in every
city and village of our prosperous commonwealth.

The Author.

July, 1893.

CONTENTS.

1. GENERAL SKETCH.

II. THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION.

9

FROM BIRTH TO BAPTISM 13

MEETING THE PROPHE r 15

WITH zion's camp 18

CHOSEN AN APOSTLE 19

A PILLAR OF STRENGTH TO THE PROPHET 21

THE FLIGHT TO ILLINOIS 26

FULFILLING A PROPHECY 31

ACROSS THE WATER 32

IN NAUVOO. THE MARTYRDOM 37

HI. LEADER OF THE MODERN EXODUS.

BRIGHAM YOUNG SUCCEEDS JOSEPH SMITH 44

BOGUS BRIGHAM 49

PERSECUTIONS AND ADVICE 52

COMMANDED TO LEAVE THE STATE 55

THE EXODUS 56

THE president's WISDOM AND WATCHCARE 60

THE MORMON BATTALION 64

WITH THE PIONEERS 69

INCIDENTS OF THE PIONEER JOURNEY 76

EXPLORATION AND RETURN TO THE MISSOURI 83

CHOSEN PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH 89

Yin CONTENTS.

IV. THE FOUNDING OF UTAH.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS 93

THE GOLD EXCITEMENT 95

COLONIZATION 98

APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF UTAH 103

LEADING EVENTS OF THE TERM 113

REAPPOINTED GOVERNOR 120

THE CALAMITIES OF 1856 122

THE UTAH WAR 125

BRIGHAM young's LOYALTY AND ENTERPRISE 139

PERSECUTION AND ARREST ,. . . 148

ONE DAY IX THE PENITENTIARY 163

HIS CLOSING YEARS • • • • 166

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS 170

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

I. GENERAL SKETCH.

In time it will be acknowledged that among the
great historical characters of our country no person occu-
pies a more distinct position than Brigham Young. Born
in our own country, his acts are as distinctively American
as are those of an}' other hero who has ever aided in the
furtherance of our national prosperity, from the father ot
his country to the saviors of the Union.

In the Old World, men who have taken an active
part in the struggles of their time, towering above their
fellows, have generally risen to eminence by means of
either the royalty of birth or that of education. On this
continent, on the contrary, occasions have demanded
men, and these have been found, ready at call to answer
the summons of their day. They have been poor, often
uneducated, but they were practical, popular, fervent, and
just the men for their work. To such natures the people
have instinctively turned for aid in the hour of need.
Brigham Young w^as a man of this class. He was a man
of the age, and when the appeal for aid was sounded, he
was on hand as if by design of destiny to answer to the

2

10 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

requirements. His parents being poor, he had no oppor-
tunity for an early education, and in youth gave no
special promise of that strength of will and force of
character which he afterward so abundantly exemplified in
his leadership of the Mormons.

But like the great Jewish deliverer, Moses, who, flee-
ing from the wrath of his king, departed to the desert of
Midian to fit himself by study and meditation for the
strenuous tasks of after life, so Brigham Young, the
liberator of modern Israel, had his period of preparation.
He was over thirty years of age when he adopted the
faith of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and it was during the
trying time of twelve years, from his baptism, in 1832,
until his return to Nauvoo upon receiving the tidings of
the martyrdom, that every surrounding vicissitude tended
to prepare him for his future life-work.

Called to be an Apostle three years after his initia-
tion into the Church, he six years thereafter, upon the
apostasy of Thomas B. Marsh, and the death of David
W. Patten, became the president of his quorum, being
thus practically placed next to the Prophet, who ever
held him very- dear. He extended the missionary field
among the red men, with whom he must afterward so
carefully and wisely deal; he built temples, studied and
officiated therein; defended his Prophet leader during
the dark days of the Kirtland apostasy; passed through the
bloody scenes of Missouri, leading his scattered and
driven people, amidst povert)-, sickness and death, to
safety and rest in a neighboring friendly State; and
finally crossed the Atlantic to assist in planting the gos-
pel standard in Great Britain, where he set in motion the
tide of emigration which has brought joy to the hearts of
ten thousand poor.

THE LIFE OF BRIQHAM YOUNG. 11

y

Thus did the all-wise Power which shapes our des-
tinies surround Brigham Young with the educating muta-
tions and influences that should fit him for his after

»

career as deliverer, leader, law-giver, diplomat, colonizer,
statesman.

It is in what may be termed the second period of his
life that his capacity and power so abundantly are made
manifest. As if it were designed by Providence that he
should not be present to prevent the martyrdom, he was
on a mission in the East when he heard of the sad death
of the Prophet, and upon his arrival in Nauvoo the
inhabitants of the fated Mormon city by natural impulse
turned to him for help. He silenced their divisions,
calmed their fears, inspired them with courage and hope,
until the multitude felt and confessed that the spirit
which had moved Joseph in his work was living in Brig-
ham Young.

With matchless will and energ}^ he laid hold of the
stupendous exodus of a people, and, amidst indescribable
suffering and hardship, piloted them through the deserts
and over the mountains to a new home in the wilderness.
' In the crowning period of his career he founded, in
this new retreat, a commonwealth, to which he invited
thousands of the poor from the four corners of the earth,
rescued them from poverty and raised them to indepen-
dence, taught them honesty, thrift, industry, patriotism
for their adopted country, and, with the keen foresight of
a statesman, showed them how to develop the hidden
resources of their surroundings. He founded hundreds of
cities and towns, and completed for his people an organi-
zation unsurpassed in the annals of history, y

For more than thirty years he was their spiritual
guide and their temporal leader, and dying he left upon

12 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

them and their institutions the impress of his master
mind and character.

Thus we have a brief outline of the marvelous work
which Brigham Young performed. The question may
naturally arise in the mind of the reader, Whence the
origin of this wisdom, this ability? Was it the result of
his own study and meditation, or was it brought about
by the power and inspiration of the Almighty? We
must in this matter consider his own testimony. For all
he did, he gave to God the glory. He was a strong
believer in the divine mission of Joseph Smith, and testi-
fied with firmness that he himself was inspired of .the
Lord. As well deny the fabric which we see, as reject
the positive statement of the builder that he was of God
instructed.

If men count his work as the mere result of human
intellect, they deny the declaration of the man himself,
who performed it, and refuse to accept the settled belief
of the thousands who aided him in its accomplishment.

It detracts nothing from his fame that he did not
originate the doctrines, designs and theories which he
enunciated, carried on, and brought to a successful issue.
He was a fulfiller of prophecy, the chosen instrument of
God — fame enough. It is natural that a man like Brigham
Young, and a cause such as he represented, had and has
enemies — his closing years were embittered by them — but
even the most virulent of these must admit that he was a
man of unusual mental force, courageous, undaunted, in
his calling successful.

Whatever may be the outcome of the doctrines which
he promulgated, whatever the fate of the people for whose
prosperity and welfare he devoted his life's energies, so
much success has attended him and them that he will

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 13

ever be regarded as one of our Dation's great men, one
of its most wonderful characters.

II. THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION.

FROM BIRTH TO BAPTISM.

The years intervening between the birth of the great
Mormon leader and his return to Nauvoo, just after the
martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith, may be regarded
as the time during which an all-wise Creator prepared
him by a variety of trying experiences for effectively
accomplishing his great after achievements. Let us take
a hasty view of the leading incidents of this period.

Brigham Young was born in the daybreak of the
nineteenth century, June 1st, 1801, in Whitingham,
Windham County, Vermont. His father, John, was born
March 7th, 1763, in Hopkmton, Middlesex County,
Massachusetts, and at an early age enlisted in the Ameri-
can Revolutionary Army, serving under General Wash-
ington. His grandfather, Joseph Young, served in the
French and Indian war.

In a family of five sons and six daughters Brigham
was the ninth child. The family removed to Whiting,
ham in 1801, where his father continued his occupation
of farming, remaining in that region for three years. In
1804 they removed to Sherburn, Shenango County, New
York. Their financial circumstances were such that the

14 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

children could only be given a common school training,
and Brigham received only a limited amount of that.
He assisted his father on the farm, engaging in the
arduous labors common to establishing settlements in a
new and heavily timbered region of country. At the age
of sixteen, by permission of his father, he began business
for himself, earning his sustenance as best he could.
Like every thoughtful youth, he adopted a trade, through
which, by the sweat of his brow, he was taught the
nobility of labor. He learned how to work as carpenter,
joiner, painter and glazier, in the last of which occupa-
tions he was an expert craftsman.

Up to this time, though trained by his parents to
lead a moral life, he had taken little interest in religion,
but the family were Methodists, and he naturally inclined
to their belief, joining that sect when he was twenty-two
years of age.

On the 8th of October, 1824, he married Miriam
Works, in Aurelius, Cayuga County, New York. In this
place he labored for a number of years, in his chosen
vocation, gaining an experience that was of untold value
to him when later he stood with his people amidst the
undeveloped resources of the wilderness. In the spring
of 1829 he moved to Mendon, Monroe County, New
York, where his father then resided. It was here, in the
spring of 1830, that he first saw a copy of the Book of
Mormon, which had been left at the home of his brother
Phineas, by Samuel H. Smith, a brother of the Prophet.

Mormonism was at this time taking root in the
western part of New York and in northern Pennsylvania,
and Elders occasionally came preaching in his neighbor-
hood. It was not, however, until after a visit to a branch
of the Church in Columbia, Pennsylvania, in January,

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 15

1832, in company with Heber C. Kimball and his brother
Phineas, formerly a reformed Methodist preacher, but
now a convert to Mormonism, that he was deeply
impressed with the principles of the new religion upon
which he now carefully and prayerfully reflected. In this
state of mind he hastened to Canada to repeat the tid-
ings to his brother Joseph, who was then preaching the
Methodist faith. Singular enough, he also accepted the
testimony, when they returned together and promptly
united themselves with the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Brigham was baptized on the 14th
day of April, 1832, by Elder Eleazer Miller, being that
evening, also by the same person, confirmed and ordained
an Elder. His faithful wife followed him into the waters
of baptism some three weeks thereafter, but she did not
live long to enjoy the blessings of the gospel, for on the
8th of September following she died, leaving him tv/o
daughters — one two years of age and the other seven.

About this time many people were baptized in and
about Mendon, and Brigham, with his friend Heber C.
Kimball, who had also joined the Church, ordained to
the ministry, rendered efficient service to the cause there-
about.

2. MEETING THE PROPHET.

In the meantime a revelation had been given,
through the mouth of the Prophet Joseph Smith, calling
upon Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Peter Whitmer
and Ziba Peterson to go into the wilderness through the
western States, and to the Indian Territory, to preach the
gospel to the Indians and present to them the Book of
Mormon. It had already been conceived by Joseph "that

16 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM - YOUNG.

the West, and not the East, was the field of Mor-
monism's greater destiny," and he looked .in that direc-
tion for a Zion which was to be "called the New
Jerusalem a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of
safety for the Saints of the Most High God." Hence the
sending of these first missionaries to the West.

The Elders left New York late in October, 1830, to
fill their missions. On their way they tarried in Kirt-
land, then a city of probably two thousand inhabitants,
where they preached the gospel. They were very success-
ful, and within three weeks after their arrival one hundred
and twenty-seven souls were baptized, which number soon
grew to over a thousand, many of whom afterward
became noted in the chronicles of the Church. The loca-
tion of the City of Zion, referred to above, had not yet
been declared, but it was understood generally that it
would be situated "on the borders by the Lamanites, " or
Indians. Before proceeding further west, the Elders
reported their labors and success to the Prophet, and he
soon realized that Kirtland would be a suitable resting
place for the Saints, a Stake of Zion, where the Church
could remain until it should gather strength to build this
central city. Accordingly, before the close of the year
the word went forth to his followers in the East to dis-
pos*^ of their possessions, remove West, and "assemble
together on the Ohio." The Prophet himself arrived for
the first time in Kirtland in February, 1831. Having set
the branch in order, and at a general conference June
6th, called a number of Elders to bear the gospel to the
Missouri frontiers, he departed for that region June
19th. He went to Jackson County, Missouri, and selected
the country about Independence as the location upon
which was to be built the "City," the New Jerusalem.

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 17

The Center Stake of Zion was afterward dedicated,
August 9th, for the gathering of Israel. Having thus
selected the site, he returned to Kirtland.

In the spring following the Prophet made a second
visit to Missouri, returning to Kirtland early in May,
1832. It was shortly after this latter visit that he first
met his destined successor, Brigham Young, who, with
his brother Joseph and Heber C. Kimball, had come to
greet him. The visiting Elders found him engaged in
manual labor — chopping wood in the forest. They were
kindly welcomed, and Brigham rejoiced in receiving a
sure testimony, by the spirit of prophecy, that Joseph
was a true Prophet. They spent the evening in speaking
of the gospel and the things of the Kingdom of God.
Called upon to pray, Brigham spoke in tongues, the
language which he used being pronounced the pure
Adamic by the Prophet, who likewise said, "It is of
God; and the time will come when Brother Brigham
will preside over this Church." The latter remark, how-
ever, was not uttered in the visitors' hearing.

After a brief visit, Brigham and his brother Joseph
went on foot to Canada to again engage in the ministry,
the former making two trips thither. He was successful
in preaching, baptizing, and in organizing branches; and
in July, 1833, had his first experience as leader, conduct-
ing several families of converts to Kirtland. Thereafter,
he went once more to Mendon, where he and his two
daughters dwelt with his friend Heber C. Kimball, under
whose roof-tree had been his home since the death of his
wife. That fall they all removed to Kirtland, where he
labored at his trade, preaching as opportunity offered.

18 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

3. WITH zion's camp.

While he was thus engaged in the East, the Saints
in Missouri, now numbering over twelve hundred souls,
were driven, in November, 1833, from their homes in
Jackson County, by a murderous mob. Whipped, plun-
dered and robbed of their possessions, they sought shel-
ter across the river in the neighboring county of Clay.

It was in order to counsel with the Prophet, and to
take some measures for the relief and restoration of the
people thus harassed and exiled that Parley P. Pratt and
Lyman Wight came to Kirtland early in the spring of
the year 1831:. The result of their visit was a further
mission East by these and other Elders, for reasons set
forth in the 101st and 103rd Sections of the Doctrine and
Covenants; and finally the assembling of about two hun-
dred men, with twenty wagons laden with supplies, to
carry provisions to the Saints in Missouri, to reinforce
and strengthen them, and if possible to influence the
Governor to restore to them their rights. They were
also to "redeem Zion," or in other words, seek to regain
possession of the lands from which the Saints had been
driven in Jackson County. This company of men were
organized as a military body, led by the Prophet in per-
son as general. Such was the expedition known as Zion's
Camp. On the 5th of May one hundred men departed
from Kirtland for Missouri, and the remainder, to the
number of two hundred and five, were recruited on the
way. Without being able to attain the ends for which
it was organized, the little army was disbanded soon
•after arriving at its destination.

Brigham Young was one of the members of this now
famous company. He acted as a captain of ten, and

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 19

with his good nature and faith often cheered his asso
ciates during the trials encountered on the way. He and
his brother Joseph were the singers of the Camp, and
often relieved and enlivened the tedium of the journey
by their spirited songs. Before departing, the Prophet
promised Brigham and his brother Joseph that if they
would go with him, keeping his counsels, they should be
led thither and back, and not a hair of their heads
should be harmed. The covenant was made and as
faithfully kept both returning unharmed. In July, Brig-
ham returned to Kirtland, where he spent the remainder
of the year in labor on the temple, in finishing the print-
ing office and schoolroom, and assisting in the various
industries which the Saints, ever busy, were establishing
in Kirtland, the "land of Shinehah. "

4. CHOSEN AN APOSTLE.

If it be conceded that Zion's Camp failed in accom-
plishing the ostensible purposes for which it was
organized, it cannot be denied that it was a success in
trying the mettle of its members. A journey of over two
thousand miles on foot, in rain and mud, exposed to
sickness and death, is sufficient to prove the tempera-
ment, courage and fortitude of any person who may
engage in it. It may be possible that this was one of
the objects the Prophet had in view, as might be inferred
from the next important measure which he was inspired
to adopt — the choosing of Twelve Apostles. This quorum
is next in authority to the council of the First Presi-
dency, which was composed of the following persons at
that time: Joseph Smith, Jr., President; Sidney Rigdon,
First Counselor; Fredrick G. Williams, Second Counselor.

20 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

On the 14th of February, 1835, the survivors of
Zion's Camp were called together, and from their num-
bers were chosen, by the three witnesses to the Book of
Mormon, Twelve Apostles, each of whom was blessed
and set apart by the First Presidency. Brigham Young
was selected as one of the Twelve, and according to
seniority ranged third in the quorum; Thamas B. Marsh
and David W. Patten came before him, and following
him, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, William E.
McLellin, Parley P. Pratt, Luke Johnson, William
Smith, Orson Pratt, John F. Boynton, and Lyman E.
Johnson.

Soon after the first and the second quorums of Seven-
ties were likewise chosen from the surviving members of
Zion's Camp.

Early in May the Twelve started upon their first
mission to the Eastern States. The duties devolving
upon them was to preach, baptize, advise the scattered
Saints to gather westward, and to collect means for the
purchase of lands in Missouri, and for the completion of
the Kirtland Temple. Brigham Young, in addition, seems
to have been called specially to preach to the Indians.
"This," said the Prophet, "will open the doors to all the
seed of Joseph." The mission was successfully per-
formed; and he returned to spend the fall and winter in
Kirtland, where, besides engaging in the ministry, he
superintended the painting and finishing of the temple.
A portion of time was spent in study, in the various
schools established by the Prophet, for, as in after years
he became the fulfiller of Joseph's prophecies, so now as
ever he was a faithful believer in the benefits to be
derived from following the Prophet's educational
precepts:

THE LIFE OF BlUGHAM YOUNG. 21

"Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom;
seek learning even by study and also by faith."

"It is impossible to be saved in ignorance."

"A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge."

"The glory of God is intelligence."

In spite of the neglect of his early teaching, he thus
took advantage of his present opportunities until he
became a proficient student in many of the useful
branches of learning.

On the 27th day of March, 1836, the temple at
Kirtland was dedicated. It was a day of great rejoicing,
and thereafter many miraculous manifestations were here
revealed, some of which are recorded in the 110th Sec-
tion of the Doctrine and Covenants. In this hoi}' place
the Twelve some time afterward held the "solemn
assembly," receiving their washings and anointings, the
"washing of feet" being administered to Brigham by
Joseph himself.

Having thus received his blessings, he was again
called upon to perform a mission, this time to the
Eastern States, traveling, during the summer of 1836,
through New York, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode
Island, returning in the fall to sustain the Prophet
through the period of financial ruin and apostasy now
threatening Kirtland like the dark clouds of a mighty
storm.

5. A PILLAR OF STRENGTH TO THE PROPHET.

A few words now concerning the Church in Alissouri:
Having dwelt in Clay County about three years in amity,
the Saints were peacefully requested by a committee of
leading citizens to "seek some other abiding place, where
the manners, the habits and customs of the people would

22 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

be more consonant with their own." Some strange
reasons were assigned for this entreaty: they had done
nothing wrong, they were at peace with all, but "their
religious tenets were so different from the present
churches of the age;" they were eastern men, whose man-
ners, habits, customs and even dialect were essentially
different from the Missourians; they were non-slave-
holders;" and they had a variety of other faults, amplified
by their enemies in Jackson County, which true or false
rendered them objectionable to the old residents; and so,
for the sake of friendship, to be in a covenant of peace
with the citizens of Clay County, and to show gratitude
to those who had befriended them, the Saints resolved, at
a great sacrifice of property, to comply with the requisi-
tion and leave the county.

In September, 1836, they began moving to their new
location in the Shoal Creek region, in Ray County, north-
east of Clay, which was then a wilderness. In answer
to their petitions, the legislature incorporated the Shoal
Creek region and some adjoining lands in December of
that year, and thus Caldwell County was created, in
which large numbers of the Saints now settled, founding
the city of Far West, in the winter of 1836-7.

And how were affairs progressing in Kirtland, mean-
while? A spirit of speculation enveloped the whole
community, playing havoc with the faith of the Saints
and of the leading Elders. All kinds of schemes were
adopted to amass wealth, and as a result there followed
in quick succession evil surmisings, fault-finding, dis-
union, dissensions, apostasy, and finally financial ruin.
The disaffected members became bitterly hostile to the
Prophet, as if he were the cause of the very evils which
he struggled most to avoid, and which were brought

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 23

upon the people because they would not heed his coun-
sels. In this serious apostasy which occurred, about
one-half of the Apostles, one of the First Presidency and
many leading Elders became disloyal to Joseph, declaring
him to be a "fallen prophet."

On the 1st of June, 1873, while these radical changes
were in progress, the Lord revealed to Joseph that some-
thing must be done for the salvation of the Church.
That something was the sending of Elders to preach the
gospel in foreign lands. Accordingly, Heber C. Kimball
was chosen and set apart to preside over a mission to
England, with Orson Hyde as his companion. Brigham
Young's cousin Willard Richards,* was called to accom-
pany them. Heber was very desirous that Brigham
should go also; his faithfulness entitled him to the dis-
tinction and honor of being among the first to proclaim
the gospel in a foreign nation, but the Prophet answered:

"No; I want him to stay with me. I have something
else for him to do. "

The wisdom of this decision was subsequently made
manifest.

Four other Elders joined those already named, and
together they sailed from New York on the 1st day of
July, 1873, to fill their mission. They were very success-
ful, and when they departed for America on the 12th day
of May, the following year, they had organized twenty-
six branches of the Church, with a membership of about
two thousand souls. The opening of this mission was

*Wi Hard Richards, afterward one of the leading men of the Church, was
the first of the renowned Richards family to join the Saints. In the fall of
1836 he came to Kirtland, staying at his cousin's home while he investigated
the gospel. He was baptized on the last day of that year.

24 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

one of the most important events in the history of the
Latter-day Saints.

But while the cause was thus prospering abroad,
apostasy, persecution, confusion and mobocracy bore rule
in Kirtland.

On one occasion a large number of leading Elders —
among them several Apostles, and some of the witnesses
to the Book of Mormon — held a council in the upper
room of the temple, their object being to depose the
Prophet and appoint David Whitmer President of the
Church. Brigham Young, who had on other occasions
frustrated their plans, and exposed their evil designs,
was present also, and by a characteristic speech defeated
their scheme. He says: "I rose up, and told them in a
plain and forcible manner that Joseph was a Prophet;
and I knew it; and that they might rail at and slander
him as much as they pleased, they could not destroy the
appointment of the Prophet of God; they could only
destroy their own authority, cut the thread which bound
them to the Prophet and to God and sink themselves to
hell. Many were highly enraged at my decided opposi-
tion to their measures and Jacob Bump (an old pugilist)
was so exasperated that he could not be still. Some of
the brethren near put their hands on him and requested
him to be quiet; but he writhed and twisted his arms
and body saying 'how can I keep my hands off that man?'
I told him if he thought it would give him any relief he
might lay them on. The meeting was broken up without
the apostates being able to unite on any decided
measures of opposition. This was a crisis when earth
and hell seemed leagued to overthrow the Prophet and
Church of God. The knees of many of the strongest men
in the Church faltered."

The life of bkigham yocng. 25

In this siege of darkness Brigham Young thus ever
stood close by Joseph and with all the wisdom and power
of his strong mind put forth his utmost ener^^ies to sus-
tain his Prophet-leader and to unite the quorums of the
Church, proclaiming publicly and privately that he knew
by the power of the Holy Ghost that Joseph was a
Prophet of the Most High God and that he had not
transgressed or fallen as the apostates declared. It was
now readily perceived why Joseph desired Brigham to
remain with him.

"It was well for Joseph and for Mormonism in
general that he decided to keep by him at that time the
lion heart and intrepid soul of Brigham Young. Firm as
a rock in his fealty to his chief, he combined sound judg-
ment, keen perception, with courage unfaltering and
sublime. Like lightnings were his intuitions, his
decisions between right and wrong; like thunder his
denunciations of what his soul conceived was error. A
man for emergencies, far-sighted and inspirational; a
master spirit and natural leader of men.

"Well might Joseph — brave almost to rashness —
whose genius, though lofty and general in its scope, was
pre-eminently spiritual, while Brigham's was pronouncedly
practical, wish to have near him at such a time, just
such a man. In that dark hour, the darkest perhaps
that Mormonism has seen, when its very foundations
seemed crumbling, when men supposed to be its pillars
were weakening and falling away, joining hands secretly
or openly with its enemies, the man Brigham never
faltered, never failed in his allegiance to his leader,
never ceased defending him against his accusers, and as
boldly denouncing them betimes for falsehood, selfish-
ness and treachery. His life was imperilled by his bold-

3

26 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

ness. He heeded not, but steadily held on his way, an
example of valor and fidelity, a faithful friend, sans peur
et sans i-eproche.^

The persecution continuing became so violent that
on the morning of December 22nd, 1837, threatened with
assassination, Brigham was forced to flee, followed three
weeks later on his way to Missouri by the Prophet and
Elder Rigdon. Following a variety of occurrences, in
which Brigham was constantly a staunch support, com-
fort, and pillar of strength to Joseph the persecuted
leaders reached Far West about the middle of March.
1838.

6. THE FLIGHT TO ILLINOIS.

The Saints in Missouri seem not to have escaped
entirely the disaffections of Kirtland. After arriving • in
Far West, the Prophet decided on pruning the Church
of its dead branches, and on continuing the work of
"setting in order." The presiding leaders had been
suspended from office, and were subsequently excommuni-
cated. At the April conference, in 1838, a reorganization
of the Church in Far West took place, and Thomas B.
Marsh, Brigham Young and David W. Patten, were
chosen to preside over the Church in Missouri. Under
their direction, many prominent men were severed from
the organization, none being spared " who would not
speedily repent of their wiong-doings. The vacancies
thus produced in the quorums, were filled b}^ calling
other faithful men to occupy the places of those who were
deprived of membership.

♦Whitney's History of Utah. VoL I, p 137.

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 27

During that spring and summer, a few months of
comparative peace were enjoyed by the Saints and their
leaders, pending which time there was a general migra-
tion of Mormons from Ohio to Missouri; but the tran-
quility was only a calm before the storm of outrage,
robber}^ murder, massacre and expulsion, which was
soon to break over the people, with appalling fury.

There were now m this State about twelve thousand
souls belonging to the Mormon Church, most of whom
resided in Caldwell County. Many, however, dwelt in
neighboring counties. Their troubles began in the early
part of August, during the progress of the State election.
A mob sought to prevent the Mormons from voting; then
followed perplexity and agitation, and from the first out-
break in Gallatin, Daviess County, the difficulties spread
until the people of the whole region thereabout were bent
upon a general anti-Mormon uprising, incited by fiery
speeches from priest, politician and apostate, and by
articles in the local press. The result is too well known
to need more than mere mention. The Mormons armed
and tried to defend themselves; there was the Crooked
River battle, then the calling out of the exterminating
army of Governor Boggs, whose mission was to drive
the Mormons out of Missouri; the horrors of Haun's Mill
(Brigham's brother, Joseph, was among those who dwelt
there); the disarming of the Mormons; the march upon
and the surrender of Far West; the treaty of the traitor,
Colonel Hinkle, with General Lucas; and the shootings,
ravishings, and murders, inflicted by the army. A chapter
of woes, indeed, such as has few parallels in history,
ending with banishment from home.

Brigham thus refers to the scenes in Far West : "I
saw Brothers Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Parley P.

28 THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG.

Pratt, Lyman Wight and George W. Robinson delivered
up by Col. Hinkle to General Lucas, but expected they
would have returned to the city that evening or the
next morning, according to agreement, and the pledge
of the sacred honor of the officers that they should be
allowed to do so, but they did not so return. The next
morning General Lucas demanded and took away the
arms of the militia of Caldwell County, assuring them
that they should be protected; but as soon as they
obtained possession of the arms, they commenced their
ravages by plundering the citizens of their bedding,
clothing, money, wearing apparel, and ever3^thing of
value they could lay their hands upon, and also
attempted to violate the chastity of the women m the
presence of their husbands and friends. The soldiers shot
down our oxen, cows, hogs and fowls at our own doors
taking part away and leaving the rest to rot in the street.
They also turned their horses into our fields of corn."

He was present and heard the noted speech of
General Clark, which gave the Mormons no hope for
mercy; they were compelled to sign away their property
at the point of the bayonet, to defray the expenses of the
so called war, fifty-seven of the Mormon leaders, among
whom was the Prophet Joseph, were betrayed as prisoners
into the hands of the mob, and the whole community
were ordered to flee immediately out of the State.

During these troubles Thomas B. Marsh, the Presi-
dent of the Twelve, apostatized; and David W. Patten
was killed in the battle of Crooked River, October 25th,
which left Brigham Young President of the Apostles.
The First Presidency being in prison, it now devolved
upon him to take charge of the Church, which he did,
danlning and directing the exodus of the Saints to

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 29

Illinois. It was in the midst of these onerous duties and
trials that he exhibited qualities of mind disclosing his
executive talent as a great leader. He called his leading
brethren together to know how they regarded the work,
whether they still knew it was of God, declaring that his
faith remained unshaken. He proved his assertion by
his works, and planned for others that they might do the
same. He manifested earnest zeal and prompt activity
in assisting the poor. Meetings were held in January
and Februar)', 1839, at which a committee was appointed
to solicit aid for the destitute. In one of these gather-
ings he offered the following resolution, which was
adopted, and the covenant was faithfully kept by all
interested. Nearly four hundred persons besides the
committee afterward signed a similar document:

"Resolved. That we this day enter into a covenant
to stand by and assist each other, to the utmost of our
abilities, in removing from this State, and that we w^ill
never desert the poor who are worthy, till they shall be
out of the reach of the general exterminating order of
General Clark, acting for and in the name of the State."

His activity in behalf of his afflicted brethren and
friends gave offense to the mob, and once more he was
forced to flee for his life. With his family he departed
from Missouri in February, leaving his landed property
and household goods in the hands of the mobbers. Pro-
ceeding to Illinois, he settled in the course of three
weeks in Quincy. Here, on the 17th of March, he held
a meeting with the Twelve and some of the Saints, the
object being to devise means to assist the poor from
Missouri. His record says:

"A letter was read to the people from the committee,
on behalf of the Saints at Far West, who were left desti-

30 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

tute of the means to move. Though the brethren were
left poor and almost stripped of everything, yet they
manifested a spirit of willingness to do their utmost,
offering to sell their hats, coats and shoes to accomplish
the object. We broke bread and partook of the sacra-
ment. At the close of the meeting S50 was collected in
money, and several teams were subscribed to go and
bring the brethren. /\mong the subscribers was the
widow of Warren Smith, whose husband and two sons
had their urains blown out at the massacre at Haun's
Mill. She sent her only team on this charitable mission. "

In this meeting also he explained to the Saints the
conditon of the Church and the situation of the scattered
members, advising the people to settle in companies so
that they might be "fed by the shepherds; for without,
the sheep would be scattered. " Several of those who had
proved unfaithful were excommunicated from the Church.
Thus with his master spirit he aided in uniting the
people, and in keeping them strong and firm in the faith,
during their subjection to supremest trial. And their
burdens were truly heavy. "That winter from ten to
twelve thousand Latter-day Saints, men, women and
children, still hounded and pursued by their merciless
oppressors, fled from Missouri, leaving in places their
bloody footprints on the snow of their frozen pathway.
Crossing the ice of the Mississippi, they cast themselves,
homeless, plundered and penniless, upon the hospitable
shores of Illinois. "*

Brigham Young worked like a hero, in connection
with his brethren Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, and
members of the committee, to lighten the burdens of

Whitney's History of Utah, Vol. 1, p 167.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 31

these exiles. His big heart offered soothing sympathy to
the bereaved, the widow and the fatherless, and his
untiring exertions lessened the sorrows and afflictions of
the destitute.

i. FULFILLING A PROPHECY.

On the 26th day of April, 1838, a revelation was
given through Joseph the Prophet, commanding the
Saints to re-commence laying the foundation of a temple
in Far West, one year from that date. About this time
also the Twelve were called to proclaim the gospel
"across the great waters," and were to meet upon the
temple grounds upon this occasion, to take formal leave
of Far West prior to their departure abroad.

But, as we have learned, the Saints were expelled from
Missouri. It was as much as an Apostle's life was worth
to be seen in the region. The Missourians had sworn
that at least this prophecy should not be fulfilled. Under
these circumstances some of the Elders urged that the
Lord would not require the Apostles to obey this com-
mand. Brigham Young thought otherwise, and laid
great stress upon the fulfillment of the prophecy, as did
the Twelve who were with him. He was now in charge,
and was not willing that anything resting in his care
should fail. He said: "I told them the Lord had spoken
and it was our duty to obey, and leave the event in His
hands, and He would protect us." Hence, notwithstand-
ing the danger, he proceeded to the spot, with Heber C.
Kimball, Orson Pratt, John E. Page and John Taylor.
They held the conference, ordained Wilford Woodruff
and George A. Smith to the Apostleship, severed thirty-
one persons from the Church, offered prayer, laid the

32 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

corner-stone of the temple as commanded, and took
formal leave of the Saints, very early in the morning of
the 26th of April, 1839, before the mob v^ere awake.

Thus was a prophecy fulfilled which the mobbers. had
boasted should surely fail.

8. ACROSS THE WATER.

Continuing their labors, lands were purchased in
Iowa, and in Hancock County, Illinois, upon which the
Saints as they escaped from Missouri now settled.
Brigham Young dwelt in Montrose, Lee County, Iowa,
when the Prophet, after nearly six months' cruel
imprisonment, arrived among the Saints in Quincy.
Leaving that city May 9th, 1839, Joseph with the Twelve
now founded Nauvoo, at a place then called Commerce, in
Illinois. Here again the weak and poverty-stricken
Saints gathered in the course of the summer.

While the site of the new city was beautifully located
a part of the land sloping to the river was moist and
miery, making it a fit place for the dreaded malaria.
The physical condition of the exiled Saints made them
an easy prey to disease, and it was not long after their
arrival when fever and ague broke out in their midst,
until nearly all were afflicted. There were sick in every
house — few persons if any, were exempt. The Prophet
himself did not escape, but he arose, however, and by
the power of his faith in God stayed the pestilence. This
incident of miraculous healing is referred to by Brigham
Young, who says:

"Joseph arose from his bed, and the power of God
rested upon him. He commenced in his own house and

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 33

door-3-ard, commanding the sick in the name of Jesus
Christ to arise and be made whole; and they were healed
according to his word. He then continued to travel from
house to house, and from tent to tent, upon the bank of
the river, healing the sick as he went, until he arrived at
the upper stone house, where he crossed the river in a
boat, accompanied by several of the quorum of the
Twelve, and landed in Montrose. He walked into the
cabin where I was lying sick, and commanded me in the
name of Jesus Christ to arise and be made whole. I
arose and was healed, and followed him and the brethren
of the Twelve into the house of Elijah Fordham, who
was supposed by his family and friends to be dying.
Joseph stepped to his bedside, took him by the hand,
and commanded him in the name of Jesus Christ to arise
from his bed and be made whole. His voice was as the
voice of God. Brother Fordham instantly leaped from his
bed, called for his clothing and followed us into the
street. We then went into the house of Joseph B.
Nobles, who lay very sick, and he was healed in the
same manner. And when, by the power of God granted
unto him, Joseph had healed the sick, he re-crossed the
river and returned to his home. This was a day never
to be forgotten. "

It was during the reign of such an epidemic that
Brigham Young and seven of the Twelve left to fill the
foreign mission to which they had been appointed in
Missouri. Themselves w'eak, ailing, penniless, their
families afflicted and almost destitute, they yet had faith
enough in the cause to perform their duty. With all his
children sick, and in the poorest of financial circum-
stances, Brigham left his home in Montrose, on the 1-lth
of September, 1839, being carried to the house of Heber

'^4 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

C. Kimball, where, his strength failing him, he was com-
pelled to remain, nursed by his wife, till the 18th. At
this date he, with his friend Heber, whose circumstances
were no better, resolutely departed for England, visiting
Kirtland and other places on the way, preaching as they
went.

Such indomitable courage had the men who were
unwittingly training to conquer in even greater conflicts.

On the 19th of March, 1840, Brigham Young, Heber
C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, George A.
Smith and Reuben Hedlock, sailed from New York, on
the Patrick Henry, arriving in Liverpool April 6th. 1840 —
the tenth anniversary of the birthday of the Church.
John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff Hyrum Clark and Theo-
dore Turley had previously landed on January 11th. On
the 14th day of April, after all the missionary Apostles
had arrived a conference was held at Preston. At this
gathering Brigham Young was chosen President of the
Twelve, Willard Richards was ordained an Apostle, the
plan of labor was discussed and decided upon and the
Elders were appointed to their various mission fields.

With unwearyirig zeal Brigham superintended the
organization of branches, established an emigration
agency" and a publishing house, and in other ways gave
organic form to the great British Mission. He began the
publication of the Millenfiial Star assisting Parley P.
Pratt in editing the same; he was one of a committee to
compile the Mormon hymn book, and to print the Book
of Mormon, and he traveled extensively to obtain means
for the publication of these works.

A letter concerning their labors, which he wrote to
the Prophet Joseph soon after the conference, will illus-
trate his regard for the counsels of his leader— a respect

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 35

which he always in after time demanded as well as com-
manded from his own followers:

To President Joseph Smith and Counselors.

"Dear Brethren: — You no doubt will have the
perusal of this letter and the minutes of our conferences;
they will give you an idea of what we are doing in this
country.

"If you see anything in or about the whole affair
that is not right, I ask in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ, that you would make known unto us the mind of
the Lord and His will concerning us.

"I believe that I am as willing to do the will of the
Lord, and take counsel of my brethren, and be a servant
of the Church, as ever I was in my life; but I can tell
you I would like to be with my old friends; I like my
new ones, but I cannot part with my old ones for them.

"Concerning the hymn book: when we arrived here
we found the brethren had laid by their old hymn books,
and they wanted new ones; for the Bible, religion and
all is new to them.

"I trust that I will remain your friend through life
and in eternity

"As ever,

"Brigham Young."

Besides the labors mentioned above, he unlocked
the door of emigration, forwarding the first Saints from
Europe to swell the numbers in the New World. The
first company, consisting of forty souls, sailed in the
^\{\^ Britanna, June 6th, 1840; and the second consisting
of two hundred souls in the ship North America, Septem-
ber 8th of the same year. He traveled in the various
districts holding conferences preaching the gospel to the
people, visiting London and other important cities.
Like his fellow-Apostles, he was greatly prospered,
their success being nothing less than marvelous.

36 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

On the 20th day of April, 1841, he with five of his
companions and a compan}' of one hundred and thirty
Saints, set sail for New York on board the ship Rochester.
There were many friends at the dock to waft them
farewell, and to bid them a pleasant voyage to their
native land. Parley P. Pratt rerriained to preside over
the mission.

Concerning the work performed while they were on
this errand, Brigham's journal testifies:

"It was with a heart full of thanksgiving^ and grati-
tude to God, my Heavenly Father, that I reflected upon
His dealings with me and my brethren of the Twelve
during the past year of my life which was spent in Eng-
land. It truly seems a miracle to look upon the contrast
^of our landing and departing from Liverpool. We
landed in the spring of 1840, as strangers in a strange
land, and penniless, but through the mercy of God we
have gained many friends, established churches in almost
every noted town and city of Great Britain, baptized
between seven and eight thousand souls, printed 5,000
Books of Mormon, 3,000 hymn books, 2,500 volumes of
the Millennial Stai- and 50,000 tracts, emigrated to Zion
1,000 souls, establishing a permanent shipping agency,
which will be a great blessing to the Saints and have left
sown in the hearts of many thousands the seeds of eternal
life which shall bring forth fruit to the honor and glory
of God; and yet we have lacked nothing to eat, drink or
wear; in all these things I acknowledge the hand of
God."

On the 1st day of July the Apostles arrived in
Nauvoo and were cordially welcomed by the Prophet
Joseph, who received the following revelation on the 9th:

"Dear and well-beloved Brother Brigham YDung,

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 37

verily thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Brigham,
it is no more required at your hand to leave your familv
as in times past, for your offering is acceptable to me;

"I have seen your labor and toil in jourenying for
my name.

"I therefore command you to send mv word abroad,
and take special care of your family from this time,
henceforth, and forever. Amen. "

9. IX NAUVOO. THE MARTVRDOM.

In Nauvoo the cause was prospering. The people in
Iowa and Illinois treated the Saints with kindness and
consideration, and counted them worthy citizens. The
city was rapidly growing, and there sprang into existence
beautiful homes, surrounded by lovely gardens. It
promised to be the largest city in the State. The popula-
tion increased steadily, and with it, the industries that
come into being in the midst of a thrifty people. Once
or twice their old enemies had made efforts to arrest the
Prophet and some of the leaders to answer to imaginary
charges. Some annoyance was thus caused, but
Missourians obtained little sympathy, and just then met
with no success. Peace and good-will seemed at length
to rest in soothing comfort over the Saints.

In the winter of 1840-1, the legislature granted a
most liberal charter to Nauvoo, and political parties
sought the affiliation of the Mormons, since they held the
balance of power. With the return of Brigham Young
and the Apostles from England, the prosperitv of the
growing city was greatly accelerated. The University
was organized as provided for in the charter, as was also

38 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

the Nauvoo Legion, of which latter military organization
Joseph Smith was chosen the Lieutenant-General. The
corner-stone of the temple was laid in April, 1841, and
in May following, the Prophet called upon the people
in the scattered Stakes in all the regions about to
gather to Nauvoo, the object being to assist, by concen-
trating their energy and enterprise, in the erection of the
temple and other public works. The result was that the
Saints flocked into the city from all directions, and
Nauvoo the Beautiful soon numbered twenty thousand
souls. The fame of Joseph Smith had spread over both
continents. He and his people were now at the height
of their prosperity. The great newspapers sent represen-
tatives to write about the "modern military prophet"
and his followers. At this time, in answer to newspaper
appeals, the Articles of Faith were written, and the
whole world was informed in other writings and inter-
views concerning the history and belief of the Saints.

The movement on the part of the Prophet of concen-
trating the Saints in Nauvoo was construed to mean that
he desired to rule in politics. The result was a new
organization, styled the Anti-Mormon Party, whose object
is clearly expressed in its name'. With this, fresh diffi-
culties began for the people. The Prophet was arrested
on old charges, and complaints of various kinds were
lodged against the Saints and their leaders. Then came
Bennett, with his vile slanders, coupled with the efforts
of apostates to bring trouble upon the people and the
Prophet.

Their nefarious exertions were like the faint rum-
blings ot a coming storm.

Before this time the Prophet had hinted time and
time again at his own death, seeming to realize that it

THE LIFE OF BRIGHA.M YOUNG. 39

was not far off. Brigham, as ever before, continued to
be his near friend. He had taken a prominent part in
the affairs of Nauvoo since his return from England, meet-
ing with the Prophet in important councils both religious
and political so that by this means he became thoroughly
educated in Joseph's policy and doctrines. Temporal
affairs had not escaped his attention. He arranged once
to aid Joseph in obtaining the necessaries of life, when
in poverty owing to his long continued imprisonment in
Missouri, and on another occasion when the Missourians
came to Illinois to arrest Joseph, raised hundreds of
dollars to help in frustrating their plans. With Brigham
Young at his side, whom his intuition seemed to have
singled out as his successor, as the coming leader,
Joseph felt secure.

The success which had attended the Saints in their
now beloved Nauvoo, and the establishment of the gos-
pel doctrines in America, must have given the Prophet
comforting joy, but he felt that there was still a greater
destiny for his people. They were not yet in their place
of rest. He still had visions of the West, concerning
which a remarkable prophecy is recorded that he uttered
in Montrose, Lee County, Iowa, August 6th, 1842. It
reads: "I prophesied that the Saints would continue to
suffer much affliction, and w^ould be driven to the Rocky
Mountains. Many would apostatize; others would be put
to death by our persecutors, or lose their lives in con-
sequence of exposure and disease; and some would live
to go and assist in making settlements and building
cities, and see the Saints become a mighty people in the
midst of the Rocky Mountains."

From this time on there was not much peace. A
variety of charges were heaped upon the Prophet. He

40 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

was many times arrested, tried and set free, there being \
no cause for action against him. Lies were circulated
by enemies in the Church and out, libeling his mora}
conduct and teachings. As the elections came on, the
Mormons, voting for their friends, made still more
enemies among their political opponents.

In the midst of this turmoil, in the winter of 1848-4,.
the Prophet Joseph Smith entered the political arena as-
candidate for the Presidency of the United States,
His nomination was made January 29, 1844, and
sustained at a State convention the following May. He
then issued a platform setting forth his views on the
policy and powers of the Federal Government, in which
are found man}' excellent features.

It was to promulgate his views on government, and to
secure his election that Brigham Young and several'
Apostles and Elders went to the Eastern States in April
and May of 1844.

With this new step the Anti-Mormon element became
more furious than ever; and in addition there arose
schisms and apostasies in the Church. Apostates estab-
lished the Expositor, a paper designed to attack the
character of the Prophet and citizens of Nauvoo. The
paper was destroyed after its first issue by the outraged
citizens by order of the Mayor who was at that time the
Prophet Joseph. Then followed outrage upon outrage by
the mob who were now formed into a well-organized
body. They crowded upon the city and at length Joseph
declared Nauvoo under martial law and called upon the
Legion to defend it. In a speech to that body he again
foreshadowed his own death and pointed to the West as
the resting place of his people.

Governor Ford now called out the army, transforming

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 41

the mob into a militia, and demanded that the Prophet
and those engaged in the destruction of the Expositor
come to Carthage to be tried for riot, also that the mar-
tial law at Nauvoo be abolished.

His orders were obeyed, as it was never the inten-
tion of the people to disobey constituted authority. The
Prophet hesitated about giving himself up, and started,
on the night of June 22nd, with his brother Hyrum,
Willard Richards, John Taylor and a few others, for
the Rocky Mountains. He was, however, intercepted
by his friends, and induced to abandon his project,
being chided with cowardice and with deserting his
people. This was more than he could bear, and so he
returned, saying: "If my life is of no value to my
friends, it is of no value to myself. We are going back
to be slaughtered. "

On the following day the Legion, by order, delivered
up their arms, and the Prophet and his friends went to
Carthage on the 24th day of June. On the 27th, not-
withstanding the pledged protection of the State, Joseph
and his brother Hyrum were martyred by a heartless
mob, in Carthage jail.

It seems at this day strange that Brigham Young
should have been sent away during this trying period.
Providence doubtless designed it, for if he had been in
Nauvoo when that message was sent for the return of
the Prophet, he would have prevented the martyrdom.
He loved Joseph too much to permit the counsels of
sure death to prevail; rather he w^ould have heaped
contempt upon the heads of the unwise counselors, and
instead provided Elders to aid the Prophet in his flight.

He said as much afterward: "If the Twelve had
been here we would not have seen him given up; he

4

42 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

should not have been given up. He was in your midst
but you did not know him; he has been taken away for
the people are not worthy of him."

But this was not to be. The deed was done.
Brigham and not Joseph was to be the founder of Utah.
Heavy grief filled the hearts of the Saints, sorrow and
deep mourning rested over the betrayed and stricken
people.

The Twelve had been summoned home on the 20th
of June before the Prophet's death, but it was not until
the 6th of August, 1844, that they all arrived in Nauvoo.

Brigham Young and Orson Pratt were in New
Hampshire when they first learned of the assassination.
The sad news startled them, but like a flash came to
Brigham Young the knowledge that the Twelve possessed
the authority of the Priesthood, and were now the head of
the Church. Joseph had previously given to him his en-
dowments, bestowed upon him the keys of the Priesthood,
and had instructed him and his brethren of the Twelve that
whatever might befall, they now had the authority to go
on and build up the Kingdom of God, and perform all
the ordinances of the gospel. So it was the farthest
from their thoughts to let the Church die, as its
enemies doubtless hoped it would. The power and
spirit of his calling rested upon Brigham Young in this
supreme moment: "The first thing I thought of," said
he, "was whether Joseph had taken the keys of the
Kingdom with him from the earth. Brother Orson
Pratt sat on my left; we were both leaning back in our
chairs. Bringing my hand down on m}^ knee, I said,
the keys of the Kingdom are right here with the
Church."

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG. 43

Who held these keys? was the question that was
discussed in Nauvoo upon their arrival in that citv,
August 6th, 1844.

God had taken Brigham Young through a school of
experience, in the past twelve years, that made him
equal to the stupendous burden that now rested upon his
shoulders. The Saints must be comforted, held together,
be persuaded that the authority and power to lead the
Church is with the Twelve. There were besides the
foreshadowing of their great future to be realized — the
grand program of colonization to be enacted. The
native abilities of the chief x\postle, enlarged and
strengthened by training, made him equal to the task.
He was the man for the place, ready at the appointed
hour. Hardships, sufferings, trials, toil had been his
portion, but these had tempered him mentally and physi-
cally to endurance. His mind was keen, far-reaching,
profound; inherentl}' he possessed attributes that make
leaders, counselors, commanders: time and experience
had developed these qualities.

He was now in his forty-fourth year, in the full
vigor of manhood, strong in mind and body. He had
shown himself great in faith, in powers of organization,
executive ability and governm.ent; and his greatness was
largely the fruit and product of the training which he
had received in the gospel of Jesus Christ, as taught by
the departed leader and Prophet.

44 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

III. LEADER OF THE MODERN EXODUS.

i. BRIGHAM YOUNG SUCCEEDS JOSEPH SMITH.

Utah was founded by a colony of religious exiles
who were driven thither, as the Puritans to America,
by persecution. The migration of the Latter-day Saints
to the fastnesses of the Rocky Mountains has often been
compared to the flight of the children of Israel, and so
their pilgrimage may well be called The Modern Exo-
dus.* Brigham Young was not only the Moses of the
Latter-day Israel, but also the Joshua, since he both led
his followers to their land, and established them therein.
Briefly let us outline the scenes of the journey and the
acts of the leader.

As we have seen, several weeks passed after the
martyrdom, before Brigham Young and the Twelve

*" The colonies which this wonderful state-founding community has sent
to the West, since that tidal wave rose in the exodus from Nauvoo, will stand
as the most marked example of organic colonization which has occurred in
the growth and spread of the American nation." — Tullidge's History of Salt
Lake City, p. 4.

"There is no parallel in the world's history to this migration from
Nauvoo. The exodus from Egypt was from a heathen land, a land of idol-
aters, to a fertile region designated by the Lord for His chosen people, the
land of Canaan. The pilgrim fathers in flying to America came from a
bigoted and a despotic people — a people making few pretensions to civil or
religious liberty It is from these same people who had fled from old-world
persecutions that they might enjoy liberty of conscience in the wilds of
America, from their descendants and associates, that other of their descen
dants, who claimed the right to differ irom them in opinion and practice, were
now fleeing." — Bancroft's History of Utah. p. 217.

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 45

returned to Nauvoo. Pending their arrival there was
great anxiety among certain Elders to have a leader, a
trustee-in-trust, or a president appointed. Others
wished a reorganization of the Church.

Sidney Rigdon, who as a counselor to the martyred
Prophet, came all the way from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania,
whither he had gone to escape the turmoils of Nauvoo,
to present his claims to the Presidency, to lay his plans
to have the Church accept him as its "guardian." In
conjunction with Wm. Marks, President of the Nauvoo
Stake of Zion, he arranged for various meetings in
which he laid his claims before the people, telling them
of his calling, and the visions which he had received,
indicating that he was the man to lead the Church, the
man of whom the prophets had sung and written and
over whom they had rejoiced.

The Apostles were arriving one by one, and there
was a general desire to wait until they all should come
before taking action, but this was not the wish of the
aspirants to position. The first meeting was held on
the 4th of August, in the Grove. Rigdon spoke, and by
a strange circumstance chose for his text words which
were very appropriate, as subsequent events proved, in
showing the sentiments of the people towards him:
"For my thoughts are not as your thoughts, neither are
your ways my ways, saith the Lord."

The people felt like sheep without a shepherd, and
that plotters were among them seeking to get control of
the fold. There was doubting and uncertainty among
the Saints. A special meeting for choosing a guardian was
called for August 8th, notwithstanding leading Elders
objected to such haste. These were the conditions that
prevailed when President Young and the Twelve arrived

46 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG. )

in Nauvoo on the 6th of August, 1844. Their coming
created a feeling of relief among the Saints. The
Apostles lost no time in learning the true state of affairs,
and it was not long till it became apparent to the people
that the chief had come. A council of the Priesthood
was called the next day, in which Brigham asked Rigdon
to present his claims to leadership. He did so, and was
answered by the President in such a way that no doubt
was left in the minds of those who heard as to who had
the authority. Said Brigham: "Joseph conferred upon
our heads all the keys and powers belonging to the
Apostleship which he himself held before he was taken
away, and no man or set of men can get between Joseph
and the Twelve in this world or in the world to come.
How often has Joseph said to the Twelve, I have laid the
foundation and you must build thereon, for upon your
shoulders the kingdom rests."

The advertised public meeting was held thereafter
on the 8th. It was one of the most important assemblies-
the Saints have ever attended. Rigdon occupied one
hour and a half, followed by President Young. The
words of the former, notwithstanding his natural elo-
quence, fell upon cold ears. "The Lord hath not chosen
you," could be read in the faces of the multitude. The
people turned instinctively to Brigham Young; it was the
first time they had heard him since his return, and the
effect was electrical. His voice, appearance, and the
wisdom and clearness with which he pointed out the
order of the Priesthood, all indicated the man whom
God had selected to guide his Israel. Rigdon was re-
pudiated, and the congregation said one to another:
The spirit of Joseph rests upon Brigham."

"A more wonderful and miraculous event than was

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 4!J

wrought that day in the presence of that congregation
we never heard of," writes George Q. Cannon. "The
Lord gave his people a testimony that left no room for
doubt as to who was the man He had chosen to lead them,
* * * On that occasion President Brigham Young
seemed to be transformed, and a change such as that we
read of in the Scriptures as happening to the Prophet
Elisha, when Elijah was translated in his presence, seemed
to have taken place with him. The mantle of the Prophet
Joseph had been left for Brigham Young. * * *

In his remarks to the congregation, he alluded to the fact
that instead of himself and brethren finding them mourn-
ing the death of their great leader, as Israel did the de-
parture of Moses, they found them holding meetings to
chose his successor. But if they wished to obtain the
mind and will of the Lord concerning this subject, why
did they not meet according to the order, and have a
general assembly of the several quorums, which constitute
the spiritual authorities of the Church, a tribunal from
whose 'decision there was no appeal? In a moment the
few words he spoke upon this subject threw a flood of
light upon it. The Elders remembered then the proper
order. He desired to see an assembly of the quorums at
2 o'clock that afternoon, every quorum in its place and
order, and a general meeting also of the members."

This was witnessed in the afternoon when the multi-
tude again met. President Young addressed the congre-
gation; his commanding voice sounded over the vast
assembly: "Attention all." He showed them their situa-
tion. The Twelve were appointed by the finger of God;
they stand next to the Prophet and are as the First Presi-
dency: if any man is appointed to lead the Church the
Twelve must ordain him. Any other course would

48 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNO. >,

scatter the Saints. "I have spared no pains to learn
my lessons of the kingdom in this world and in the
eternal worlds; and if it were not so I could go and live
in peace; but for the gospel and for your sakes I shall
stand in my place. * * * Does this Church

want it as God organized it? or do you want to clip the
power of the Priesthood and let those who have the keys
of the Priesthood go and build up the kingdom in all the
world, wherever the people will hear them? If there is
a spokesman, if he is a king and priest, let him go and
build up a kingdom to himself; that is his right and it is
the right of many here, but the Twelve are at the head
of it. * * * jf ^Q^ thousand men rise up and
say they have the Prophet Joseph Smith's shoes, I know
they are imposters. * * * j ^qH yg^ j^ ^j^g name
of the Lord, that no man can put another between the
Twelve and the Prophet Joseph. Why? Because
Joseph was their file leader and he has committed into
their hands the keys of the kingdom in this last dispen-
sation, for all the world; do not put a thread between
the Priesthood and God. * * * -y^g have a

head, and that head is the Apostleship, the spirit and
power of Joseph, and we can now begin to see the
necessity of that Apostleship. * * * 'pj-^g Twelve
can manage the affairs of the Church and direct all
things aright." And so he continued, pointing out the
order of succession and authority, the import of the
revelations and the laws of the Church which were for-
gotten by the people, or hidden from them in the excite-
ment of the hour.

Always bright and gifted, Brigham was on this, as on
other great occasions, most uncommonly endowed with
power. It required a strong mind to hold the people.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 49

but his determination was equal to the occasion. He
was not a man of many smooth words, but what he said
was full of force and meaning. That afternoon, Sidney
Rigdon was like a child in the presence of a wise man;
he said not a word.

Before the deciding vote was taken, Brigham said,
among other things: "Brother Joseph, the Prophet, has
laid the foundation for a great work, and we will build
upon it; you have never seen the quorums built one upon
another. There is an almighty foundation laid, and we
can build a kingdom such as there never was in the
world. * "^ * I do not ask you to take my counsel
or advice alone, but every one of you act for himself.
* * * I want every man before he enters into a

covenant to know what he is going to do; but we want
to know if this people will support the Priesthood in the
name of Israel's God. If you say you will, do so."

The greatest number said that they would so sustain
the authorities; Brigham Young and the Twelve w^ere
upheld, and the Church was saved. The enemies of the
Saints were soon impressed with the fact that "the
blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. " Mor-
monism promised to grow with greater force than ever
before. A great character had arisen to fill the place of
the Prophet. Upon the foundation laid a kingdom was
to be built whose equal "there never was in the world."

BOGUS BRIGHAM.

But while this was the case, the Anti-Mormons also
seemed bent upon carrying out their plans which were to
drive the Saints away, harass or utterly destroy them.
They were not satisfied with having martyred the Prophet

n.N.TOOMEY.

50 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.—

and Patriarch. They seemingly wished to treat all the
leaders in a like manner and were determined to scatter
the people.

The forced exodus to the West was near at hand.
Before the Saints should forsake their homes once more,
they wished to enjo}- the sacred blessings of the temple,
and were therefore counseled to bend all their energies
upon completing the edifice. And this they did, often
amidst sore persecutions from their enemies. The leaders
were in constant danger of being ensnared, and were fre-
quently compelled to go into hiding to avoid arrest,
emerging from concealment when danger was temporarily
over.

It was under such circumstances that the "Bogus
Brigham" arrest occurred. The President, the Twelve
and other Elders were in the temple when a marshal and
his posse came to the door to arrest Brigham Young.
William Miller, who much resembled him, threw on a
cloak at the request of Brigham and went down to the
entrance of the building, mutely surrendering to the
elated officers. People who appreciated the joke, stood
about the carriage weeping and questioning, but Miller
made no reply and soon the vehicle containing the prize
was on the way to Carthage, where the prisoner was to
be tried on some fabricated charge, or perhaps treated to
powder and ball as was Joseph and Hyrum. The sequel
to the rich ruse is thus told by President Young himself:
When they arrived within two or three miles of
Carthage, the marshal, with his posse, stopped. They
arose in their carriages, buggies and wagons, and, like
a tribe of Indians going to battle, or as if they were a
pack of demons, yelling and shouting, exclaimed, 'We've
got him; we've got him; we've got him.'

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 51

"When they reached Carthage, the marshal took the
supposed Brigham into an upper room of the hotel, and
placed a guard over him, at the same time telling those
around him that he had got him. Brother Miller re-
mained in the room until they bade him come to supper.
While there parties came in, one after the other, and
asked for Brigham. Brother Miller was pointed out to
them. So it continued, until an apostate Mormon, by
the name of Thatcher, who had lived in Nauvoo, came
in, sat down and asked the landlord where Brigham was. "

"'That is Mr. Young,' said the landlord, pointing
across the table to Brother Miller.

" 'Where? I can't see any one that looks like Brig-
ham,' Thatcher replied.

"The landlord told him it was that fleshy man
eating.

" 'Oh, h — r exlaimed Thatcher, that's not Brigham;
that's Wm. Miller, one of my old neighbors.'

"Upon hearing this the landlord went, and tapping
the sheriff on the shoulder, took him a few steps to one
side, and said:

" 'You have made a mistake. That is not Brigham
Young. It is Wm. Miller, of Nauvoo.'

"The marshal, very much astonished, exclaimed:
'Good heavens, and he passed for Brigham.' He then
took Brother Miller into a room, and turning to him,
said: 'What in h — 1 is the reason you did not tell me
your name?'

"'You have not asked me my name,' Brother Miller
replied.

" 'Well what is your name? said the sheriff, with
another oath.

" 'My name is William Miller.'

52 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.""'

" 'I thought your name was Brigham Young. Do you
say this for a fact?'

"'Certainly I do,' returned Brother Miller.

"'Then,' said the marshal, 'why did you not tell me
that before?'

"'I was under no obligation to tell you, ' replied
Miller.

"The marshal in a rage, walked out of the room,
followed by Brother Miller, who walked off in company
with Lawyer Edmonds, Sheriff Backenstos and others,
who took him across lots to a place of safety; and this
is the real birth of the story of 'Bogus Brigham,' as far
as 1 can recollect. "

3. PERSECUTIONS AND ADVICE.

Governor Ford came to Nauvoo, on the 27th of
September, 1844, ostensibly to bring the murderers of
the Prophet Joseph to justice, for what else could he
do, seeing that he had plighted the protection of the
State?

On this same day Brigham Young received his com-
mission as Lieutenant-General of the Nauvoo Lpgion.
On the 28th, the Legion was reviewed before the Gover-
nor, some of the members coming without arms evidently
to remind him of the disarmament which had taken
place before the martyrdom.

Soon after this time, Lieutenant-General Young
received an order from the Governor directing him to
keep a sufficient force of the Legion on hand to guard
the court, and protect it from evil persons who might
wish to oppose the prosecution of the murderers of Jos-
eph and Hyrum. The instructions accompanying this

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 53

order were very strange. The Lieutenant-General was
cautioned that the order was "one of great delicacy to
execute." "If it should be the means of getting up a
civil war in Hancock, I do not know how much force I
could bring to the aid of the government," continues His
Excellency. Calling the Legion to service might bring
war between the factions, and hence, the order was more
in the shape of "a permission to use the Legion, than a
compulsory command."

This affair is significant in that it shows that the
Mormons were legally in the right. But with the Gov-
ernor, it was not policy to do right, if the Mormons
should gain anything thereby and their enemies be placed
within the law. Brigham Young and the Legion could
have protected the Mormons, (this could also have been
done by Joseph and the Legion) and besides maintained
the Governor in case of a civil war; but this would have
placed Illinois under the domination of the Mormons
which His Excellency would under no consideration
consent to, hence his remark that his order was one of
"great delicacy to execute." The whole thing really
meant nothing, it was a sham just as the trial of the
Prophet's murderers proved to be.

It was clearly apparent that no law could touch the
Mormons, and so their enemies adopted the policy of
out-lawing them. In January, 1845, the Legislature,
yielding to the popular clamor, repealed the charter of
the City of Nauvoo. (The Saints in April of this year
changed the name to The City of Joseph, in honor of
the Prophet.) There was now no protection whatever
for the Mormons. On the 8th of April, 1845, Governor
Ford wrote to President Young advising him to "get
off by yourselves" where "you may enjoy peace." He

54 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

counseled him likewise in confidence to migrate with his
people to California.

It was unnecessary that the Governor should so
advise. The course to be pursued in seeking a resting
spot, a place of refuge in the West, beyond the Rocky
Mountains, had already been decided upon by Brigham
Young, and preparations to carry the plan into effect had
begun. The Saints could and did rely on him as one
who never knowingly deviated from a fixed purpose.
Believing Joseph Smith to be inspired, he followed in
his footsteps, and built upon the foundation laid by
him. ' Far be it from him to fail in the execution of any
plan which had been outlined by the Prophet, either in
temporal or spiritual things. "As a designer Joseph
Smith was without a peer among his fellows; as an
executor Brigham Young without a parallel. Each was
the other's, complement, and neither career alone, in the
eternal fitness of things would have been complete*."

But the advice was offered nevertheless, and Gover-
nor Ford was not alone in giving it, as Senator Douglass
and others had expressed similar views.

The advice would soon be heeded. Before parting
from their homes the Saints through a committee of
which Brigham Young was the chairman, memorialized
the President of the United States, and also all the
Governors of the country, asking for aid and sympathy
in their exile, and also setting forth the wrongs which
they had endured in Missouri and Illinois. This action ac-
quainted the nation with the grievances of the afflicted
people, but their appeals went unheeded, and unanswered,
too, save in a single instance. '

♦Whitney's History of Utah, Vol. I., p, 239.

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAX YOUNG. 55

4. COMMANDED TO LEAVE THE STATE.

In May, 1845, a faint effort was made to bring the
murderers of the Prophet and his brother Hyrum to jus-
tice, but after a trial, they were "honorably acquitted,"
— a fair criterion of the sentiments entertained by the
citizens and the courts against the Mormons, and a
sample of the "justice" of those days.

The acquittal of the assassins so emboldened the
mob element, that no sooner was it generally known
than fresh outrages, burnings and persecutions, were
inflicted upon the defenseless Saints. Their houses were
iired and the people driven from place to place, until,
fearing massacre, the Saints in the outlying settlements
iled to Nauvoo for protection. The whole State was in
great excitement.

It was at this juncture that Governor Ford called
out the State militia to restore order. General Hardin
was sent to Hancock County October 1st, 1845, for this
purpose; and, having proclaimed peace to the people
and commanded the mob to obey authority, he next held
a conference with the Mormon leaders in which he asked
them to leave the State, the movement to begin in the
spring. The requisition was made by representatives
from nine counties of the State assembled at Carthage.
Brigham Young and his people agreed to the demand,
knowing full well that there was no alternative between
exodus and extermination by massacre. General Hardin
wished to know what guarantee would be given that the
Mormons w^ould fulfill their part of the agreement, to
which President Young replied with cutting strictness:
"You have our all as a guarantee; what more can we
give beyond the guarantee of our names?" But the

56 THE LIFE or BRIGHAM YOUNG.

General afterward, in writing, requested a written
statement setting forth the facts and intentions stated to
him by the Mormons, in order that he might lay them
before the Governor and the people of the State.

In reply President Young and the Council at Nauvoo
sent them a copy of the propositions previously sub-
mitted to the committee from Quincy, in answer to a
similar request. They added that preparations to remove
were made previous to the recent disturbances. They
were fully determined to move in the spring, indepen-
dent of the contingency of selling their property. The
first compan}' would comprise from five to six thousand
souls. Others would follow, and all were determined to
remove to some distant point where they shoald neither
infringe nor be infringed upon. They requested the
good citizens to help them sell their property which
they would not sacrifice, give away, or suffer to be illeg-
ally wrested from them, whether they found pur-
chasers or not. Concluding they said: "If these testi-
monies are not sufficient to satisfy any people that we
are in earnest, we will soon give them a sign that can not
be mistaken — we will leave themr

5. THE EXODUS.

As rapidly as possible preparations were made to
move westward, pursuant to the agreement made. Land
was disposed of, leased or exchanged for animals and
wagons; and such household property as could not be
taken, was sold, or left for sale in the care of agents.

The Saints had made great efforts to complete the
Temple, so that they might enjoy its holy ordinances

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 57

before setting out upon their journey. It was so far
completed in October, 1845, that a three days' conference
was held in it; and during December of that vear and
the following January, Brigham Young and other of the
Apostles administered to many hundreds of the people
therein. The holy building, had been all but completed
in the midst of renewed persecution, and the administer-
ing of the ordinances of endowment took place while
preparations were being made to evacuate the city.

The exodus began on the 4th of February, 1846,
Charles Shum'way being the first person to cross the
river on his way west. The ferries over the Mississippi
were afterward kept busy night and day, until the river
froze over, when crossing was continued on the ice. The
first camp was on Sugar Creek, nine miles west into
Iowa. There the advance companies pitched their tents,
until the leaders and the remainder should arrive.
Brigham Young, who, with the Twelve, directed all the
movements, crossed over and arrived at the camp on the
15th. It was now bitterly cold. Already great suffering
had been endured. The poor exiles, with their sick
families, camped in the snow, scraping it from the
ground to make their beds, or slept in the cold wagons
almost in sight of their comfortable homes from which
they had been driven. Snow, storm, savages, and the
untrodden wilderness la\- before them.

Well might it be said that "there is no parallel in
the world's history to this migration from Nauvoo. "

The first night out "nine wives became mothers;
nine children were born in tents and wagons in that
wintry camp. How these tender babes, these sick and
delicate women were cared for under such conditions, is
left to the imagination of the sensitive reader. How

5

58 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG,

these Mormon exiles, outcasts of civilization, carrying
their aged, infirm and helpless across the desolate plains
and prairies, were tracked and trailed thereafter by the
nameless graves of their dead, is a tale which, though
often attempted, has never been and never will be fully
told."*

It was under such circumstances that the labor of
temporary organization, by Brigham Young, began at
Sugar Creek. Getting into a wagon, his voice rang out
over the congregation: "Attention, the whole Camp of
Israeli" There stood the law-giver and commander, kind
and great in the midst of suffering: undaunted, self-
possessed in affliction's sorest trial. Then followed prac-
tical, plain instructions as to the order and arrangement
of the camp; with a tone of authority, tempered with
love and firmness, he told the people that, "we will have
no laws we cannot keep, but we will have order in the
camp. If any want to live in peace when we have left
this place, they must toe the mark."

The companies now consisted of about four hundred
wagons, but there were not enough teams to make a rapid
journey. After having petitioned the Governor of Iowa
for protection while passing through his Territory,
President Young and the Apostles made a farewell visit
to Nauvoo, and while there held a parting service in the
Temple, giving needed counsel to the remnant of the
Saints who were to remain a short season, but whose
destiny it was to suffer even more than their comrades
who had gone before. Returning to the Camp on Sugar
Creek, President Young gave orders to advance on the
1st day of March, and by noon of that day the Cam

♦Whitney's History of Utali, Vo). I. p. 249.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 59

began to move. As a parting thought, he wrote in his
diary: "Our homes, gardens, orchards, farms, streets,
mills, bridges, public halls, magnificent Temple, and
other public improvements, we leave as a monument of
our patriotism, industry, economy, uprightness of pur-
pose, and integrity of heart, as a living testimony of the
falsehood and wickedness of those who charge us with
disloyalty to the Constitation of our country, idleness and
dishonesty. "

That day the Camp traveled five miles. Then from
day to day the weary march was slowly continued in
mud, snow and rain. The exiled people, strengthened by
a higher Power, pressed on in search of a new home, in
some unknown place among the mountains, where mobs
could not molest.

Shoal Creek, in the Chariton River region, was
reached on the 27th of March. In this place the Camps
were delayed about three weeks by freshets, and in the
mean time a more complete organization was effected.
Companies of "hundreds," "fifties," and "tens" were
formed, and captains appointed over them. The journey
was thereafter contioued, and at various points in Iowa,
between the two great rivers, temporary settlements were
made, chief among which were Garden Grove and ]\Iount
Pisgah, where farming operations were engaged in for
the benefit of those who should follow after.

About June 15th, Brigham Young, with the vanguard
of the migrating trains, reached the Missouri, followed
by the main body in July. They stopped at a place on
the east side of the river, which they named Kanesville,
now known as Council Bluffs. Soon a part crossed to
the west side of the river pitching their tents upon the
Indian lands. The Saints in both places were heartily

60 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

welcomed b}^ the Pottawatomie and the Omaha Indians.
Later in the season, in what is now Florence, was
founded the celebrated Winter Quarters, with a popula-
tion of about four thousand souls.

It was the intention of the Mormon leader to hasten
onward that summer and fall with a band of pioneers to
explore the Rocky Mountains. The muster for volun-
teers, for this purpose, was in progress at Mount Pisgah,
under the direction of Apostle Woodruff who had recent-
ly returned from England, when the Mormon nation of
twelve thousand souls, thus stretching across the whole
of Iowa, was startled by a call for volunteers — for a Mor-
mon battalion — to do battle for their country against
Mexico.

This event changed the plans, and the people were
compelled to remain in Winter Quarters, and in the
other settlements in Iowa, over winter.

b. THE PRESIDENT S WISDOM AND WATCHCARE.

The magnitude of an undertaking of thus transplant-
ing a whole people, many of whom were without even
the common necessities of life, from prosperous homes to
a wilderness, may better be imagined than described.
Numbers of these people, upon beginning their journey,
had only enough supplies for themselves and their animals,
for a few days. Brigham Young and the Twelve started
with provisions enough for a year, but in a few weeks this
had all been distributed to the needy and the suffering
in the Camp. There were many things to hinder the
progress of the train in their onward course. Amidst
cold, exposure, sickness, hunger, and their attendant

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 61

hardships, it is little wonder that dissatisfaction at times
broke out, that some persons in the camp became un-
manageable. It is a wonder, however, that so little dis-
union existed, that such satisfaction prevailed. The
people, of course, had their faults and weaknesses, but
it must be remembered they were surrounded by circum-
stances where these were sure to be made apparent.

Upon Brigham Young rested the whole responsibility
of providing, adjusting, organizing and planning. His
annoyances, perplexities and anxieties were severe, and,
indeed, wore so heavily upon him that in one public
meeting he is said to have remarked that he could
scarcely keep from lying down and sleeping to await the
resurrection.

But such feelings were not long at a time entertained
by him. His jovial spirit soon returned to kindle new
life in his followers, and his wise counsels and firm de-
meanor, as well as his just decisions, engendered peace
and harmony among them.

He understood fully human nature, and realized that
work is necessary to contentment and happiness. Labor
was therefore provided. During the stay in Winter
Quarters, a grist mill was erected which the Saints
scarcely expected would be of much benefit to them, but
it gave the men employment, and kept them from the
worst of all evils, idleness. In addition to building the
mill and digging the race, and providing shelter for their
families, a council house was erected. Willow baskets,
washboards and half-bushel measures, were extensively
manufactured. The women,' besides attending to their
household duties, were occupied in spinning, knitting,
and making leggings from skins of animals. Some of
the men, in the various camps, took work on farms, split

62 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

rails, cleared timber, fenced land, and husked corn.
The whole community were thus engaged in creating re-
sources on the way, and were as happy as they were busy.
The President counseled, directed, and with uncommon
care watched over the migrating thousands. He super-
intended the work with a zeal and watch-care unequalled.
Says the camp journalist: "He sleeps with one eye open
and one foot out of bed, and when anything is wanted,
he is on hand." His care "was extended," says Tullidge,
"to every family, every soul; even the very animals had
the master friend near to ease and succor them. A
thousand anecdotes could be told of that journey to illus-
trate this. "When traveling, or in camp, he was ever
looking after the welfare of all. No poor horse or ox
even had a tight collar or a bow too small but his eye
would see it. Many times did he get out of his vehicle
and see that some suffering animal was relieved."*

Understanding the good effect that a happy mind has
on the body, he was not averse to amusements, and fre-
quently permitted dancing, and other recreation to a
proper extent, since such diversion tended to lighten
present toils, and to assuage the troubles of the past —
to make the most of joy and the least of sorrow. The
camp was thus made measurably free from useless re-
pining. "We were happy and contented," says John
Taylor, "and the songs of Zion resounded from wagon
to wagon, reverberating through the woods." They had
a brass band along. Captain Pitt's, that frequently
cheered the drooping spirit by strains of music.

"On the night of March 1st, when the first camp
was pitched beyond Sugar Creek, after prayer they held

*Tullidge's History of Salt Lake City, p. 21,

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 63

a dance, and as the men of Iowa looked on they won-
dered how these homeless outcasts from Christian civil-
ization could thus praise and make merry in view of their
near abandoning of themselves to the mercies of savages
and wild beasts.""^ In the song and the dance the Saints
praised the Lord. When the night was fine, and supper,
which consisted of the most primitive fare, was over,
some of the men would clear awa}^ the snow, w^hile others
bore logs to the camp-fires in anticipation of the jubilee
of the evening. Soon, in a sheltered place, the blazing
fires would roar, and fifty couples, old and young, would
join, in the merriest spirit, to the music of the band or
the rival revelry of the solitary fiddle. As they journeyed
along, too, strangers constantly visited their camps, and
great was their wonderment to see the order, unity and
good feeling that prevailed in the midst of the people.
By tne camp fires they would linger, listening to the
music of the song; and they fain had taken part in the
merriment had not those scenes been as sacred worship
in the exodus of a God-fearing people. t

"After the completion of the council house, (in Win-
ter Quarters) arrangements were made for a number of
dancing parties and festivals to be held in it, and Presi-
dent Young proposed to show them how to go forth in
the dance in a manner acceptable before the Lord. He
did so by offering up prayer to God at the opening and
closing of the exercises and permitting only modest de-
portment and decorum throughout. J

That w^inter his wisdom in dealing with the Indians

*Bancroft's History of Utah, p. 220.
fTullide's History of Salt Lake City, p. 21.
J Geo. Q. Cannon , in Jnvenile Instructor.

64 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

was revealed. Living on Indian lands, and being fre-
quently annoyed by the red men who stole their cattle,
a conflict easily could have been provoked; but Brigham
took great pains tu instruct the people as to the just and
proper manner of treating the Indians. The result was
a good feeling between the savages and the Mormons.
His policy towards the Indians, of feeding instead of
fighting them, was then adopted, and to his honor ever
after maintained.

The Saints' spiritual welfare, the moving motive of
their exodus, was not neglected, frequent meetings being
held, in which the people were stirred to diligence in re-
ligious duties. Thus the temporal and the spiritual
joined hands; the wanderers both watched and prayed;
religious zeal had a companion in common sense, — all
combining to keep the Mormon pilgrims cheerful and
healthy in mind. With the body and the intellect
feasted on pleasant thoughts and themes, peace and har-
mony prevailed in the "Camps of Israel."

7. THE MORMON BATTALION.

That there should be consternation in camp at Mt.
Pisgah, on the 26th of June, 1846, when Captain J. Allen
made his call for volunteers, is not surprising; the peo-
ple were by this time so accustomed to persecution, that
it was little wonder they thought the United States army
was upon them, when they heard of the officer's arrival.

The Brannan compact, then probably known at Mt.
Pisgah, was one cause that tended to confirm this idea:
About the time that the Saints left Nauvoo, Elder Samuel
Brannan sailed ;vith two hundred and thirty-five Mor-

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG. 65

mons, on the ship Brookly?i, for California, intending
to join those who left Nauvoo somewhere on the Pacific
Coast. Before sailing from New York, Brannan entered
into a peculiar agreement with one A. G. Benson, who
represented a company of Washington sharpers, requiring
the Mormons to transfer to said Benson & Company the
odd numbers of all the lands and town lots which they
might acquire in the country where they should settle —
for be it known, the Saints were leaving the United
States to pass into the dominions of Mexico, which then
extended over the whole West to the Pacific Ocean.
Brannan was prevailed upon to sign such an agreement,
and he forwarded it to the Mormon leaders for their ap-
proval and signatures, with the information that if they
did not sign the document. President Polk would issue a
proclamation setting forth that it was the intention of
the Mormons to take sides with either ]*iIexico or Great
Britain, which latter country then claimed Oregon, in
the impending struggle against the United States, inter-
cept them, and order them to be disarmed and dispersed.
But if they did sign, then they were to be allowed to
proceed unmolested. When this strange document came
to President Young, he called a council of the Twelve,
(Sugar Creek, Feb. 17, 1846,) resulting in the emphatic
rejection of the proposition, without even a reply. "We
concluded that our trust is in God, and we look to Him
for protection," said they, and, added President Young,
"This was a plan of political demagogues to rob the
Latter-day -Saints of millions and compel them to submit
to it "by threats of Federal bayonets."

But is the threat to be carried out? was the question
that naturally arose in the minds of the people when the
officer appeared in Mount Pisgah.

66 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

His appearance, however, was not due to the Bran-
nan letter, but resulted from a very different cause. War
broke out between our country and Mexico, in April,
1846. Just previous to this time, and shortly after the
Saints left Nauvoo, Brigham Young had sent Elder Jesse
C. Little to Washington to try to obtain aid, if possible,
from the nation, to assist them in their march. It was
thought that they might be permitted to freight govern-
ment provisions and stores to Oregon and other Pacific
Coast points. Elder Little succeeded to such an extent
that assistance was about to be granted, when the break-
ing out of the war with Mexico determined President Polk
upon the design of hurriedly taking possession of Cali-
fornia, and of using the m.igrating Mormons for this
purpose. This project was matured and about to be
carried out, when it was changed through the influence
of Senator Thomas Benton, an old Missouri enemy of
the Mormons. Another plan was then adopted, which
involved a call for five hundred Mormon volunteers to
form a part of the force which was to invade New Mex-
ico and California, under General Kearney, the com-
mander of the army of the West, then at Santa Fe.
When the Commander received the President's order, he
detailed Captain Allen to proceed to the camps of the
Saints, muster the battalion, and march them to Fort
Leavenworth there to be armed and prepared for ser-
vice, then to follow the trail of General Kearney and the
main army.

Thus originated the call for the Mormon Battalion.
To this day there is a difference of opinion as to
whether it was meant for the good, or for the destruction
of the Mormons. It is plainly evident that the Saints
in that day viewed it in the latter light. The leaders

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG. 67

looked upon it as a test of the loyalty of the Mormons to
their country; and so, when the recruiting officer came
to President Young, at Council Bluffs, and laid his
errand before him, (for it was a question of too much
importance to be considered by the authorities at Mount
Pisgah, with a view to giving an answer, or even to
expressing an opinion, until the chief x\postle was con-
sulted,) he promptly replied: "You shall have your
battalion, Captain Allen, and if there are not young men
enough, we will take the old men, and if they are not
enough, we will take the women."

Let us remember the circumstances that surrounded
this people; the story of their recent treatment from the
citizens and the government of Illinois; the scenes of
Missouri, and then it can be more fully understood with
what nobility of mind the ^lormons responded to the
call of their country — what patriotism inspired them.
Taking up the key words of their leader, "You shall
have your battalion," leading Elders cheerfully responded
to the call. Men were sent to all the camps to summon
to headquarters, the old men and the boys to supply the
place of the men — the strength of the people — who were
enlisted in the battalion. When all were gathered in
Council Bluffs, President Young, at a meeting in the
bowery, July 15th, 1846, delivered to the congregation
an earnest speech, in which he told his people "not to
mention families today; we want to conform to the re-
quisition made upon us, and w^e will do nothing else until
we accomplish this thing. If we want the privilege of
going where we can worship God according to the dic-
tates of our consciences, we must raise the battalion. I
say, it is right; and who cares for sacrificing our comfort
for a few years? * * ^^ j -^^nt to say to

68 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

every man, the Constitution of the United States, as
framed b}' our fathers, was dictated, was revealed, was
put into their hearts by the Almighty, who sits enthroned
in the midst of the heavens; although unknown to them
it was dictated b}^ the revelations of Jesus Christ, and I
tell you, in the name of Jesus Christ, it is as good as
ever I could ask for. I say unto 3'ou, magnify the laws.
There is no law in the United States, or in the constitu-
tion, but I am ready to make honorable. "

Colonel Thomas L. Kane, who was present at the
time of the muster, sa3's of the event: "A central mass
meeting for council, some harangues at the remotely
scattered camps, an American flag brought out from the
store-house of things rescued and hoisted to the top of a
tree mast, and in three days the force was reported,
mustered,, organized and ready to march."

♦There was no sentimental affectation at their leave-taking It was the
custom, whenever the larger camps rested for a few days together, to make
great arbors or boweries, as they called them, of poles, and brush, and wattl-
ing, as places of shelter ior their meetings of devotion or conference. In one
of these, where the ground had been trodden firm and hard by the worship-
ers, was gathered now the mirth and beauty of the Mormon Israel. If any-
thing told that the Mormons had been bred to other lives it was the appear-
ance of the women as they assembled here. Before their flight they had sold
their watches and trinkets as the most available recourse for raising ready
money; and hence, like their partners, who wore waistcoats cut with useless
watch pockets, they, although their ears were pierced and bore the marks of
rejected pendants, were without ear-rings, chains or brooches. Except such
ornaments, however, they lacked nothing most becoming the attire of decorous
maidens. The neatly darned white stockings, and clean white petticoat, the
clear-starched collar and chemisette, the something faded, only because too
well washed, lawn or gingham gown, that fitted modestly to the waist of its
pretty wearer — these, if any of them spoke of poverty, spoke of a poverty that
had known better days. With the rest attended the Elders of the Church
within call, including nearly all the chiefs of the High Council, with their
wives and children. They, the bravest and most trouble-worn, seemed the

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 69

There was a farewell ball in the bowery* that after-
noon, in which the hours were merrily chased away, then
the parting; and on the 16th the advance companies of
that famous band of five hundred and forty-nine souls,
began their journey for Fort Leavenworth. Their
exploits on the long march, their discoveries in Cali-
fornia, and their early settlement in Utah, are matters
of history.

8. WITH THE PIONEERS.

Space does not permit more than mere reference to
the troubles of the remnant at Nauvoo who, in the fall
of 1846, were driven from their homes, at "the point of
the bayonet, after an unsuccessful effort at defending
themselves. Their fate was even worse than that of their
brethren and sisters who preceded them into the wilder-
ness. They numbered about six hundred and forty per-
sons. "Dreadful, indeed," says Col. Thomas L. Kane,

most anxious of any to throw off the burden of heavy thoughts Their lead-
ing otf the dance in a double cotillion was the signal which bade the festivity
to commence.

Light hearts, lithe figures, and light feet had it their own way from an early
hour till after the sun had dipped behind the sharp sky-line of the Omaha
hills Silence was then called, and a well-cultivated mezzo soprano voice,
belonging to a young lady with fair face and dark eyes, gave with quartette
accompaniment, a little song, the notes of which I have been unsuccessful in
repeated efforts to obtain since— a version of the text touching to all earthly
wanderers :

"By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept ;
We wept when we remembered Zion.'"
There was danger of some expression of feeling when the song was over
for it had begun to draw tears, but, breaking the quiet Avith his hard voice, an
Elder asked the blessings of heaven on all who, with purity of heart and
brotherhood ol spirit, had mingled in that society, and then all dispersed,
hastening to cover from the falling dew. — Thomas L. Kane.

V

70 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

"was the suffering of these forsaken beings, bowed and
cramped by cold and sunburn, alternating as each weary
day and night dragged on. They were, almost all of
them, the crippled victims of disease. They were there
because they had no homes, nor hospital, nor poor-house,
nor friends to offer them any. They could not satisfy
the feeble cravings of their sick; they had not bread to
satisfy the fractious hunger-cries of their children.
Mothers and babes, daughters and grandparents, all of
them alike, were bivouacked in tatters wanting even
covering to comfort those whom the sick shiver of fever
v/as searching to the marrow."

We have already touched, in a few words, upon the
condition of the Saints who remained, during the winter
of 1846-7 in Winter Quarters and in Iowa. It was, of
course. President Young's intention to have them press
west, as early as possible in the spring. He received
"The word and will of the Lord concerning the
Camp of Israel in their journeyings to the W^est, " on the
14th day of January, 1847; from this revelation, the first
through him that was ever written, we may form a con-
ception of the character of the preparations that were to
be made for the continued exodus. It is to be found in
the 136th section of the book of Doctrine and Covenants,
and we quote from the 2nd verse to the .3P>d, inclusive:

Let all the people of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, and those who journey with them, be
organized into companies, with a covenant and promise
to keep all the commandments and statutes of the Lord
our God.

Let the companies be organized with captains of
hundreds, captains of fifties, and captains of tens, with a
president and his two counselors at their head, under the
direction of the Twelve Apostles;

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 71

And this shall be our covenant, that we will walk in
all the ordinances of the Lord.

Let each company provide themselves with all the
teams, wagons, provisions, clothing, and other necces-
saries for the journey that they can.

When the companies are organized, let them go to
with their might, to prepare for those who are to tarry.
Let each company with their captains and presidents
decide how many can go next spring; then choose out a
sufficient number of able-bodied and expert men, to take
teams, seeds, and farming utensils, to go as pioneers to
prepare for putting in spring crops.

Let each company bear an equal proportion, accord-
ing to the dividend of their property, in taking the poor,
the widows, the fatherless, and the families of those who
have gone into the army, that the cries of the widow and
the fatherless come not up into the ears of the Lord
against this people.

Let each company prepare houses, and fields for
raising grain, for those who are to remain behind this
season, and this is the will of the Lord concerning his
people.

Let every man use all his influence and property to
remove this people to the place where the Lord shall
locate a Stake of Zion;

And if ye do this with a pure heart, in all faithful-
ness, ye shall be blessed; you shall be blessed in your
flocks, and in your herds, and in your fields, and in your
houses, and in vour families.

Let m}' servants Ezra T. Benson and Erastus Snow
organize a company;

And let my servants Orson Pratt and Wilford Wood-
ruff organize a company.

Also, let my servants Amasa Lyman and George A.
Smith organize a company; •

And appoint presidents and captains of hundreds,
and of fifties, and of tens,

And let my servants that have been appointed go and

V

72 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

teach this my will to the Saints, that they may be ready
to go to a land of peace.

Go thy way and do as I have told you, and fear not
thine enemies; for they shall not have power to stop my
work.

Zion shall be redeemed in mine own due time,

And if an}' man shall seek to build up himself, and
seeketh not my counsel he shall have no power, and his
folly shall be made manifest.

Seek ye and keep alj 3'our pledges one with another,
and covet not that which is thy brother's.

Keep yourselves from evil to take the name of the
Lord in vain, for I am the Lord your God, even the God
of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and
of Jacob.

I am he who led the children of Israel out of the land
of Egypt, and my arm is stretched out in the last days to
save m)' people Israel.

Cease to contend one with another, cease to speak
evil one of another.

Cease drunkenness, and let your words tend to edify-
ing one another.

If thou borrowest of thy neighbor, thou shalt return
that which thou hast borrowed; and if thou canst not
repay, then go straightway and tell thy neighbor, lest he
condemn thee.

If thou shalt find that whicli thy neighbor hast lost,
thou shalt make diligent search till thou shalt deliver it
to him again.

Thou shalt be diligent in preserving what thou hast,
that thou mayest be a wise steward; for it is the free gift
of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward.

If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with
music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and
thanksgiving.

If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with
supplication, that your souls may be joyful.

Fear not thine enemies, for they are in mine hands,
and I will do my pleasure with them.

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUXG. 73

My people must be tried in all things, that they may
be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them,
even the glory of Zion, and he that will not bear
chastisement, is not worthy of my kingdom.

Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling
himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his
eyes ma}^ be opened that he may see, and his ears opened
that he may hear,

For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten
the humble and contrite, and to the condemnation of the
ungodly.

In this we have at once an outline of proceedings
for the journey, as well as a moral code, and a guide to
proper conduct, indicating its author to be a great
planner, a wise law-giver, and a faithful religious direc-
tor. But, says one, these were not President Young's
instructions; they came to him by revelation. This 'is
exactl}' the view he took. He gave to God all the glory,
which made himself none the less great. His rule of
action was to learn the will of God and do it. While he,
himself, possessed wonderful powers of organization,
government, execution, was a statesmen in the highest
sense of the word, displaying, besides, superior, common-
sense ability in religious affairs — he always maintained
that W'hat he was, and whatever greatness he possessed,
was due to the revelations of God — to the gospel of Jesus
Christ. He said many times that Mormonism, which is
the true gospel, founded upon revelation, made him.

In conformity with the instructions given, the
Saints began to comply with the requirements. Every
preparation was made for an early departure from Winter
Quarters, which, at this time, had grown into a flourish-
ing city of twenty-two wards, with a bishop presiding
over each. Again the Mormons were to leave their

6

74 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

homes, to seek others in the wilderness, a thousand
miles away, somewhere in the mountains.

On the 7th day of April, immediately after confer-
ence, the pioneers started from Winter Quarters. Heber
C. Kimball, having preceded them on the 5th, was now
camped at Cutler's Park, a distance of four miles west.
This became the nucleus camp of the pioneer company.
On the 8th another movement brought the company
beyond the Elk Horn.

On two occasions after starting. President Young
returned to Winter Quarters to greet Parley P. Pratt
and John Taylor, who returned on different days from
their English missions. He left the' affairs on the
Missouri in charge of these Apostles, appointed a special
committee to superintend the emigrations, and then
joined the camp. During the next few days following
the 17th of April, when the Camp was about sixty miles
west of the starting point, President Young thoroughly
organized the pioneers into a military company, with
captains of divisions and officers, himself being Lieu-
tenant-General.

The whole company consisted of 143 men, 3 women,
and 2 children — 148 souls. They had seventy-two wagons,
ninety-three horses, fifty-two mules, sixty-six oxen and
nineteen cows, besides seventeen dogs and some chickens.
They carried a cannon to over-awe the Indians. There
were blacksmiths, mechanics, farmers and builders, so
that the band was ready not only to fight its wa}'
through, but also to construct it; and when they should
reach a place which God should designate as their
journey's end, they were prepared to colonize, settle and
build up the country, and till the earth. A clerk, and
historians were chosen — Thomas Bullock, Willard Rich-
ards and William Clayton, filling these positions.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHA^ YOUNG. 70

Some of President Young's instructions to the
camp indicate his master ability in organization and
discipline. He arranged for the men to travel in a
compact body, each with his loaded gun in hand, or, if
a teamster, in his wagon, ready for instant use. Each
man was to walk beside his wagon under orders not to
leave it without permission. Wherever practicable, two
wagons were to travel abreast. At the call of the bugle
at 5 o'clock in the morning, all were to arise, assemble
for prayers, feed teams, get breakfast, and be ready to
start at the second call of the bugle, at 7 o'clock. At
8:30 in the evening the bugle sounded, and each was to
retire for prayers in his own wagon, and was expected
to be in bed by 9 o'clock. The Sabbath was to be
observed. The night was divided into two watches,
and twelve men were to stand guard at a time. The
usual method of forming corrals, by locking the fore-wheel
of each wagon in the hind wheel of the one ahead, with
the tongues out, was adopted. The animals grazed at
times some distance awa}-, but were generally kept in the
circular or oblong enclosure of the wagons.

With this organization and equipment, and with
these and other instructions, the Pioneers wended their
way west, the journey of a thousand miles or more being
made mostly on foot.

Interspersed with many a thrilling incident and many
a manifestation of the goodness and mercy of God, their
dreary march was continued, until that memorable 2rl:th
of Julv, when, from an elevation of the Wasatch, the
fo.under of Utah, sick with fever, gazed with wonder and
admiration upon the Great Salt Lake Valley — upon the
panorama of sage brush, mountains, valley, lake and hills,
spread out before him — the future home of the Mormons.

76 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

9. INCIDENTS OF THE PIONEER JOURNEY.

For three months and seventeen days, this company
of sturdy pioneers kept on their westward course. They
followed the Platte River for hundreds of miles, passing
along its north bank. President Young and his band
preferred the north side of the river, notwithstanding they
were competled to break a new road, because they and
the Saints who should follow them would thus escape
coming in contact with the quarrelsome Missourians,
their old time enemies, many companies of whom, on
their way west, were passing on the south side, which was
the regular route, and upon which grass was m.ore plenti-
ful and the Indians less troublesome. The way thus
pioneered was traversed by thousands who followed them
to the valleys of the mountains, and for years was known
as the "Old Mormon Road." The engines of the Union
Pacific now thunder along the course of the river, through
the fruitful fields of Nebraska, on a grade which covers
this old "trail" for several hundred miles.

On April 21st, the pioneers were visited by a band
of Pawnee Indians, who were very pressing in their de-
mands for presents. The camp doled out to them of its
scanty store, but could not satiate their desire for more.
The Indians rode away unsatisfied, and the pioneers
passed the cold and stormy night with some apprehen-
sions of an attack. The old cannon was made ready for
use and placed in position on the outside of the camp, in
case of assault, but the morning found the camp in the
enjoyment of peace. It was during this night that some
of the guards, weary with the previous day's march, fell
asleep at their posts, awakening to find their guns and
head-coverings taken away by their sportive companions.
Their chagrin was their only reproof.

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG. 77

.Loup Fork, a treacherous tributary of the Platte,
was crossed with much difficulty. A leather boat, the
"Revenue Cutter," brought as a wagon bcx from Winter
Quarters, was used at this crossing. Rafts, also, were
constructed to carry the loade.d wagons over the treacher-
ous beds of quicksand. Whitney relates an incident
occurring just prior to their crossing this river, which
illustrates the fair and honest nature of President Young,
as well as his eager desire to have no act committed that
would in any way expose the pioneers to the suspicion
of the government: — "Some of the pioneers had picked
up a few plowshares and other pieces of iron lying
around the site of a government station which had
recently been burned to the ground during an incursion
of the hostile Sioux. President Young would not per-
mit this appropriation of property except upon the
score of the government's indebtedness to James Case,
one of the company, who had been employed as an Indian
farmer. Those who took the iron were required to
settle for it with Father Case, who w^as in turn directed
to report to the proper authorities the amount he had
thus collected on account. "

Reaching Grand Island about the first of May, the
pioneers engaged in a buffalo hunt. In those days the
prairies swarmed with these now almost extinct animals,
and as many as fifty thousand had been seen in a day.
The chase resulted in the killing of one bull, three cows
and six calves, which were brought in wagons into
camp, and the meat was distributed equally among the
companies. At that time it was customary for travelers
to kill game without j^traint. It was not unusual to
see acres "of ground covered with carcasses, wool and
other remains of the slaughter. After the chase, Presi-

78 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

dent Young took occasion to instruct his men not to kill
uselessly. Said he: "If we slay when we have no need,
we will need when we cannot slay." This was in keep-
ing with his views on economy, and his ideas of utility.
Every created thing, in his eyes, had a mission to perform.
It was a sin to divert anything from its termination of
usefulness, from its profitableness to some valuable end.
In a sermon, he said on one occasion: "If a man is
worth millions cl bushels of wheat and corn, he is not
wealthy enough to suffer his servant girl to sweep a
single kernel of it into the hre; let it be eaten by some-
thing, and pass again into the earth, and thus fulfill the
purpose for which it grew. "

Continuing, the pioneers reached a place on the
21st of May, where they erected a guide-board, 409 miles
from Winter Quarters, and according to Fremont 132
miles from Laramie. Such marks were frequently
erected to guide future emigrations. General Young
went daily with his staff of men marking out the route.
The distance was measured with an original road meter,
invented by Wm. Clayton. The first half of the great
journey was completed about June 1st, when they
arrived opposite Fort Laramie, the chief trading post on
the overland route — 543 miles from Winter Quarters.
Here they were reinforced by a company of the invalid
detachments of the Mormon Battalion, and by some
Saints from Mississippi, which increased their numbers
to two-hundred and sixty-five. Four men, with Apostle
Amasa M. Lyman as leader, were selected to go to
Pueblo, to bring the main body of the Mississippi Saints
to Laramie, then over the mount^|yis in the pioneer trail.
President Young and several of the Apostles crossed
over the river to the Fort to confer with the authorities.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 79

They were kindly received, hired a boat for S15 to help
them in crossing the river, and learned from the princi-
pal man of the place — James Bordeaux — that the old Mor-
mon enemy, ex-Governor Boggs, of Missouri, had passed
that way some days before. He had warned Bordeaux
to look well after his animals when the Mormons came
along. The gentleman was not greatly prejudiced, how-
ever, for he said that no company could be worse than
Boggs'. He afterward remarked that the Mormons were
the best behaved company that had come that way.

After crossing the river, a few days were consumed
in repairing wagons, etc., and on the 4th day of June
the journey was resumed. Two companies of Mis-
sourians, continually quarrelling, overtook and passed
the pioneers. Speaking about their contentions. Presi-
dent Young uttered a prophecy when he said: "They
curse, swear rip and tear, and are trying to swallow up
the earth; but though they do not wish us to have a
place on it the earth might as well open and swallow
them up; for they will go to the land of forgetfulness,
while the Saints though they suffer some privations here, if
faithful will ultimately inherit the earth, and increase in
power, dominion and glory. " Today it would not be
known that they ever crossed the plains, only for the
records of the Mormons; and but for the mention of his
name in the annals of the Saints Governor Boggs would
be forgotten.

Beyond the Black Hills the pioneers again crossed
to the north side of the river, consuming a week in so
doing. President Young had sent previously a detach-
ment of men ahead with the Revenue Cutter to help other
companies over, and this work was progressing when the
main body reached the ferry. For their services, the

80 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

ferrymen received from the Missourians $1.50 for each
wagon and load, taking flour in pay at Missouri prices.
Thus were the Mormon pioneers in an unexpected man-
ner and at a time when they were most in need, given
bread by their old enemies. "It looked," says President
Wilford Woodruff, "as much of a miracle to me to see
our flour and meal bags replenished in the Black Hills
as it did to have the children of Israel fed with manna
in the wilderness." President Young considered this a
fit plaee to establish a permanent ferry for the benefit of
those who should come after, and so he detailed nine
men to stay for this purpose, instructing them to divide
their earnings among the needy in the next company, to
be careful of the lives of those who were to be ferried
over, to attend to their prayers, and to come with the
next company of Saints from Winter Quarters.

On the 19th of June the journey' was continued, and
on the 26th South Pass was reached, where began the
western descent of the Rockies. A short distance west from
this place they met the scout and trapper, Major Moses
Harris, from whom they gained some information, not at
all encouraging, of the valle}'' of the Great Salt Lake. As
a place of settlement, he rather favored Cache Valley,
(so called by trappers who cached their furs from the
Indians in this region,) as it was a "fine place for win-
tering cattle." On the 28th they arrived at Little
Sandy, where they met Colonel James Bridger, who
furnished additional information concerning the valley of
the Great Salt Lake. His account was even less en-
couraging than the accounts alread}^ received. He thought
it unwise to bring a large colony into the Great Basin
until it could be proven whether grain would grow there
or not; and he it was who offered to give a thousand

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 81

dollars for the first ear of corn ripened, or for the first
bushel of wheat produced in the Salt Lake Valley.

Reaching Green River on the 30th of June, the
pioneers were met by Elder Brannan, who had crossed
the snow-covered Sierras from his colony of Saints in
California. He informed President 'Voung that they had
reached the Bay of San Francisco July 31st, the year
previous, and were now settled on the San Joaquin River.
He tried to induce the President to join his company,
but neither the adverse reports of the mountaineers, nor
Brannan's flattering description of the riches of the
California coast, could change the determination of Presi-
dent Young to settle in the divinely appointed resting
place of the Saints, in the midst of the mountains, on
the shores of the Great Salt Lake. To the natural man
this did not appear to be the wisest course, but Brigham
Young saw with the eyes ot inspiration, and the wisdom
of his decision was revealed in after years.

After crossing Green River the pioneers sacredly
observed the "Glorious Fourth," it being Sunday, and
continuing reached Fort Bridger on the 7th of July,
where preparations were made for the rough mountain
journey before them. Leaving Fort Bridger on the 9th,
they met Miles Goodyear, another mountaineer, near
Bear River. His report of the valley was no more
favorable than the others peviously received.

On the 13th President Young was stricken with
mountain fever, and fell behind the company. The next
day Orson Pratt was instructed to organize a picked
company to precede the pioneers. They were to select
a trail over the mountains to Great Salt Lake, since it
had been learned that the route through Weber Canyon
was impassable owing to high waters. They proceeded

82 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

down the Weber, and turning followed an old almost imper-
ceptible trail toward East Canyon. With much labor
they passed up that gorge for several miles, then turned
west up a ravine until the}' reached Big Mountain, from
the summit of which, on the 19th of July, Orson Pratt
and John Brown, first of all the pioneers, saw a glimpse
of the Great Salt Lake Valley. Messengers kept the
rear companies informed of the movements of the van-
guard, and the latter were notified that it was the impres-
sion of President Young to have Pratt's company bear
to the north, upon emerging from the mountains, and
stop at the first place suitable for putting in crops.
These instructions were followed, and resulted in the
selection of the site of the present Salt Lake City.

The pioneers now traveled in three detachments.
On the 23rd President Young reached the Big Mountain
summit, from which, reclining in Apostle Woodruff's
carriage, he caught a first glimpse of the visible portions
of the valley. What a picture! What sentiments
filled the heart oi the Founder of Utah, as he gazed, full
of earnest thoughts, on the scene before him. A resting
place at last. Awakening from his reverie, he burst
forth: "Enough. This is the right place. Drive on."

That day a messenger from the advance camps
brought the news that the valley had been explored as
far as possible, and that the choice of a spot for putting
in crops had been made.

The next day — Pioneer Day, July 24th — President
Young entered into the valley. Apostle Wilford Wood-
ruff gives the following account of the entrance, and of
the prophetic visions of their minds which he — among
the last on earth of all that noble train — has lived to see
fulfilled:

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 88

"July 24th. — This is one of the most important days
of my life and in the history of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. After traveling six miles
through a deep ravine ending with the canyon we came
in full view of the valley of the Great Salt Lake the
land of promise held in reserve by God as a resting
place for his Saints. We gazed in wonder and admira-
tion upon the vast valle}' before us, with the waters
of the Great Salt Lake glistening in the sun, mountains
towering to the skies, and streams of pure water run-
ning through the beautiful valley. It was the grandest
view that we had ever seen till this moment. Pleasant
thoughts ran through our minds at the prospect that, not
many years hence, the house of God would be estab-
lished in the mountains and exalted above the hills,
while the valleys would be converted into orchards, vine-
yards, and fruitful fields, cities erected to the name of
the Lord, and the standard of Zion unfurled for the
gathering of the nations. President Young expressed
his entire satisfaction at the appearance of the valley as
a resting place for the Saints and felt amply repaid for
his journey. While lying upon his bed, in my carriage,
gazing upon the scene before us, many things of the fu-
ture, concerning the valley, were shown to him in vision. "

10. EXPLORATION AND RETURN TO THE MISSOURI.

Brigham Young arrived at the camp in Salt Lake
Valley about noon, July 24th, 1847.

The valley was not the most attractive spot that one
could gaze upon, when the Mormons first entered it; and
there was some disappointment among the pioneers when
the President announced that it was the place which he
had previously beheld in vision, the place where "he

84 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

had seen the tent settling down from heaven and rest-
ing, and a voice said unto him, 'here is the place where
my people Israel shall pitch their tents.'" But the con-
fidence of the pioneers in their leader soon dispelled their
disheartening doubts and impressions, and in time their
thrift and the blessings of the God of Israel, converted
the treeless waste into a fruitful garden.

It was now late in the year, hence, all haste was
made to till the earth. No time must be lost, if a harvest
were to be realized that season. Apostle Woodruff
neither ate nor drank until he had planted the half
bushel of potatoes which he had brought with him..
After the ground had been planted, the little stream was
diverted from its course, and its waters were spread over
.the planted ground to ^ive it "a good soaking." — the
first lesson in irrigation, an art since so famous among
the settlers of the West. Thus ended the first 2'ith of

July-

The following day was the Sabbath, and the
pioneers, under the broad canopy of heaven, gathered in
the circle of their encampment to praise God for their
deliverance. Not a soul had died on the journey. Those
who spoke were satisfied with their situation and with
the future prospects. The sacrament was partaken of.
Apostle Orson Pratt called attention to the prophecies of
Isaiah concerning modern Israel. He declared the Mor-
mons were fulfilling the predictions of the ancient seers.
God was to "hide his people in the chambers of the
mountains" and in the last da3's was to "establish his
house on the tops of the mountains, and exalt it above
the hills. "

But President Young, always practical, dwelt upon
themes, though possibly less poetic, just as true, useful,

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 85

and religious. Too feeble to stand, he sat in his arm
chair, and laid down the law. "He told the brethren,"
says Apostle Woodruff, "that the\' must not work on
Sunday; that they would lose five times as much as they
would gain by it. None were to hunt or fish on that
day; and there should not any man dwell among us who
would not observe these rules. They mig^ht go and
dwell where they pleased but should not dwell with us.
He also said, no man should buy any land who came
here; that he had none to sell, but every man should
have his land measured out to him for city and farming
purposes. He might till it as he pleased, but he must
be industrious, and take care of it. " He then directed
the organization of three exploring parties, to explore
the country north, west and south, for he wished every
nook and corner known to the settlers. Said he: "It is
necessary that we should learn the facilities of the
country and be able to report to our brethren whose
eyes are turned towards us. But I can tell you before
you start that you will find many facilities for settlements
all around us, and you will all return feeling satisfied
that this is the most suitable place, and the place for us
to make our commencement. Here is the place to build
our city. "

On the morrow, the farmers began their planting,
and the exploring parties early set about their labors.
The President headed one party which went north.
They ascended the peak north of Salt Lake City, climbing
the hills west of City Creek canyon. "A good place to
raise an ensign to the nations," said President Young,
and the peak to this day is called Ensign Peak. From
day to day the exploring labors went on. Black Rock,
the Great Salt Lake, (which Brigham was the first to

86 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

bathe in,) the Warm Springs, the Jordan and surround-
ing countr}', were visited, but all were satisfied that the
location on the banks of City Creek was the place to
found their city, as the prophet had remarked.

On the 28th of July, after a council meeting,
President Young and the Twelve proceeded to a spot
midway between the two branches of City Creek, where
he struck the ground with his cane, exclaiming: "Here
will be the temple of our God ^ ^ ^ The city
can be laid out perfectly square, north and south, east
and west." The great temple in Salt Lake City, the
corner stone of which was laid April 6th, 1853, and
which was dedicated April 6th, 1893, covers this same
spot of ground. It was then decided that the building
of the city should begin at that point. The size of the
blocks (ten acres), the width of the streets (eight rods),
and their intersection at right angles, were also decided
upon, and the plan of building the city was adopted.
The whole proceeding was ratified by the people, at a
meeting that evening. The general plan adopted here
became a guide for the founding of all the cities of the
Saints thereafter. At the meeting, the President took
occasion to address the people on a variety of subjects of
a temporal nature. He said that he was determined to
have all things in order, and that "righteousness should
be practiced in the land." Thus was Salt Lake City

begun.

The next day President Young with others went t)
meet 140 men of the Battalion detachment, and about
100 Mississippi Saints who had come with them from
Pueblo.

Returning with this needed re-enforcement, President
Young was kept busy counseling and advising the people

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 87

and planning for their welfare. In the early part of
August the Twelve were baptized, followed later by the
people generally, all of whom renewed their covenants by
baptism. Boweries for public meetings were erected, the
"Old Fort" was projected and built, eighty-three acres of
ground had been plowed and planted, the survey of the
city was begun, logs were hauled from the canyon and
building begun, further exploration was engaged in, salt
was discovered by the lake, the land of the city was
divided among the Apostles for an inheritance for them
and their friends, and so the work went steadily on.
A company of seventy-one men returned to Winter Quar-
ters, on the 17th of August.

On the 22nd, a general, special conference was held,
at which the settlement, on motion of President Young,
was christened Great Salt Lake City. Other important
business affairs were considered. A Stake of Zion was
organized, and the western Jordan and the creeks in the
neighborhood were named. It was the intention that
President Young and the pioneers should return to
Winter Quarters that fall, and this conference was neces-
sary that the people might be instructed by the leaders,
in relation to themselves as well as to those who were
now on the way, and who would soon enter the valley.
The great colonizer's parting injunction shows his keen
insight into the future, the wisdom of his plans, and reveals
in him the architect of the new Zion and its institutions:

"It is necessary that the adobe yard (the stockade)
should be secured so that Indians cannot get in. To
accommodate those few who shall remain here after we
return it would only be necessary to build one side of the
fort, but common sense teaches us to build it all round.
By and by men of means will be coming on, and they

88 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

will want rooms, and the men who build them will then
be entitled to their pay. Make your walls 4^ feet high,.
so that the}^ can keep the cattle out, build your houses so
that you will have plenty of fresh air in them or some of
you will get sick after being used to sleeping in your
wagons so long. We propose to fence in a tract of land
thirty rods square, so that in case of necessity the cattle
can be brouejht inside and the hay also be stacked there.
In the spring this fence can be removed and a trench be
plowed about twenty feet from the houses to enable the
women to raise garden vegetables. I want to engage
50,000 bushels of wheat and the same amount of corn and
other grain in proportion. I will pay you $1.25 per
bushel for wheat and 50 cents for corn. Why cannot
•I bring glass for you and you raise corn for me? Raise
all the grain you, and with this you can purchase sheep,
cows, teams, etc., of those who come here later on. We
desire you to live in that stockade until we come back
again, and raise grain next year.

Such of the pioneers and Battalion men as had fami-
lies on the Missouri were selected to go with President
Young on his return to Winter Quarters. On the 26th
of August, the company numbering 108 men, thoroughly
organized, bade "good-by to all who tarry," and pro-
ceeded east. The Saints, numbering over 1500 souls,
with over 600 wagons, who had departed from Winter
Quarters according to the instructions received through
President Young, were met in detachments by the pion-
eers on their eastward journey. From him they learned
for the first time where they were going. This gave them
new courage, and they set their faces with fresh deter-
mination to gain the new Zion in the mountains. They
were organized as directed, and the emigration committee

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 89

had them in charge, Apostles P. P. Pratt and John
Taylor haivng general supervision. Their companies
began arriving in Salt Lake Valley in the latter part of
September, and in the early part of October, all the
trains had reached the city in safety.

The return trip of the pioneers, though full of hard-
ships, was gladdened by many happy meetings with their
friends. On the Platte, the party had a great many of their
animals stolen, and would have lost all had it not been for
the cunning of a very intelligent horse, owned by the
President. This animal would not be driven away, but
circled out far beyond the thieving Indains, followed by
many of the other horses, returning to camp with its
companions, in spite of the efforts of the savages to drive
them away.

On the 31st of October, they marched in order into
Winter Quarters, the streets being crowded w^ith loving
friends to greet them. Well might President Young
say: "We were truly rejoiced once more to behold our
wives, children, and old friends, after an absence of six
months, having traveled over 2,000 miles * * *
and accomplished the most important mission in this
last dispensation. "

Prosperity had attended the people on the Missouri.

11. CHOSEN PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

Up to this time Brigham Young had led the people
as President of the Twelve iVpostles, and there had been
no First Presidency since the death of the Prophet Joseph
Smith. ^ A general organization now took place prepara-

7

90 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

tory to the migration contemplated in the spring. On
the 5th of December, 1847, a council of the Twelve
Apostles decided to fill the vacant quorum; accord-
ingly, at a general conference held on the east side of
the Missouri — the headquarters of the Church being still
on the frontiers — the First Presidenc}- was re-organized.
Brigham Young'^ was sustained as the President of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints- in all the
world, with Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards his
counselors. This was done on the 27th day of December.
This action of the Apostles and Saints on the Missouri
was ratified at a conference, held in the Fort Bowery in
Great Salt Lake City, on the 8th of October the year
following, just after President Young's second arrival in
the valley.

Lively preparations were made, early in 1848, for
the departure of the main body of the Saints from Winter
Quarters. In the latter part of May the organization was
completed, on the Elk Horn which became the rendez-
vous for the west-bound pilgrims; and in the early part
of June President Young, having first given the people
instructions to be observed on the way, broke camp and
set out on his second journey to the mountains. The
emigration consisted of three divisions, numbering 2,417
souls, with 822 wagons. He had general charge of all

* While in adversity there were none more steadfast, it must be admitted
that there were few in whom success developed so little of pride and vainglory.
From this time forth Brigham Young was to the Saints as a Prophet — yea, and
more than a Prophet; one on whom the mantle had iallen not unworthily.
By his foresight he had saved his peoj^le fiom dispersion, and perchance his
faith from annihilation. Hounded by a mob, he had led his followers with
consummate tact throughout their pilgrimage, and in the wilderness as yet
almost untrodden by man had at length established for them an abiding
place — Bancroft's Utah, p. 271

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUXG. 91

the companies, and special charge of the first and largest
company which numbered 1,229 souls, with 397 wagons.

The chief body of the Mormons was thus moving to
their new home, after having enjoyed, or rather endured,
a temporary rest in the wilderness of something over two
years. Winter Quarters was now almost deserted.
Kanesville, on the other side of the river, became a point of
outfit and departure for Mormon emigrations, which now
began from the old world, and continued for several vears
thereafter. Some of the leaders remained there to look
after important Church business, while others were called
on foreign missions. Before parting from them, President
Young blessed them all, as well as those who were to ac-
company him to the valley; and among the consoling re-
marks which he uttered was this, that the Saints would
never be driven from the Rocky Mountains. He and the
Apostles had also issued an epistle, calling upon the
Saints to gather to Zion, and upon the peoples of the
nations to help them build a house to the name of the
God of Jacob, a cit}' of rest "a habitation for the
oppressed of every clime."*

The first company ot Saints under President Young
arrived in Great Salt Lake City on September 20th 18-48,
and in the course of a month thereafter all the trains had
arrived.

During the absence of their leader the pioneer
Saints had undergone many vicissitudes. The winter had
been mild but food had been scarce. Thistle tops, sego
and parsnip roots, constituted the vegetable diet. Skins
in some instances served for clothing. The wild animals
had annoyed them some, but the worst plague of all

* Millennial Star, vol x , p. 8i

92 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

was the swarms of crickets which, in the latter part of
May, had invaded their fields and gardens, threatening
a famine. The gulls came and thus saved the crops from
total destruction.

The new companies now swelled the population to
about five thousand people — about one-fourth of the exiles
from Nauvoo. At last the Saints had made their escape
from bondage and persecution to their promised land" of
freedom. Dreary though it was, in it they loved to dwell.
Now a barren desert, under their thrift, it was soon to
"blossom as the rose." It is a marvel of the age that so
many people, poor and defenseless, in the wilderness,
without support, should have accomplished such a
journey, over wild mountains, exposed to roaming bands
of savages, almost without the loss of life.

To Brigham Young's ability as organizer, to his skill
as a leader, to his perfect tact, to his power of command-
ing from the people a harmonious concert of purpose and
action this miracle is due.

Brigham Young said that this capacity and potency
were special gifts from God.

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 93

IV. THE FOUNDING OF UTAH.

1. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS.

In connection with the spiritual and temporal welfare
of the people, there were at this period three great
problems that presented themselves: these were coloniza-
tion, organization and government.

The great founder's first thoughts and acts were
turned to the task of providing for the prosperity and
well-being of the people whom he had led through the
wilderness into the mountains. Their temporal necessities
must be supplied, and with these the proper spiritual food
must be administered; for it must be borne in mind that
their mission and main aim were purely religious. It is
useless to teach religious sentiment to a people whose
stomachs are empty; no man ever realized this more than
did Brigham Young. He took a common-sense view of
religion— considered it a guide in temporal as well as
spiritual things. Hence, temporal comforts, or at least
temporal necessities, were first to be provided. They were
an absolute foundation for spiritual welfare, but the two
went hand in hand. Neither was ever neglected. A
change indeed, would this one idea alone work among
the masses of the world, if the well-fed ministers con-
sidered this question in the same light, acted upon it, and
took hold of it with their coats off, as did the founder of

Utah.

Heretofore, the Saints had lived almost exclusively

94 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

in one body, in one city. Now, as the gathering thou-
sands, from the States and from Europe, came to the new
Zion, to build and to scatter about in the chambers of
the mountains, there arose necessity for a profitable and
uniform scheme of colonization; and with it was required
a system of church government to be evolved from the
outlines drawn by the Prophet Joseph, and which should
tend to unity and harmony among the Saints.

But it was clear from the first that an ecclesiastical
organization alone, would not long sufficiently meet the
requirements of the community. It was, therefore,
Brigham Young's desire to have a separate political
organization, so that the new commonwealth might
become a part of the great Union, whose citizens, it is
true, had driven the Mormons into the wilderness of a
foreign land, but whose loyal sons and daughters the
Latter-day Saints were still, as they have continued to
remain. In addition, people of other faiths began to
appear among them, and thus arose the necessities for
political organization and a civil government.

Then there was the policy to be pursued towards the
Indians. There arose, also, a score of detail questions
demanding attention, as well in the ecclesiastical and
social and religious, as in the political and financial
government of a whole people; a people, too, many of
whom had been educated with a diversity of ideas con-
cerning the aims and objects of life.

When we remember that much of this detail labor
actually devolved upon, was planned and superintended
by one man, we may form an idea of the stupendous work
executed by Brigham Young, the Founder of Utah.

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 9o

2. THE GOLD EXCITEMENT.

The first consideration attracting President Young's
attention after his arrival in the valley, in the fall of
1848 was the small supply of food. The people were
now 'stirred to activity. Over five thousand acres of land
were plotted for fencing and cultivation. Over eight
hundred were sowed in winter wheat. The Council
House was projected, and a proposition was made to
bring the waters of the Big Ccttonwood to the city. And
thus were the Saints kept busy until the approach of

winter. , ^

The crop, upon which the new arrivals had measur-
ably depended, was a partial failure, and before the
unusually severe winter of 18-t8-9 was over the people
suffered greatly for food. Extreme hunger was prevented
by their unity and brotherly feeling. They assisted each
other, and divided their scanty store in community

fashion. , , ^ . ^ ,

In those earlv davs money was not to be obtained
hence products served as medium of trade instead of
cash The great inconvenience of thus bartering is
plainly apparent. The Mormon Battlion mea, who were
among the first to discover gold in California, brought
with Aem, on returning to the valley in 1848, bags of
gold dust, but the use of the loose metal was very incon-
venient, entailing trouble and loss in weighing. To
obviate this President Young issued a paper curreny, in
tanuary, 1849, taking the loose gold as security. He and
Thomas Bullock, his clerk, did the first type-setting in the
vallev. for this primitive currency. Some time after, dies
were-made, the gold dust was coined, and the money
locally used until superseded by legal tender, when the
coins were disposed of as bullion to the federal mints.

96 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

But the question of a circulating medium was not as
difficult to solve as the problem of gold digging which
now confronted the Mormons. Under the scarcity and the
actual want existing among them, it was little wonder
that some of the Saints should wish to better their con-
dition by going to the gold fields of California, which
had set aflame the civilized world. Several families
departed for the mines in the early days of 1849, and
others had caught the gold fever. In an epistle to the
Saints, President Young and the Apostles sternly
rebuked this outbreak. "The true use of gold," said
they, "is for paving streets, covering houses, and making
culinary dishes; and when the Saints shall have preached
the gospel, raised grain and built up cities enough the
Lord will open up a way for a supply of gold to the
perfect satisfaction of His people. Until then, let them
not be over-anxious, for the treasures of the earth are in
the Lord's storehouse, and He will open the doors there-
of when and where He pleases. " President Young
counselled "all the Saints to remain in the valleys of
the mountains, make improvements, build comfortable
houses, and raise grain. " He had previously said to
the returned Battalion men: "If we were to go to San
Francisco and dig up chunks of gold, or find it in the
valley, it would ruin us." In a Sabbath address he told
the Saints: "I hope the gold mines will be no nearer than
eight hundred miles. ^ -^ * Prosperity and

riches blunt the feelings of man. If the people were
united, I would send men to get the gold who would
care no more about it than the dust under their feet, and
then we would gather millions into the Church. Some
men don't want to go after gold, but they are the very
men to go. "

THE JLIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 97

It required the judgment of such a man as Brigham
Young to break the heated fever. A general migration
from Salt Lake City to the gold fields at that time
would have been more fatal to the Church than the
mobbings of Missouri and Illinois repeated. Well was
it for Mormonism that the great majorit}' of its
adherents followed the wise counsel of their leader,
remained content in the valley to build up their cities
and towns, to plant their farms and tend their stock.

Great Salt Lake City became the resting place,
the "half-way house" for the thousands of adventurous
spirits, from all nations of the earth, who. colony after
colony, came pouring in a mad rush to the paradise of
gold in the West. Their trains of merchandise, provi-
sions, implements, and the blooded but jaded and worn
out stock, were "sold for a song," or exchanged in Utah
for fresh animals to carry them more hurriedly to their
destination; and so the wagon loads of goods and other
wealth — so greatly needed by the all but destitute set-
tlers— intended for California, remained in Utah to
enrich its poor poulation. The prophecy of President
Young, made soon after the exodus from Nauvoo, that
in a few years the Saints would be more prosperous than
ever, was fulfilled; likewise was the prophetic utterance
of Heber C. Kimball, made in 1848, when the people
scarcely knew where to get the next scanty meal, or
skins for their nakedness, that within three years
"States goods" would be sold cheaper in Salt Lake
Valley than in New York. These prophecies were thus
fulfilled in an unexpected way to the very letter.

From the opposition which President Young mani-
fested against the people's going to the California mines,
it went abroad that he was opposed to mining for its own

98 THE LIFE OF BPJGHAM YOUNG.

sake. This is not true. He was averse to it in those
early days because he saw what a demoralizing effect the
thirst and flight for gold would have upon the Saints;
this same reason explains his attitude on mining in
Utah in later years. He was anxious and willing that
mines should be opened, but desired that this should be
postponed until the people should have grown strong
enough to withstand successfully its allurements and
temptations, as well as its evil influences. ;

3. COLONIZATION.

The peopling of the Great Basin with Latter-day
Saints was uppermost m the mind of the great colonizer,
Brigham Young, and from this time on every effort was
made to extend the borders cf the Territor}^ by the
formation of new cities and towns in various parts of
the country. At the close of 1849 there were about
thirty thousand converts in Great Britain, the missionary
work having continued in that land during the exodus
of the Saints in America. It was a part of the coloniza-
tion plan to gather these to Zion as soon as possible.
The first company of emigrants, under Orson Spencer,
arrived in Salt Lake Valley from England that fall, hav-
ing been about eight months on the way. Others fol-
lowed. Up to this time the converts from England had
paid their own way. They had been selected from
among the well-to-do classes; but there were now many
poor among those who remained, as well as among the
scattered Saints on the frontier, in Iowa and Missouri.
It was for the purpose of aiding these and others of their
class to the valley that the Perpetual Emigrating Fund

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 99

was established, in October, 1849, through the iDStr;i-
mentality of Brigham Young. A large sum cf money
was obtained for this fund, and Bishop Edvard Hunt'er
was sent to the frontier to put its provisions into op-cra-
tion, and to take charge of the next season's emigration.
At the same time many prominent Elders were called to
various parts of the earth on missions — to France,
Scandinavia, Italy, Great Britain, Lower California and
the Society Islands. This fund, which was kept in
operation thereafter for upwards of forty years, proved
to be an efficacious medium in the colonization of Utah,
and was the means of assisting many thousand persons
from a state of poverty in the Old World ,to the acquisi-
tion of pleasant homes and the comforts of life in the
New. The Saints who were thus helped were to refund
the amount borrowed to help others, as it was considered
a loan rather than a gift. The fund was thus made "per-
petual." Generally the amounts were returned; but
some neglected this, ether^villingly or through their finan-
cial embarrassments, and at the fifty-year-Jubilee Con-
ference, in 1880, when one-half of the amount due the
fund was remitted to the worthy needy, the outstanding
accounts amounted to over one and a half million dollars.
Hand in hand with the efforts at colonization went
the labors of organization. No colony was left without
its ecclesiastical authorities who, in the nature of things,
became the rulers in religious and secular matters.
President Young arranged and explained the duties of
the various quorums of the Priesthood,* and never per-
mitted any of these long at a time to be incomplete.

* The Church is governed by the Holy Priesthood, of which there are
two grand heads— the Melchisedek, or higher, and the Aaronic, or les-er.

100 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

A& early as February 12, 1849, the ecclesiastical
organization of Salt Lake City was perfected. The
quorum of Apostl-es was filled by the calling and ordina-
tion of Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow,
andFranklin D. Richards to the Apostleship. Then on
the following two days a Stake organization was effected,
and the city was divided into nineteen ecclesiastical
wards, with a Bishop over each. Until the introduction
of a regular civil government these officers, and others
that were appointed as new settlement was made, held
secular or temporal administration over the people.
The public labors were performed under their direction,
they were the administratois of all temporal affairs, the
judges among the people; and under their supervision
the work of founding and building cities went on, under
the general direction of Brigham Young, and under the
immediate instructions of the Presidents of Stakes.*

Some of the settlers, soon after the arrival of the
pioneers, went north, principally for the purpose of find-
ing range for their stock. What is now Cache and Box
Elder Counties were explored. Davis County was

The former holds the right of presidency, the right to receive revelation for
the guidance of the Church, and to hold the keys of all its spiritual blessings,
and includes the quorums of Apostles, Seventies, High Priests, and Elders*
also Patriarchs. The latter, holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and
the right to minister in outward ordinances, or temporal affairs, and includes
Bishops, Priests, Teachers and Deacons. — See Doc. and Gov., section III.

* A Stake is a division of the Church, presided over by a council of three
High Priests, and in Utah generally corresponds geographically to the divi-
sion of counties, while in other states and territories, it often embraces larger
districts. The stakes are divided into wards, in each of which a Bishop and
his two counselors exercise supervision. Wards are subdivided into districts,
where presiding elders or teachers look after the interests of the Church
members.

THE LIFEOF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 101

settled in the fall of 1847; Ogden,* by James Brown
early in 1848. In January of that year he purchased the
Miles Goodyear claim, which included the greater por-
tion of the present Weber County.

All these movements were in keeping with the
instructions which the explorers received from their
leader upon the first arrival of the pioneers, and were
agreeable to his grand scheme of colonization.

Other districts in the south were penetrated. The
Sanpete country was explored in 1848, by Isaac Morley
and others; and in June, 1849, the Ute Chief Walker
visited Salt Lake City to invite the Mormons to settle
that region, so that they might teach the Indians how to
farm. "Within six moons," answered President Young,
"I will send you a company." The promise was kept,
and the site of the city Manti was laid out by him in
November of that year.

The Country about Provo River, now Utah County,
was early explored, and was settled in the spring of
1849. Many cities and towns were soon after founded in
this vicinity.

In the fall of 1849 the country west of Salt Lake
was explored. President Young named it Tule, owing
to the abundance of reeds found there. The clerk wrote
it Tooele, and the region is so called today.

Parley P. Pratt and George A. Smith explored the
country further south resulting in the settlement of
colonies in what is now Sevier, Iron and other counties.

» The site for Ogden City was selected on the 3rd day of September, 1849,
by President Young, but it was not until the 28th day of August of the follow-
ing year that he and others laid out the city, of which Hon. Lorin Farr
became the practical founder.

102 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

Then followed exploring parties and colonies to all
parts of the Territory. Care was always taken that the
various crafts would be represented in each colony and
that they should provide themselves with plenty of
provisions, stock, implements and other necessaries.
Instead of building near about the central city it was
President Young's wiser plan to occupy the whole coun-
try at a sweep. Thus as we have seen whenever it was
deemed necessary explorers were sent out to select sites
for new settlements and having decided upon their loca-
tions volunteers under organized Elders were called for
to settle upon them and build them up.

When it is remembered how much of wild, barren
savage Utah was thus redeemed within two years after
the arrival of the pioneers, by men scarcely rested from
their toilsome journey over the plains, the work appears
marvelous; and we are at once impressed with the wis-
dom, foresight, energy and ability of the man — rather
the genius who could so skillfully direct this work, him-
self also taking active part therein, and so successfully
plan for the government, safety and welfare of these
communities.* Under Brigham Young, the people
became so trained in redeeming the waste places, that
to this day the Latter-day Saints view the colonization
of new regions almost as a religious duty. At present
they Occupy the country extending for over a thousand
miles from Old Mexico to Canada, and their numerous,
thrifty cities and villages are found in the valleys of the

* " The settlers, with their marvelous energy and thrift, made more
progress and suffered less privation in reclaiming the waste lands of their
wilderness than did the Spaniards in the garden spots of Mexico and Central
America, or the English in the most favored regions near the Atlanti>;
seaboard." — Bancroft's Utah, p. 330.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 103

mountains, in nearly every State and Territory of the
mighty West. The impress of the colonizing genius of
Brigham Young is still manifest in their midst; its
power has made them the most successful pioneers and
empire founders of our country.

4. APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF UTAH.

The early settlers, as we have seen, were at first
ruled by Church authority, and there was little need of
civil government, until people of other faiths began to
mingle with the Saints. Besides, up to the spring of
1849, when the political history of Utah properly begins,
the people had been so busy with providing themselves
with food, with exploring the country, and w^ith selecting
suitable places for homes, that there had been little time
for politics.

The war with Mexico was ended. The Mormons had
given their aid to w'rest from that country the vast
region from which was afterward formed the States and
Territories of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico,
and Arizona. The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was
signed February 2nd, 1848, by the terms of which this
great w^estern territory was ceded to the United States.
The Mormons were well nigh the only occupants of the
new domain, and they were hopeful and energetic
enough to believe that in time they could subdue and
occupy the countr}^ which they had pioneered.

Under these conditions, President Young summoned
a convention of "all the inhabitants of that portion of
Upper California lying east of the Sierra Nevada moun-
tains." This convention assembled in Salt Lake Citv,

104 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

March 4th, 1849, and their deliberation resulted in the
expressed determination to petition Congress to form a
territorial government. A committee was also selected
to draft a constitution under which the people might
govern themselves, until Congress should take action
and otherwise provide by law. On the 10th of March
the constitution was adopted and a Provisional Govern-
ment was organized under the name of the State of
Deseret.*

The election of officers for this Provisional Govern-
ment took place on the 12th of March, resulting in the
choosing of Brigham Young as Governor; Willard
Richards, Secretary; Horace S. Eldredge, Marshal;
Daniel H. Wells Attorney-General; besides an Assessor
and Collector, a Treasurer, and a Supervisor of Roads;
also three judges, Heber C. Kimball, Chief Justice, and
John Taylor and Newel K. Whitney Associates. The
Bishops of the several Wards were elected as magis-
trates. The Nauvoo Legion — the militia — was also
organized with Daniel H. Wells Major-General. It was
not long till the troops were called into action to protect
the settlers from Indian depredations in Southern Deseret
into which region, as we have seen, the colonists were
now moving. A legislature, or General Assembly of the
State of Deseret, consisting of a Senate and House of
Representatives, was also elected, with powers and duties
defined.

Concerning the justice and fairness extended to all
classes under this form of rule — with Brigham Young as
Proivsional Governor — which, it must be remembered,

* " And they did also carry with them deseret which, by interpretation,
is a honey bee." — Book of Mormon, Ether, Chap. II, par. 3.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 105

was purely Mormon, not yet sanctioned by the authority
of Congress, we have some striking illustrations in those
valuable and impartial works: "Stansbury's Expedition,"
and Gunnison's "The Mormons."

Captain Stansbury* says: "The jurisdiction of the
'State of Deseret' had been extended over and was
vigorously enforced upon all who came within its borders,
and justice was equitably administered ab'ke to Saint' and
'Gentile' — as they term all who are not ot their per-
suasion. Their courts were constanty appealed to by
companies of passing emigrants, who, having fallen out
by the way, could not agree upon the division of their
property. The decisions were remarkable for fairness
and impartiality, and if not submitted to. were sternly
enforced by the whole power of the community. Appeals
for protection from oppression, by those passing through
their midst, were not made in vain; and I knew of at
least one instance in which the marshal of the State was
despatched, with an adequate force, nearly two hundred
miles into the western desert, in pursuit of some mis-
creants who had stolen off with nearly the whole outfit
of a party of emigrants. He pursued and brought them
back to the city, and the plundered property was restored
to its rightful owner. In their dealings with the crowds
of emigrants that passed through their city, the Mormons
were ever fair and upright, taking no advantage of the
necessitous condition of manv. if not all of them. *

* * In the whole of our intercourse with them, which

♦Captain Howard Staiisbury of the U. S. Army Corps of Topographical
Engineers, came to Salt Lake City on the 28th of August, 1849, wintered
there, and remained with his expedition in the territory for a whole year,
exploring and surveying the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, also Utah Lake
and its vicinity. He also explored a route from the Valley to Fort Hall.

106 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

lasted rather more than a year, I cannot refer to a single
instance of fraud or extortion to which any of the party
was subjected."

Lieutenant John W. Gunnison* says: "A large
branch of the great emigration overland to California
passed through the Mormon settlements, which is the best
route across the country. Of the parties organized in
the States to cross the plains, there was hardly one that
did not break into several fragments, and the division
of property caused- a great deal of difficulty. Many -of
these litigants applied to the courts of Deseret for
redress of grievances, and there was every appearance of
impartiality and strict justice done to all parties. Of
course there would be dissatisfaction when the right was
declared to belong to the one side alone; and the losers
circulated letters far and near, of the oppression of the
Mormons. These would sometimes rebel against the
equity decisions, and then they were made to feel the full
majesty of the civil power. For contempt of court they
were most severel}' fined, and in the end found it a los-
ing game to indulge in vituperation of the court, or
make remarks derogatory to the high functionaries.

"Again, the fields in the valley are imperfectly
fenced, and the emigrants' cattle often trespassed upon
the crops. For this, a good remuneration was demanded.
A protest would usually be made, the case then taken
before the Bishop, and the cost be added to the ori-
ginal demand. Such as these were the instances of terri-
ble oppression that have been industriously circulated as
unjust acts of heartless Mormons upon the gold emigration.

* Lieutenant John W. Gunnison, afterward Captain, assisted Captain
Stansbury.,: Some years later, October 25th, 185.3, while encamped on the
Sevier, he was killed by the Indians.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 107

"But provisions were sold at very reasonable prices,
and their many deeds of charit}' to the sick and broken-
down gold-seekers, all speak loudly in their favor, and
must eventually redound to their praise. Such kindness,
and apparently brotherly good will among themselves had
its effect in converting more than one to their faith and the
proselytes deserted the search for golden ore. supposing
they had found there pearls of greater price."

According to the decision of the convention, which
was held in March, to petition for a territorial govern-
ment for the citizens of the Great Basin, a memorial,
signed by Brigham Young and 2270 others, was sent
to Congress, April 30th, asking for a "territorial govern-
ment of the most liberal construction authorized by our
excellent federal constitution, with the least possible
delay, " which was carried to Washington by Dr. J. M.
Bernhisel.

On July 2nd, 1840, the General Assembly of Deseret
met at Salt Lake City; and by joint agreement of its two
houses, it was dcided to pray for the admission of
Deseret as a State of the Union. A new memorial was
consequently then prepared. Almon W. Babbit was
elected delegate to Congress, and was sent to Washing-
ton, bearing the memorial and the constitution of the
proposed State. ^Ir. Babbit presented his documents to
Congress, with his credentials as delegate from the Pro-
visional State of Deseret, through Senator Stephen A.
Douglass, on the 27th of December of that, year; but his
petition was denied, and he was, of course, not admitted
to Congress. Instead, after a delay of nine months. Con-
gress passed a bill entitled, "An act to establish a
territorial government for Utah," providing for the
organization of Utah Territory, which was signed by

108 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

President ■ Millard Fillmore and went into force on the
9th of September, 1850. The President appointed
officers for the Territory as follows: Brigham Young,
Governor; B. D. Harris, Secretary; Joseph Buffington,
Chief Justice; Perry C. Brocchus and Zerubbabel Snow,
Associate Justice; Seth M. Blair, Attorney; and Joseph
L. Heywood, Marshal.

The news of the organization of the Territory and
the appointment of a Governor and other officers, did
not reach the Valley until January 27th, 1851, being even
then unofficially conveyed by way of San Francisco,
through New York newspapers which were brought to
Salt Lake by Mr. Henry E. Gibson. In the meantime
the Provisional Government continued to bear sway.

President Young was on one of his preaching tours in
the north, having organized several bishoprics in Davis
County and Ogden City, and formed the Weber Stake of
Zion with Lorin Farr as President, when the news of his
appointment reached him through General Daniel H.
Wells, with military escort, who met him in Davis
County, and accompanied him to Salt Lake City "amid
firing of cannon and other demonstrations of rejoicing."

Viewing the source from which the news was ob-
tained, as reliable, he took the oath of office on the 3rd
day of February, 1851, and at once entered upon his
duties as Governor of Utah Territory.

His first labor was to make arrangements, to change
the provisional, to the territorial form of government and
on the 5th of April, 1851, the General Assembly of the
State of Deseret* was dissolved, and the State merged
into the Territory of Utah.

•Among the more important of the many acts of the Provisional Assembly
may be mentioned the creation of Salt Lake, Weber, Utah, Sanpete, Juab, and

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 109

Governor Young issued a proclamation on the 1st of
Jul}', 1851, calling for the election of a Territorial
Legislature, and for a Delegate to Congress, the election
to be held on the first Monday of August. Since he was
also Superintendent of Indian Affairs, he established
three Indian Agencies. On the 8th of August, by virtue
of the authority given him in the organic act, he defined
three judicial districts, assigning a judge to each, and
naming the time and place of holding court. At the
election. Dr. Bernhisel was chosen delegate, and was the
first man to represent Utah in Congress.

Judges Brandebury* and Snow came to Salt Lake City
in the summer, but Judge Brocchus did not arrive until
August. There was only small remuneration in a Utah
judgeship in those days. It is said that Judge Brocchus
came west with a view of being returned to Congress by
the Mormons, and was greatly disappointed when he
learned that a Delegate had already been elected. How-
ever this may be, he soon became dissatisfied with his
position, and succeeded also in disaffecting Judge Brande-
bury and Secretary D. B. Harris, and in creating a
breach which may be said to be the beginning of the long
controversy between the federal judges and the Mormons.
At a special conference of the Church, held early in
September, the federal officials, Mormon and Gentile,
all being assigned a place on the stand with President

Tooele counties, and the granting of a charter to the Universitj of Deseret, in
the winter of 1849-50 ; and the passing of ordinances incorporating Great Salt
Lake City (January 9th), Ogden City, the City of Manti, Provo City and
Parowan City (February 6th), and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, in 1851 (February 8th),

•Joseph Buffington declined to serve as Chief Justice, and so Lfemuel H.
Brandebury was appointed in his stead.

110 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

Young and the leaders in the community, were invited
to be present. The object of inviting them was doubt-
less to encourage harmony and good feeling between them
and the community. They all attended, but the dissatis-
fied Judge Brocchus, when invited to speak, took occa-
sion to harangue the people for two hours relative to
their disloyalty and demerits, drifting at length into the
subject of polygamy, and insulting the ladies by reference
to their lack of chastity, expressing a hope that they
would "become virtuous." These base and groundless
insinuations were more than the congregation could bear,
and the speaker was hooted, and would doubtless have
been severely punished by the exasperated citizens, had
it not been that the Governor held them in restraint.

Before dismissing the meeting, President Young
severely rebuked the Judge, however, declaring him to be
"either profoundly ignorant or perversely wicked."
Subsequently, the Judge was cordially invited to attend
a meeting where he would be given an opportunity to
retract his offensive remarks, which the legal gentleman
flatly refused to do. Then followed a long correspond-
ence between the two on the subject, published in the
New York Herald, in which President Young so .severely
scored the official that the latter at length made no
further reply, but, privately acknowledging his defeat,
authorized the Governor to apologize for him to the
community. The whole affair created a great sensation
over Utah, in the East, being there thoroughly ventilated
by Jedediah M. Grant, Mayor of Salt Lake City, in a
series of pungent letters published in pamphlet *form,
and scattered broadcast.

Soon after this episode. Governor Young was in-
formed that the Secretary, together with Judges Brande-

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG. Ill

bury and Brocchus, intended to return to Washington.
This they did, setting forth on their journey on Septem-
ber 28th, Secretary Harris carrying with him the Terri-
torial seal, the records and documents, as well as the
$24,000.00 which had been appropriated by Congress for
'the per diem and mileage of the Legislature, all of which
were returned to the proper national authorities.

The "runaway judges and secretary," for so they
were called, duly reported their labors, taking care to
say that they were compelled to leave Utah on account
of the lawless acts and seditious tendencies of Brigham
Young and the majority of the citizens. It is recorded
by Mr. Stenhouse that this trio, in addition to their
report, said that "polygamy monopolized all the women,
which made it very inconvenient for the federal officers
to reside there." This so disgusted the Government and
Congress that Daniel Webster, who was then Secretary
of State, orderd the officials back to their deserted posts,
or to resign. They chose the latter and were thus forced
to retire. They had not looked for such an outcome. About
this time grave charges were circulated in the press about
the character of Governor Young, and harsh things were
said against the President for appointing him. Col.
Thomas L. Kane did good service for Governor Young,
who was thus attacked in the Buffalo Courier. The
article was sent to President Fillmore, who demanded an
explanation from Col. Kane, since he had endorsed the
gubernatorial appointment. The Colonel replied as
follows to the President:

"I have no wish to evade the responsibility of
having vouched for the character of Mr. Brigham Young,
of Utah, and his fitness for tlje station he now occupies.
I reiterate, without reserve, the statement of his excellent

112 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

capacity, energy and integrity, which I made you prior
to his appointment. I am willing to say I volunteered to
communicate to you the facts b}' which 1 was convinced
of his patriotism, and devotion to the interests of the
Union. I made no qualification when I assured you of
his irreproachable moral character, because I was able to
speak of this, from my own intim.ate personal knowledge.

"If any show or shadow of evidence can be adduced
in support of the charges of your anonymous assailant,
the next mail from Utah shall bring you their complete
and circumstancial refutation. Meanwhile I am ready to
offer this assurance for publication in any form you care
to indicate, and challenge contradiction from any re-
spectable authority."

Other officers were selected by Governor Young to
fill temporaril}^ the vacancies occasioned by the "runa-
ways," and he made a full explanation of the affair to
the President of the Unied States. In August, 1852,
followed the appointment of new officers as follows:
Lazarus H. Reed, Chief Justice; Leonidas Shaver,
Associate Justice; Benjamin G. Ferris, Secretary.
Judge Snow served out his term.

The next federal officials were Chief Justice John F.
Kinney, August 24th, 1853; Associate Justice George P.
Stiles, August 1st, 1854; Judge W. W. Drummond,
September 12th, 1854. The latter two were chiefly
instrumental in bringing about the egregious blunder
known as the "Utah War."

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 113

5. LEADIN'G EVENTS OF THE TERM.

Thus we have a taint political outline of the first
term of Brigham Young's incumbency as Governor.
From"^1850 to 1854 many significant events occurred in
the local history of the people, in all of which the wisdom
and the directing mind of the great leader were manifest.
Little was done without his counsel, and he w^as not only
adviser'and director, but he was the inaugurator of the
most important movements for the public welfare.

One of these was the petition for a railroad. As
before mentioned, the Saints did not seek isolation that
they might build up an independent nation; they rather
sought relief from persecution m temporary although
compulsory separation. Never did they falter in their
fealty, nor seek to be anything other than loyal Ameri-
cansi with hearts set for their country's prosperity and
good. They sought to be one with the people of the
Union, and desired a closer communion with them. To
this end, as early as March 3rd, 1852, the Governor and
Legislative Assembly of Utah petitioned Congress for the
construction of a national central railroad to the Pacific
coast, also for a telegraph line. The closing words of
their memorial are: "The road therein proposed would
be a perpetual chain or iron band which would effectually
hold together our glorious Union, with an imperishable
identity" of mutual interest, thereby consolidating our
relations with foreign powers in times of peace, and our
defense from foreign invasion by the speedy transmission
of troops and supplies in times of war. The earnest atten-
tion of Congress to this important subject is solicited by
your memorialists, who in duty bound will ever pray. "

When Dr. Bernhisel submitted the memorial to

114 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

Congress, he was smiled at, and told that he was far
ahead of this age. He replied by humorously inviting
his colleagues to take a ride over the road when it
should be completed, and visit him in Salt Lake City.
Twenty 3'ears later, some of them actually came to Salt
Lake City, an accomplishment doubtless more hurriedly
made possible by the petitions and the assistance of the
Mormons.

Again, in Governor Young's message to the Legisla-
ture, December 12, 185.3, he devotes much space in urging
the building of a Pacific railroad. He said: "We
recognize in the Pacific Railway a work worthy the attention
of a great and enterprising people; and pass where it will,
we cannot fail to be benefited by it. Its accomplishment
cannot fail by reason of furnishing so rapid a convey-
ance, to carry influence and power from one extremity of
the Union to the other, and make her the arbiter of the
world. * * :?= J have therefore thought

proper to call your attention to the subject, hoping that
the interest which is known to exist in favor of this
route, will not permit it to suffer for the want of proper
representation to Congress. " Then followed a great mass
meeting on January, 1854, in which the people took steps
to memorialize Congress for the construction of a railway
via Salt Lake to the Pacific. In 1869 the hopes of the
citizens were realized, and Brigham Young lived to aid
in the construction of the great highway.

• During the four years referred to, the growth and ex-
tention of the cities and villages continued. Dramatic
and educational interests were encouraged. Public
buildings and stores were erected. Grist and saw mills
were busy in all parts. Home manufacturing institutions
sprang up in various places, encouraged by legislative

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG. 115

appropriation and protection. President Young was
deeply interested in this subject, as in the progress of all
the material interests of the country. In his legislative
message of January, 1S52, he said: "Deplorable-
indeed must be the situation of that people whose sons
are not trained in the practice of every useful avoca-
tion, and whose daughters mingle not in the hive of
industry. Produce what you consume; draw from the
native elements the necessaries of life; permit no
vitiated taste to lead you into indulgence of expensive
luxuries, which can only be obtained by involving
yourselves m debt. Let home industry produce every
article of home consumption."

On the 6th of April, 1853, the corner stone of the
now completed great temple was laid b}- President Young
assisted bv his counselors, Heber C. Kimball and Willard
Richards; fort}' years later, April 6th, 1893, the building
was dedicated by President Wilford Woodruff, assisted by
his counselors, George O Cannon and Joseph F. Smith. ''^

Colonization was continued. At the October con-
ference, 1853, many were called to strengthen the settle-
ments in Iron, Tooele, Sanpete, Box Elder and Juab
counties.

The Indian question called for careful diplomacy.
The first troubles with the red men occurred in 1850-1.
Then followed a period of peace until 1853, when the Ute
war broke out. The conflict was doubtless instigated by

* An incident in connection with the breaking of the ground for the
foundation is worthy of mention. This work was done in February, the
President being present. The ground was frozen, and hence broke in a large
crust. As the men were raising the first piece of earth a silver dollar fell upon
it The sight of coin in those days was a rarity, and the appearance of the
silver at the time and place, contributed doubtless by an unknown witness of
the proceedings, was considered a good omen.

116 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

New Mexican traders, who came to Utah and supplied
the Indians with firearms, ammunition, horses, etc.,
taking in exchange Indian women and children who were
subsequently sold into slavery.

Governor Young proclaimed against this practices
and from his message to the Legislature we learn his
views on slaver}': "My own feelings are that no property
can or should be recognized as existing in slaves, either
Indian or African." The slave traders did not fancy this
declaration, and other opposition of a similar nature.
They became revengeful, and stirred up the savages,
against the residents of Utah. Other causes of the war
there doubtless were. One of these was the unwise and
wicked course of passing emigrants, who often shot the
Indians without cause. The war began in Payson on the
18th of July, and spread from there to many parts of the
Territory. Col. George A. Smith was given command of
the militia south of Salt Lake City, and his instructions
for the defense of the settlements plainly outline the
Indian policy of Governor Young: All the inhabitants
were to be gathered into forts, their stock coralled, and
surrounded with armed guards. A conciliatory course
towards the red men was to be maintained, and no offen-
sive warfare or acts of retaliation were to be permitted.
Vigilant watch was to be kept, and if Indians were
caught committing depredations they were to be pun-
ished. The people were to look out for surprises, keep
in after dark, keep themselves secure, and not permit any
sense of security to lull them into a spirit of carelessness.
It took a great deal of sacrifice to carry these instructions
into effect, but where this was not done, it generally
ended in more loss than would have been realized if the
wise counsel of the Governor had been followed. One

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 117

settlement in Sanpete was slow in getting ready. The
result was that two hundred head of their cattle w^ere run
off by the Indians. The people sent a messenger to the
Governor to report the affair and to get his advice. His
reply was: "Inasmuch as you have no oxen and cows
to trouble you, you can go to harvesting and take care
of yourselves. "

Shortly after the breaking out of hostilities Governor
Young sent Chief Walker the following letter, strongly
breathing the spirit of his life-long policy toward the red
men: "It is cheaper to feed the Indians than to fight
them," a motto which experience proved to be correct,
and which has saved much property and man}' lives in
Utah:

Great Salt Lake City, July 25, 1853.
Captain Walker:

I send you some tobacco for you to smoke in the moun-
tains when you get lonesome. You are a fool for fight-
ing your best friends, for we are the best friends, and
the only friends you have in the world. Every body else
would kill you if they could get a chance. If you get
hungry send some friendly Indian down to the settle-
ments and we will give you some beef-cattle and flour.
If you are afraid of the tobacco which I send you, you
can let some of your prisoners try it first, and then you
will know that it is good. When you get good-natured
again I would like to see you. Don't you think you
would be ashamed? You know that I have always been
3'our best friend.

Brigham Young.

Governor Young, in a tour of the south, in the spring
of 185-4, made it a point to obtain a meeting with Chief
Walker and some of the native tribes. Presents were
distributed and the pipe of peace was passed around.
He succeeded by wise diplomacy in effecting a treaty

118 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

with the savages, which ended the trouble. As a result
of the conflict, about twenty whites, and a large number
of Indians, were killed, while the people and the terri-
tory together suffered a loss of about $300,000.

Chief Walker died in January, 1855, urging upon
his braves to live in peace with the Mormons, whom he
had truly learned to regard as his friends.

With the chief were buried two others, who had
been killed, as was the custom, to be his companions to
the happy hunting grounds. This reminds us of an inci-
dent which occurred in one of President Young's travels.
He, with his train of thirty carriages, had been on a visit
south, and returning were met by bands of Walker's
Indians, who showed signs of an attack. The}' drew their
bows, gesticulating and yelling, until it was considered
unsafe to continue. Walker was encamped across the
valley about sixteen miles south of Nephi. President
Young ordered his carriages to cross directly over to the
Indian camp, and his whole train drove directly into it,
settled down and stayed for the night. It happened that
Walker had a ver}' sick child, that the medicine man had
given up to die. To the interpreter Chief Walker said
he wished a white man out of President Young's party
to accompany the child through the valley of death.
Remonstrated with, he became more emphatic in his
demands, when the interpreter went to the President
and told him what was wanted. Going to the chief.
President Young told him to send away his medicine
man, he was no good. He then asked permission to
administer to the child, which was granted. The child
was immediately healed, and doubtless grew up to be a
true brave. President Young's party were allowed to
proceed unmolested, and the incident created a lasting

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 119

favorable impression in the mind of the Indian chief,
who was thereafter more friendly than ever before.

The practice of polygamy among the Mormons was
not generally made known until the year 1852. At a
conference of the Church, in Salt Lake City, on the 29th
day of August, it was first publicly avowed. The system
of a plurality of wives was long before this time prac-
ticed by the Saints, in Nauvoo, Winter Quarters and in
Utah. The revelation on celestial marriage was given
to Joseph the Prophet, July 12th, 18-13, but it was not
made public generally until this August day, when it was
read to the Saints, who accepted it as the word of God,
and as a tenet of their faith. Then followed the pro-
mulgation of the doctrine by missionaries to the whole
world. Afterward it became the leading question for
contention between the officers ot the government and
the Mormons, until the practice was finally suspended by
a manifesto of President Wilford Woodruff, dated Sep-
tember 24th, 1890. At the following October Conference
the Church accepted his declaration concerning plural
marriages as authoritative and binding, and the doctrine
is now neither taught nor practiced. Whatever may be
said on the subject, Brigham Young was a firm believer
in the doctrine, and, as in other matters, showed his
faith by his works. To him its practice was a duty
which he felt as incumbent upon him as any other of the
teachings or revelations of the Prophet Joseph. In its
practice, as in all things else, he followed the program
outlined by his prophet leader, and he was honest
therein.

120 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

6. REAPPOINTED GOVERNOR.

Politically, the years 1852-3 were not of great
interest. At the approach of the expiration of Governor
Young's term of office, President Franklin Pierce was
asked to re-appoint him, but, owing doubtless to the evil
imputations against his character, circulated by Secre-
tary Ferris and others, the President at first declined to
do so.

In August, 1854, Lieutenant-Colonel E. J. Steptoe
arrived in Utah, with a detachment of troops, on his way
to California. To him the President tendered the
Governorship of Utah. The Colonel respectfully

declined the honor, and, with leading citizens of the
Territory, memorialized the President to re-appoint
Governor Young to that office. The petition sets forth
that "he is decidedly the most suitable person that can
be selected." He possesses the entire confidence of the
people of the Territory, without regard to party or sect;
is "a tried pillar of Republican institutions," a "warm
friend and able supporter of constitutional liberty," and
"he possesses in an eminent degree every qualification
necessary for the discharge of his official duties," both
as Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

This memorial, signed alike by leading Mormons
and Gentiles, army officers and federal officials, was
forwarded to Washington in December, and resulted in
the re-appointment of Brigham Young as Governor.

No better selection could have been made. The
Founder of Utah was a good Governor, and his peoples'
interests, as well as those of the Territory and nation,
had been faithfully served by him. He may have taken
vigorous action in the execution of certain ideas of his

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM TOUXG. 121

own that displeased or offended his enemies, but in his
day, and with his surroundings, sach a course was
necessary. "Had Brigham Young been otherwise than
as God and nature made him, could he have done so
well the work assigned him by destiny? Do weak men
conduct exoduses and conquer deserts? Do they hold
in check the merciless savage, build cities and temples
and enthrone civilization in the midst of solitude and
sterility? Utah's great pioneer was a man of iron. He
had to be, in order that his work might not be poorly
or but partly done. And yet he possessed — what no
tyrant ever did — the love of his people, to a marvelous
degree. No despot was ever loved like Brigham Young.
No leader at his death was ever more sincerely mourned
by his followers. It was not a 'trembling submission'
that was paid to him in life; it was not an affected
sorrow that was manifested at his death. They regarded
him as a prophet, it is true; but they also knew him to
be a superior man, and loved and trusted him accord-
ingly."*

If Governor Young had shown what some of the
federal officials called disrespect to federal authority, it
was because of the worthlessness of the government's
representatives, t There were noteworthy exceptions, and
they were generally in harmony with the Governor, sent
to Utah to uphold the majesty of the law, and not

*Whitiiey's History of Utah, p. 535, Vol. 1.

f Speaking of the federal judges, up to and including Drumniond, Ban-
croft, in his History of Utah, says, page 492: "If it was true that the
magistrates appointed by the United States were held in contempt, there was
sufficient provocation. Two of them, as we have seen, deserted their post, a
third was probably an opium ea'er, a fourth a drunkard, a fifth a gambler and
a lecher."

122 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

because he disregarded the institutions or laws of his
country. These he ever honored and upheld. He was
the means of instituting such order and justice in Utah,
in his da}^ as were never equalled in any other western
State or Territory in our frontier history.

"Possessing unbounded influence, he used his power
most temperately, and his whole aim was to promote the
welfare of the people."* He had his faults, but his
personal reputation was above reproach; like all strong
and great men, he had bitter enemies, but the unerring
judgment of time will prove that they were wrong and
he was right, for truth triumphs in the end.

7. THE CALAMITIES OF 1856,

The people of Utah were subjected to a period of
want, in the early months of 1856, caused by the pre-
vious season's crop being destroyed by grasshoppers and
drouth. Besides the winter of 1855-6 w^as very severe,
causing death to thousands of cattle, thus adding to the
hardships endured by the settlers. Even the most well-
to-do were com'pelled to add sego and thistle roots, and
other wild plants, to their scanty rations of meal and
vegetables. For some years President Young had
advised the people to store grain and provisions in the
davs of plenty against a time of scarcity. When the
calamity was approaching he said in a sermon: "For one,
I have seen months and months in this city when I
could have wept like a whipped child to see the awful
stupidity of the people in not realizing the blessings

"Cannon's History of tJie Mormons, p. 6.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 123

bestowed upon them in grain; I could have wept to see
this people trample on the mercies of their benefactor in
bestowing the fruits of the earth upon them in such
plenty. If the Lord is now disposed to teach us a
lesson, and make us thereby wise men and wise women,
and prudent in all our ways, all I have to say is, amen,
it is all righu. "

But some had heeded his advice, among whom were
many of t^ie leaders, who were thus prepared to help in
the hour of need, while others had ignored the counsel.
Had it not been for the aid which the leaders rendered,
and the community of feeling prompting to liberality
and sameness, the condition of the destitute would have
been appalling; but all shared alike, and to their lasting
credit be it said that sue ;or was not withheld from the
poor and hungry multitude, who weie ofton fed without
price.

Besides sharing freely what he had with the Saints,
President Young devised various plans to engage labor
for the people, in manufacturing and mining enterprises.
He encouraged the people to work and be happy, and
resign themselves to the will of God. He urged them to
plant and sow and to be just as satisfied if they raised
nothing as if they raised an abundance. This course, he
said would reconcile them to the providences of the
Almighty, and in this they would find happiness, even
in severest adversity.

To add to their troubles, the Indians, becoming
hungry and mean, precipitated another war, which was
known as the Tintic war. It caused the death of twelve
of the settlers in Utah. Indian depredations on the
plains were also numerous that year.

But the year's greatest calamity befel the late hand-

124 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

cart companies. There were in all five companies of
emigrating Saints, mostly from England, who had
decided to cross the plains on foot that year, traversing
deserts, wading rivers, climbing mountains, a distance of
thirteen hundred miles to Salt Lake City. Three com-
panies arrived in the valley after a three months' journey,
comparatively in good condition; but the last two were
caught in the snows and the storms of an early winter.
After suffering starvation and untold hardships their
remnants finally arrived in the valley, the last delayed
company, cojnposed of six hundred persons, having lost
more than one-fourth of their numbers by death. All
would have shared the same fate save for the promptness
of President Young in organizing parties which were
sent to their relief. His actions, in this matter, earned
the plaudits of friend and foe alike. It was at the
October Conference that he first heard of their plight.
His son Joseph A. was sent to their assistance, with
orders to take all the provisions, clothing and vehicles
he could obtain, and press on to the rescue. Writing on
the subject after, Mr. John Chislett, in his description
of the handcart companies, says: "Brigham at once
suspended all conference business, and declared that
nothing further should be done until every available team
was started out to meet us. He set the example by
sending several of his best mule teams, laden with pro-
visions. Heber C. Kimball did the same, and hundreds
of others followed their noble example. People who
had come from distant parts of the Territory to attend
conference volunteered to go out to meet us, and went
at once. The people who had no teams gave freely of
provisions, bedding, etc., all doing their best to help us."

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 125

8. THE UTAH WAR.

While these disasters fell upon the people at home,
there were agencies at work which were to result in still
additional trouble. These were nothing less than misrep-
resentations of enemies, which ended at length in the
sending of an army to Utah to quell an imaginary
rebellion.

One of the agents that helped to bring about the
Utah war, or Buchanan's Expedition, was a mail con-
tractor named W. F. M. Magraw, who had been con-
ducting a service to Salt Lake City from Missouri. On
the 3rd of October, 1856, he sent a letter to President
James Buchanan, in which he makes some unsupported
assertions of Mormon treason, tyranny, rapine, indiscri-
minate bloodshed, robbery, etc. The reason assigned for
his writing was "to prevent, if possible, scenes of law-
lessness, which, I fear, will be inevitable unless speedy
and powerful preventatives are applied. " But evidently
the real cause of his fear was that a Mormon, Mr. Hiram
Kimball had been awarded the government mail contract
over his former route.

Added to this, and like a link in a chain of seeming
conspiracy, followed the resignation of Judge W. W.
Drummond, dated ^larch 30, 1857. It must be remembered
that after the "runaway judges" had gone to Washing-
ton, Judge Snow was left alone to conduct the business
of the courts. He was overcrowded with work, and to
lighten his burdens the legislature, in 1852, passed an
act giving the probate courts "power to exercise original
jurisdiction, both civil and criminal, and as well in
chancery as in common law, when not prohibited by
legislative enactment." Up to the time that Associate

126 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

Justice Stiles and Drummond were appointed, in the fa]l
of 1854, the district judges had tacitly admitted the juris-
diction of the probate courts, and even confirmed their
jurisdiction; but these new judges made a direct issue
by ignoring the authority of the lower courts and their
officials, declaring that the powers granted to them by
the act of 1852 were of no effect.* Judge Drummond
asserted that the laws of the Territory were founded in
ignorance, and he sought to abrogate some of the most
important of them. This same judge came to Utah with
a harlot, whom he seated by his side on the judicial
bench, leaving a wife and family unsupported in Illinois.
He was indignantly opposed to the peculiar institution
of the "ignorant and unvirtuous Mormons," whose family
system of a plurality of wives was to them a part of their
religion. He was a worthless man. In the history of
Utah, Mr. H. H. Bancroft says of him: "Gambler and
bully, he openly avowed that he had come to Utah to
make mone}^ and in the presence of the Chief Justice
declared, 'Money is my God.' When first he appeared
in court, he insulted the community by mocking at their
laws and institutions. * * ;k j^g ^^jgo declared

that he would set aside the finding of the probate courts
in all cases other than those which lay strictly within
their jurisdiction."

For these moral reasons, no less than for his judicial
course, he became very unpopular, concluding at length
to leave his post. Pretending to depart for the purpose
of holding court in Carson County, now Nevada, he went
home instead by way of California, where he wrote his

♦The complications thus arisinz were continued for twenty years, until
Congrees settled the matter by passing the Poland Bill, June 23, 1874.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 127

resignation to the Attorney-General, also a letter giving
his reasons for taking such a step. In this communica-
tion, he conjures up many wicked lies and groundless
accusations. He says, among other things, that "there
is a secret oath-bound organization among all the male
members of the Church to resist the laws of the country.
* * * There is a set of men, set apart by

special order of the Church, to take both the lives and
property of persons who ma}' question the authority of
the Church. * * * -pj-^g records, papers, etc.,

of the Supreme Court have been destroyed b}' order of
the Church, with the direct knowledge and approbation
of Governor B. Young, and the federal officers grossly
insulted for presuming to raise- a single question about
the treasonable act. * * * jj^g federal officers

of the Territory are constantly insulted, harassed, and
annoyed by the Mormons, and for these insults there is
no redress. * ^ * The federal officers are

daily compelled to hear the forms of the American
Government traduced, the chief executives of the nation,
both living and dead, slandered and abused from the
masses, as well as from all the leading members of the
Church, in the most vulgar, loathsome and wicked
manner that the evil passions of men can possibly
conceive." He then, besides, charges the Governor with
improperly pardoning criminals, and advising jurors
beforehand, so that no charges but his are obeyed. The
murder of Captain Gunnison and others he lays to the
Mormons; the judiciary, he considers, is treated as a
farce, the "officers are insulted, harassed and murdered
for doing their duty." In closing, he suggests that, "if
there was a man put in office as Governor of that terri-
tory, who is not a member of the Church (Mormon),

128 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

and he supported with a sufficient military aid, much
good would result from such a course."

As soon as these charges were made known in Utah,
they were duly answered and shown to be false; but it
appears, nevertheless, from subsequent events, that his
evil reports were believed, acted upon, and were the
basis upon which the President committed his great
blunder in sending an army to Utah.

There was another alleged aggravation which is
referred to in connection with the war. President Young
had contemplated the establishment of a great carrying
company, between the Missouri and the Great Basin, to
promote emigration to the west, and commercial inter-
course and rapid mail communication between the east
and the isolated Saints. This projected company was
organized in January, 1856, when the enterprise was set
on foot. The Government mail contract, which Mr.
Kimball had received, became the basis of its operations,
since President Young was desirous that all diligence
should be used in keeping faith with the Government.
Stations were now established at convenient distances
across the plains, at great expense. But no sooner were
these settlements formed than the Indian agents in the
neighborhood, possibly fearing the limitation of their
trade with the savages, construed their erection as an in-
vasion of the Indian lands. Then followed letters to the
Indian Department at Washington, with exaggerated
complaints of this Mormon invasion.

In addition to these accusations, the federal officials
contributed, by letters and affidavits, in creating preju-
dice against the people. Governor Young was charged
with dishonesty in Indian affairs, and with expending
improperly the Government funds appropriated for the

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 129

Indians. Many other trivial complaints, false as they
were trivial, were set afloat, among which was the absurd
charge, still believed by the ignorant, that he read all the
letters that came to or went out of Utah.

Upon these false or grossl}^ exaggerated charges and
complaints, President Buchanan, led also, it has been
said, by a rebellious desire to scatter the forces of the
Union, in case of a rupture with the South on the slavery
question, which was then the burning topic of the day,
without further investigation, decided that a rebellion
existed in Utah; and he took steps to invade the Territory
with the United States army, the plan being to keep the
Mormons in ignorance of the proposed invasion. Accord-
ingly, Brigham Young was superceded as Governor by
Alfred Gumming, who was to be installed and maintained
in place by the force which was ordered to march to
Salt Lake City, ostensibly as posse comitatus, to sustain
his authority.

An army of 2,500 well-equipped men was ordered to
march to the Territory, under command of Brigadier-
Geneal W. S. Harney, who was afterward succeeded by
Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston. General Harney, under
date of June 29, 1857, was thoroughly instructed as to how
to proceed. His soldiers were made to believe that a
genuine rebellion existed, and with this understanding
began their march. As stated, the Mormons were not
aware of the approach of the army. There had been no
mail to Utah from the east for upwards of six months,
owing to Mr. Magraw's failure to close his contract.

Agents of the Young Express Company, who had
now taken the first mail to Missouri from Salt Lake City,
on the Kimball contract, were the first to learn definitely
of the proposed expedition, since the postal agent at

130 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

Independance, declined to deliver the return mails for
Salt Lake Cit}' to them, stating that he had instructions
from Washington to that effect. A rumor that the
Government had ordered an army to Utah, that Brigham
Young had been superceded as Governor, and that a full
set of officials were accompanying the troops to Salt Lake
City, had reached the agents before, and they had now
seemingl}' obtained an official confirmation. It was then
that they decided to break up the various stations of the
express company, and take the property with them to
the west. This they did, reaching Fort Laramie July
17th. Here it was decided to leave a portion of the
party to take charge of and bring forward the property,
while Messrs. A. O. Smoot, Judson Stoddard, and Orin
Porter Rockwell, were selected to press on in advance
to the Valley to tell the news. They reached Salt Lake
City on the evening of July 2.3rd, having made the dis-
tance, five hundred miles, in five days and three hours.
The next day was Pioneer Da}^ July 24th. The
alleged rebellious Mormons, with song and dance and
innocent amusement, were celebrating their advent into
the Valley ten years before. The mam body of celebra-
tors had chosen a spot for this purpose at the head of
Big Cottonwood Can3'on, near a beautiful lake in the
Wasatch mountains. Here they patriotically hoisted
the good old flag, rejoicing under its folds, little dream-
ing that their country was in arms against them. The
amusements were at their height on that beautiful July
morning, when the three before-mentioned travel-stained
messengers eagerly made their way up the canyon road
to the merry camp. They went direct to the tent of
President Young, and informed him of the startling news.
He faced the fact with that resoluteness and coolness

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 131

that were characteristic of his great mind — that stamped
him with the seal of greatness. He del^beratel}^ called a
council of the leading Elders, presenting the subject
before them in a few words. No excitement prevailed,
and it was not until time for evening prayers that the
whole camp were informed of the character of the alarm-
ing message conveyed by the travelers. In addressing
the people, the President said: "Liars have reported
that this people have committed treason, and upon their
misrepresentations the President has ordered out troops
to assist in officering this Territory. If those oi^cers are
like many who have previously been sent here, and we
have reason to believe they are, or they would not come
where they know they are not wanted, they are poor,
broken-down political hacks, not fit for the civilized
society whence they came, and so they are dragooned upon
us for officers. * * * j f^gj |-]-^^^ •[ -^yon't bear

such treatment, * * ^ jqj. ^q ^^e just as free

as the mountain air. * * * This people are

free;, they are not in bondage to any government on
God's foot-stool. We have trangressed no law, neither
do we intend to do so; but as for any nation coming
to destro}^ this people, God Almighty being my helper it
shall not be. "

While it was the seeming aim of the Government
to use the army only for sustaining the civil officers,
President Young's experience with military bodies in
Missouri and Illinois, had led him to lose confidence in
their asserted designs, and to be suspicious of their
intents. Besides, why had not the officers been sent
without the army? There had been no resistance to the
civil authorities heretofore, why was it now necessary to
put them in place with the aid of troops? The real

132 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

object was evidently hidden. It was the extermination
of the Mormons, the spoliation of their homes and
possessions, their complete annihilation. So thought
Brigham Young, and he dealt accordingly with the
stubborn facts as the}^ presented themselves. He was
not willing to witness over again the scenes of Far West
and Nauvoo, and so decided to resist the army, at least
to begin with, until the Government might awaken to its
folly; if that failed, then to lay waste the country as
when he found it, and seek elsewhere for home, peace
and liberty. Hence some of his remarks to his people,
in his sermons:

"They say that the coming of their army is legal, and
I say it is not. * * >k j ^j^ ^q^ going to permit troops
here for the protection of the priests and the rabble in
their efforts to drive us from the land we possess. * * *
I am sworn, if driven to extremity, to utterly lay waste this
land in the name of Israel's God, and our enemies shall
iind it as barren as when we came here."

And the design would have been carried out, had it
been found necessary.

On September 17th, the Governor declared the
Territory under martial law, and forbade any armed force
from entering it under any pretense whatever. At the
same time, he sent a messenger east to Col. Thomas L.
Kane, with a document in which he explained to the
national authorities his motives in taking this step. He
hoped by this means that they might be led to see the
error and make an amicable adjustment of the difficulty.
Col. Kane was asked to see the President and lay the
matter before him.

The army, under Col. Johnston, left Leavenworth on
the 17th of September, reaching Fort Laramie October

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 133

5th. From this point on they met resistance. The Nau-
voo Legion was thoroughly organized under command of
Lieutenant-General Daniel H. Wells, and by order of
Governor Young took the field to prevent the entrance of
the troops into the Valley. Then followed the Echo
Canyon campaign, in which nearly 2,500 men, young and
old, gathered to confront the invading army; the burning
of Fort Bridger and its supplies; and the destruction by
fire of the Government trains by Lot Smith. Finally the
invading troops, crippled, starved and frozen, were
forced to go into winter quarters on Black's Fork; dis-
couraged and well-nigh annihilated, and that without the
shedding of blood, it was plain to them that their expedi-
tion was a failure. Excepting a guard, the Utah militia
returned to their homes early in December. So matters
rested until spring, when it was fully expected that the
conflict would begin anew. To this end preparations
went on in Ut^h.* Governor Young, in his message to
the legislature, referred at length to the situation, justify-
ing his course, in which that body acquiesced. The citizens
and the legislature, in January, 1858, memorialized Con-
gress and the President, setting forth the true state of
affairs in Utah, and asking for constitutional rights.

At Washington public sentiment was greatly excited
against the Mormons; but many of the nation's leading
papers and citizens were no less unstinted in their

♦Mingling with the song of joy, the paean of praise, welling up from the
hearts of a people who felt as sensibly as did Israel of old after passing the
Red Sea, that Jehovah had delivered His people and engulfed their foes
could be heard the clink of steel, the sound of hammer and forge, and other
notes of 'dreadful preparation,' fashioning weapons for the coming conflict, as
fully expected as it was thoroughly unfeared '-Whitney's History of Ltah,
Vol 1. p. 662.

134 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

condemnation of the President and his cabinet for com-
pelling the Saints to assume the position they had taken,
and for deciding upon mere hearsay that they were in
rebellion. The President began to see his blunder, and
seemed anxious to rectify his error, as far as it could be
done without the loss of dignity.

About this time Col. Kane visited Washington,
offering his services to President Buchanan, as mediator
in the pending quarrel, with a view to having the con-
troversy peaceably settled. This he did upon request of
President Young, made the summer before. The result
was his appointment to Utah, as private envoy of the
Government. Purely instigated by humanitarian
motives, he departed to fill his difficult mission, sailing
from New York, January 5th, 1858, and arriving by way
of San Francisco in Salt Lake City on the 25th of
February following.

Having been ushered into the presence of Governor
Young, he stated his errand and asked for a private
interview which was granted. He learned that Governor
Young was willing as ever to receive loyally the new
Governor without the arm}^: but was not willing that the
troops should accompany him or be quartered in any
city or settlement of the Territory.

Alter a few day's rest. Col. Kane departed^over the
deep snows to consult with Governor Cumming at
Black's Fork. The new Governor was willing to accede
to the arrangements, convinced as he was of the wisdom
of the embassador's course; and he therefore left with
Col. Kane and two servants for Salt Lake City, being
escorted by Utah cavalry after leaving the federal lines.
Arriving in Salt Lake City on the 12th of April, he was
there, as everywhere on the way, treated with great

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 135

respect, and acknowledged as Governor. This arrange-
ment did not please General Johnston, who seemed de-
sirous to fight, but the counsels of peace prevailed never-
theless, not however without some trouble which
ended in lasting enmity between the Governor and the
General. Upon the arrival of the new Governor, he and
President Brigham Young had a very cordial meeting,
and the former was duly installed in his new position. '

His noble peace mission now ended. Col. Kane
returned to report his success in Washington.*

President Young had said to Captain \^an Vliet, the
first Government representative who came to Utah on
the war question, when that official referred to the
ability of the Government to send enough re-enforce-
ments to overcome all opposition: "We are aware that
such will be the case, but when those troops arrive
they will find Utah a desert." There were now two
reasons why the great ]\Iormon leader was preparing to
keep his word: first, he had no faith in the promises of
the army: "You might as well tell me that you can
make hell into a powder house as to tell me that they
intend to keep an army here and have peace. "
Secondly, he w^ished to attract the attention of the
world to the sacrifice and the wrongs inflicted upon his
people, in order to change public opinion in their

* " Some years later General Kane, — for he was then a General, having
been promoted for gallant service in defence of the Union during the Civil
War, — again visited Utah and for several months was the guest of President
Young. On more than one occasion, in the east, he valiently used pen and
tongue in behalf of the territory and its people. His name is a household
word in a multitude of homes in the Eocky Mountains, an'i his pure example
of friendship and patriotism will ever burn brightly, a beacon and a guiding
star, before the eyes of Utah's sons and daughters."— Whitney's History of
Utah. Vol. 1., p. 674.

136 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

favor. It was indeed a marvelous sight. Thirty
thousand people about to leave their homes, so dearly
earned, with guards left to fire them, if the hostile
army should invade their land. It was not long till
the press of the nation and of Europe saw their heroism
and devotion, and declared that sincerity thus attested
is not a thing to be sneered at. The tide had turned.

The Governorship was now disposed of. What
was to be done w^ith the army? Evidently the Mormons
thought it would invade their cities, and hence the
move south. The new Governor stro\'e in vain to
induce the people to remain and to return to their
homes. Though he pled with them as a father, they
would not believe him when he insisted that there was
no longer any. danger, and promised them protection.
Said President Young: "We know all about it. Governor.
We have on just such occasions seen our disarmed men
hewn down in cold blood, our virgin daughters violated,
our wives ravished to death before our eyes. We
know all about it. Governor Gumming."

Three weeks after his arrival Governor Gumming
made a report to the Secretary of State, Lewis M. Gass
setting forth the true condition of affairs in, Utah. His
report gives the lie to all the accusations of Judge
Drummond, and he declared that Governor Young
"evinced a willingness to afford me every facility I may
require for the efficient performance of my administra-
tive duties." Referring to the "move," he said: "The
people, including the inhabitants of this city, are mov-
ing from every settlement in the northern part of the
Territory. The roads are everywhere filled with wagons
loaded with provisions and household furniture, the

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG. 137

women and children often without shoes and hats, driv-
ing their flocks they know not where. They seem not
only resigned but cheerful. 'It is the will of the Lord,'
and they rejoice to exchange the comforts of home for the
trials of the wilderness. Their ultimate destination is
not, I presume, definitely fixed upon. 'Going south,
seems sufficiently definite for the most of them, but
many believe that their ultimate destination is Sonora.
Young, Kimball, and most of the influential men have
left their commodious mansions without apparent regret,
to lengthen the long train of wanderers. The masses
everywhere announce to me that the torch will be applied
to every house indiscriminately throughout the country'
so soon as the troops attempt to cross the mountains."

In the meantime a peace commission, sent by Presi-
dent Buchanan to treat with the ]\Iormons, met with
President Young and his associates, who had returned
from the south to Salt Lake for that purpose on the
llth and 12th of June. These commissioners had a full
and free pardon to offer to the people, for past seditions
and treasons. In reply. President Young stated his
position as follows:

"I thank President Buchanan for forgiving me,
but I really cannot tell what I have done. I know one
thing, and that is, that the people called Mormons are
a loyal and law-abiding people, and have ever been.
Neither President Buchanan nor anv one else can con-
tradict the statement. It is true Lot Smith burned some
wagons containing government supplies for the arm).. This
was an overt act, and if it is for this that we are to be
pardoned, I accept the pardon. * * * Now let me
say to you Peace Commissioners, we are willing those
troops should come into our country, but not to stay in

10

138 • THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

our city. They may pass through it, if needs b'e, but
must not quarter less than forty miles from us. If you
bring your troops here to disturb this people, you have
got a bigger job than you or President Buchanan have
any idea of. Before the troops reach here this city will
be in ashes, every tree and shrub will be cut to the
ground, and every blade of grass that will burn shall be
burned. Our wives and children will go to the canyons,
and take shelter in the mountains, while their husbands
and sons will fight you; and, as God lives, we will hunt
you by night and by day, until your armies are wasted
away. No mob can live in the homes we have built in
these mountains. That's the program, gentlemen,
whether you like it or not. If you want war, you can
have it; but if you wish peace, peace it is; we shall be
glad of it. "

The army entered Salt Lake Valley June 26th,
deeply moved by the desolation which the}' witnessed all
about them. One month prior to this time Mrs. Gum-
ming, on entering the city, was so moved by the sight
that she burst into tears of sympathy for the migrating
Saints.

The troops, true to their pledge, preserved excellent
order, and marched to Cedar Valley, thirty- six miles
south of Salt Lake City, where they founded Camp
Floyd, and where they remained until 1860, at which
time the majority were called to Arizona and New
Mexico. During their stay, the fear of Brigham Young
was shown not to be entirely groundless, for on several
occasions they showed their hatred to the Mormons, and
there were some instances of gross misconduct on their
part. The Camp was abandoned in 1861, when the
remnant of the soldiers went east to participate in the

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 139

Civil War. Colonel Johnston, who had denounced the
loyal Saints as rebels, taking sides with the South became
himself a rebel.

Early in July, 1858, President Young and the Mormon
leaders returned to their homes followed later bv the
whole community who now came back to re-inhabit their
cities and habitations which had been placed upon the
altar of sacrifice but this time not required of them.

So ended the Utah War. It was "an ill advised
measure," says the historian Bancroft, "on the part of
the United States Government. The Utah War cost
several hundred lives and at least $15,000,000 at a time in
the nation's history when men and money could least be
spared, and accomplished practically nothing save that it
exposed the President and his Cabinet to much well-
deserved ridicule."

Through the wise manipulations and the consummate
strategy of President Young the Mormons won through
it the respect and esteem of a large portion of the out-
side world and a thousand favorable echoes from the
press which recognized the bravery and patriotism of the
inhabitants of Utah.

9. BRIGHAM young's LOYALTY AND ENTERPRISE.

"We have always been loyal and expect so to con-
tinue," said the Mormon leader to the Peace Commis-
sioners. But notwithstanding the assertion and the
practice as well, there seems to have prevailed a contrary
idea in the minds of certain missionary judges and some
Governors who came to "regenerate" Utah — after this
peiiod. These would not so consider the people or

140 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

their leader. Perhaps their sentiments in this respect
grew out of the fact that Brigham Young still continued
to be the leader of the community though he was not the
Governor in a civil capacity. But it is more likely that
their feelings were engendered by their pre-formed bitter
prejudice against everything Mormon and often to hide
their own sins and corruption. But history and facts
bear witness that the Saints were and are law-abiding and
loyal.

General Johnston would not understand this. He
left the Territory in March, 1860, without ever having
seen President Young. Such a visit was not worth his
time he doubtless considered; but many of the army
officers, upon invitation, paid their respects to the great
colonizer, and before departing for the east they presented
him with the flag-staff used at Camp Floyd, a significant
sign of their changed opinions concerning his loyalty.
The interesting memento of the war, -or, rather the happy
close of the war, was used by the President, at his. resi-
dence, many years for floating the national banner.

The year of the outbreak of the great Rebellion
witnessed the people of Utah loyally celebrating the 4th
of Juh^ an expressive event — indicative of their love for
the Union — since the Mormons were suspected, and even
accused, of favoring secession, or of desiring to establish
a separate nation.

The Overland Telegraph Line was completed to Salt
Lake City on the 17th of October, 1861, and on the 18th
President Young was courteously tendered the first use of
the wires, which he accepted. He congratulated the
President of the company, at Cleveland, Ohio, upon the
completion of the line, closing with these patriotic words:

"Utah has not seceded, but is firm for the Constitu-

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 141

tion and laws of our once happy country, and is warmly
interested in such useful enterprises as the one so far
completed. "

Replying, President J. H. Wade, of the Telegraph
Company, said among other things that the message was
"in every wa}' gratifying, not only in the announcement
of the completion of the Pacific Telegraph to your enter-
prising and prosperous city, but that yours, the first
message to pass over the line, should express so unmis-
takably the patriotism and Union-loving sentiments of
yourself and people." Governor Frank. Fuller sent a
message the same day to President Abraham Lincoln,
who was inaugurated in March of that year, showing that
he also shared in the sentiments of the Saints: "Utah,
whose citizens strenuously resist all imputations of dis-
loyalty, congratulates the President upon the completion
of an enterprise," etc. The great Lincoln, in behalf of
the Government, reciprocated the congratulations.

On the 2-lth of October, President Young sent the
first message over the completed line to San Francisco.
Utah was now in instant communication with the world.
A new era was dawning upon the Saints, of which the
telegraph was the signal. Their leader saw that this and
the inevitable approach of the railroad, of which the line
was a forerunner, would bring a new and manifest destiny
to his people; but being himself a man foreordained by
the Divine will to his condition, it was not difficult for
Brigham Young to adapt himself to any change that
might come by the revolution of progress. But as in
other matters heretofore, the path which he marked out for
his followers did not suit his enemies. Under the new
era, he worked zealously for the welfare of the people as
he had ever done at any previous time. It was in a new

142 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

way, perhaps, in a way to correspond with the altered
condition of affairs, but for their prosperity and happi-
ness, nevertheless.

On the 1st of July, 1861, the Salt Lake Theater was
opened. President Young was its projector and owner,
which indicates that he was a patron of and believer in
the legitimate amusement. As was the case with all the
public edifices of that time, its design bears the stamp of
his rare architectural genius, the prolific variations of
which are manifest no less in the Temple, (completed
April 6th, 1893), the Tabernacle (finished October, 1867),
and other public and private buildings, where it was the
moving power of formation, than in his own words on
the subject: "I have built a great many houses both for
myself and for others. I have never built two houses
alike, and I do not expect to m time or eternit_y, but I
mean to improve every time I begin."

From the completion of the Overland, or perhaps
long before, came the idea, to President Young, of bind-
ing the cities and towns of Utah together with a local
telegraph line. The need was apparent; the settlements
of the Saints were extended in all directions. All the
leading Elders looked to him for counsel, for advice in
everything that pertained both to temporal and spiritual
affairs. Such a line was projected in 1861, but work
thereon was not actively prosecuted until 1865, when a
circular was sent to the leading Elders, in all parts of
the Territory, asking them to get the poles, to gather
means for purchasing the wires, select the route, erect
the poles, find young men to go to Salt Lake City to
learn telegraphy. From each settlement, teams were
called for to go after the wire. The call met with a
hearty response from all quarters. The people went to

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 14-3

work with a will, and by the fall of 1866, sixty-five
wagons laden with wire arrived in Utah, and by Decem-
ber 1st the line between Ogden and Salt Lake City was
completed, and the first message sent over it by Presi-
dent Young. By the middle of January, 1867, 500 miles
of wire had been laid at a cost of S150.00 per "iile
From that time on offices were rapidly opened in all
parts of the Territory. On the 23rd of October, 18. ,
the line was extended to Pioche, Nevada, (ong.na ly
included in Utah, and first settled by the Mormons) for
which the thanks of the citizens were sent to President
Young whose public-spirited enterprise, in placing them
in communication with the outer world, made them feel
that they had escaped from barbarism to civilization.
The building of this telegraph is a striking example of
his ability to direct men and their labors.

His enterprise and far-sightedness was even more
fully exemplified in the building of the Union Pacific
and in the construction of local branch railways, a few
years later. As early as 1847, he not only thought that
ihe building of a trans-continental iron-way was feasible
but actually marked out the route over which such a
road would pass. That the track of the Union Pacific is
laid, for hundreds of miles, on the route that he
pioneered, is proof of his mind's comprehensiveness and
penetration on this question: and that -7;'-'^^"^°,
rities have- pronounced it the best that could be selected
is an evidence of his sound judgment in civil engineer-
ing He told Mr. Reed, one of the early exploring
engineers of the Union Pacific, that the best route for a
railroad would be up the Platte River to the J"-tion of
the North and Soath Platte, then up the North Plat e
to the Platte Bridge, over the hills to the Sweetwater to

144 THE LIFE OF BBIGHAM YOUNG.

South Pass, through the Pass and then by the most
direct route to Green River, thence up the Muddy and
by way of Bear River to Echo Canyon, and then down
the Weber.

How near he marked out the future path of the iron
steed across the plains, the traveler may judge for himself.
And yet it must be remembered that when he chose the
pioneer route he had never crossed the country. In its
choice, as in the selection of a spot for the central city
of his people, he was led by a Higher Power than he
himself possessed, cal] it intuition, apprehension, ready
insight, or by its right name, the inspiration of the Spirit
of God.

A prejudice existed in the minds of some people in
the east in regard to the feelings of the Mormons and
their leader in having a railroad pass through Utah, the
former asserting that the latter were opposed to it. As
we have seen, however, the Mormons were the first,
long before the project was seriously considered by
others, to favor it. As a standing and irrefutable
testimony that its advent was desired by them is the
fact that President Young took a contract to complete
the grading of the highway from the head of Echo
Canyon to Salt Lake Valle3^ ^^ t^i^ contract, which
amounted to about two and a quarter million dollars,
and from which the distinguished contractor is said to
have realized about $800,000.00, was included the heavy
stone work of the bridge abutments, and the cutting of
the tunnels in Weber Canyon. Notwithstanding that
the company, which was to pay a certain per cent, of the
amount monthly, as the work progressed, failed at first
to live up to their promises, the contract was faithfully
executed; and it was acknowledged by railroad men that

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 145

nowhere on the line could the grading compare in com-
pleteness and finish with the work done by the people of
Utah."

On the 8th of March, 1869, the Territory, gathered
at the City of Ogden, greeted the arrival of the iron horse
with shouts of, "Utah bids you welcome." "Hail to
the great national highway."

Two months and two days later, at Promontory, on
the northern shore of the Great Salt Lake, the last rail
was laid, the last spike was driven that welded into one
the Union and the Central Pacific Railroads. The
American continent was banded by a pathway of iron.
The guns boomed in the west, the bells tolled in the
east, and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf flashed the
joyful electric tidings of the marriage of the two oceans,
which clasped hands and gave their nuptial kiss in Utah,
the land of the Mormons.

Only seven days after this event, ^lay 17th, 1869,
ground was broken near Ogden for the construction of
the Utah Central Railroad. President Young cut the first
sod with a spade, while it is customary to break ground
with a pick. He said that he believed in using the most
suitable tool. He was president of the company, which
was organized on March 8th, 1869. The road was built
by the people, and was purely a Mormon enterprise.
The last spike was driven by President Young on the
10th of January, 1870, amid the rejoicing of thousands of
people, when he had read an address, in which he called
attention to the poverty of the Saints on their arrival in
the valley, with no friend save God, and yet without
assistance they had built homes, cities, farms, dug canals,
water ditches, subdued the countrj^. fed the stranger,
clothed the naked, emigrated the poor, making them

146 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

comfortable and even rich, fed and clothed the Indians,
and now built a railroad. The Territory was not the
first dollar in debt. "Who has helped us to do all this?
I will answer this question. It is the Lord Almighty.
What are the causes of our success in all this? Union
and oneness of purpose in the Lord. "

Rolling stock and material to the value of $600,000
were obtained on account of amounts due President Young
from the Union Pacific, and thus was the road equipped.
Then followed the building of the Utah Southern,
(May, 1871), and the Utah Northern, (September 1871,)
in the construction of which the President took a leading
and directing part.

The sagacit}' of President Brigham Young is made
plain in the commercial history of Utah. The early pros-
perity of commerce in the Territory may be assigned to a
train of providential circumstances. The famine of 1856
had left the people almost destitute, but the establishment
of Camp Floyd was a financial blessing to the people. Its
evactuation was the basis for the "start" which the
merchants received in 1861. At that time over four
million dollars worth of merchandise was sold to dealers
for about $100,000.00. Thereafter, great progress was
made in merchandising and there were merchants with
almost unlimited credit in the east. But ail the profits
were going to individuals, and it was the spirit of the
Saints to be alike, to share equal, to be in a degree
socialistic. This was the view that the Prophet Joseph
had taken in Kirtland, which ended in financial trouble.
In material affairs. President Young could take no other
view — the welfare of the whole people first, individuals,
who would necessarily thrive with the community, after;
that was the spirit of his teachings, and it was not con-

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 147

sidered best for individuals to engage in merchandising
since it tended to class distinction. The whole commun-
ity were to be equal — trade was necessary, but it must
be carried on for the benefit of all. The President could
observe that as the railroad approached great financial
and social changes would take place. To guard the
money interests of the people, as well as to insure their
temporal supremacy, he saw that there must be union in
temporal as well as in spiritual things. Hence his an-
nouncement, early in 1868, "that it was advisable that
the people of Utah should become their own merchants."

Then followed the organization of Zion's Co-operative
Mercantile Institution, which began business early in
1869. President Young's interest for the whole people
came in contact with the self-interest of the few, and this
came nearly causing a serious rupture with the merchants
of those days, and was really a leading cause of the
"Godbeite" schism but the policy of the leader tri-
umphed, and no person today will question the value that
co-operation has been to the Mormons, not only in dollars
and cents, but, financial supremacy and prestige.

The parent house of Z. C. M. I. in Salt Lake City
was organized, followed by the establishment of several
important branches, besides co-op. stores in nearly every
settlement, some of which, however, either through bad
management or through the financial panic of 1873
went under. The parent institution has an enormous
trade,* and with kindred institutions constitutes the

*"That the institution has met with success in a commercial sense equal
to the brightest hopes of its founders will not be disputed when it is stated
that during its twenty-one years' existence, including the year 1>^91, its sales
aggregated the enormous sum of $69,146,881.06, and that up to the 5th
of May, 1892, it had paid in cash and stock dividends *2,059,874.07."
Whitney's History of Utah, Vol. 2., p. 293

148 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

temporal bulwark of the Mormons. It has helped
materially to preserve them as a community; it has
earned for them a financial influence abroad, while it has
maintained a uniformity in prices, and has been a ballast
to trade at home; it has held the money resources of the
people within themselves, and in a great measure it has
insured the social unit}' of the Saints. Carried out
strictl}' as President Young intended, the idea would
have strengthened each of these .bonds to a much greater
degree; and today the Mormons would have been more
on an equality, more united, and a stronger and happier
community than they are; though, even as matters exist,
their parallel in these respects, cannot be found on the
face of the earth.

10. PERSECUTION AND ARREST.

Not long at a time was President Young left in
peace. His days seem to have been full of persecution.
The power which he wielded over the people did not
please his enemies, who often constituted themselves a
missionary band to break it down. Of course, they
failed, but their efforts were not without annoyance to
him at a time when his past splendid work should have
served as a bulwark of peace to him.

The anti-polygamy law, passed by Congress in 1862,
was considered unconstitutional by the Saints After
they had made every effort to prove it so, it was finally
decided by the highest authority in the land that it was
in accord with the Constitution, when, as we have seen,
the practice of polygamy was suspended by them. As
early as 1863 there was an effort made to arrest the

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

149

President on the charge of violating the law of .1862.
Governor Harding, aided by the federal judges, at that
time began his raid upon the people and their institution
of marriage. His career, however, was soon cut short
by removal, owing to the friendly attitude of President
Lincoln, who was a believer in the policy of letting the

Mormons alone.

Early in the fall of 1862 Colonel Connor had come
to Utah from California with several hundred troops,
purposely to protect the mail route over the plains, but
upon arrival he discovered that this had already been
done by Mormon volunteers, for whom the Government
had called on President Young; he found, thereupon,
that his mission was to watch and overawe the Mor-
mon people, the loyalty of whose leaders the Secretary of
war had discovered some pretext for doubting. The
Colonel had about 700 men, who had enlisted to f^gnt
Southern rebels. He founded Camp Douglas, and is
credited with being the "father of Utah mming He
did some good service with his troops in fighting Indians
on Bear River. His presence m the Territory seems to
have inspired Governor Harding to change hi^s friendly
policy towards the Mormons. There is no doubt that
Colonel Connor, who years after became very friendly
towards President Young, ofiering at one time to go his
bail for a million dollars, was at this time in sympathy
with the Governor, and now that there was talk of
arresting the President, there were also rumors of the
troops capturing him "to run him off to the States for
trial" This caused him to have armed guards about
his home, and likewise engendered a very bitter feeling
between the citizens and the soldiery, so much so that a
collision at one time seemed imminent. To avoid this.

150 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

President Young, at the proper time, permitted himself
to be taken before Justice Kinney, where he was bound
over. The grand jury failed to indict, owing to lack of
evidence, and thus ended that trouble, not, however,
without creating rumors in the east of another Utah war.

The part that the Governor took caused his dis-
missal, and for this President Lincoln gained the lasting
friendship of the Mormon people.

A period of political peace and good feeling now
followed, broken only by the desire of Colonel Connor to
establish a military in lieu of a civil government in
Utah, a scheme that utterly failed, and was followed by
kind sentiments between the citizens and soldiers.

President Lincoln died on the 14th of April, 1865,
and the Mormons mourned the loss of the best friend
they have ever had in the nation's presidential chair.
Solemn public services were held in the Tabernacle on
the day of the beloved leader's interment. New difficul-
ties now arose, or were about to arise.

In the summer of 1865, Hon. Schuyler Colfax,
Speaker of the House of Representatives, visited Utah.
He was tendered a cordial reception and demonstration
of welcome in Salt Lake City. During his stay he had
an interview with President Young, in which the subject
of polygamy came up for consideration. Mr. Colfax
hoped that the system would be abandoned, that the
Church would receive a new revelation putting a stop to
the practice. In such an event Utah would be admitted
as a State of the Union, otherwise no such admission
was possible. This was his friendly advice, repeated to
the public.

President Young defended the system from the scrip-
tures, maintaining it was not onl}' biblical, "but had.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 151

within proper limits, a sound moral and philosophical
reason and propriety." The discussion between them
"was general and sharp, though very good natured. "

The following day was Sunday, and the President
had consented to preach in the bowery before his visitors,
on the "Distinct Doctrines of Mormonism." This he
did. The speech did not please the Colfax party, nor in
fact the people, for it was a failure for some cause. Judg-
ing from the speech, the literary man of the party, Mr."
Bowles, a Boston journalist, concluded that while Brig-
ham Young was "a shrew^d business man, an able organ-
izer of labor, a bold, brave person in dealing with all
the practicalities of life," he was "in no sense an
impressive or effective speaker." In the latter judgment,
the critic was mistaken, for President Young was really
"an effective and impressive speaker" on most occasions,
but this time he was not half himself. Burton having
heard him on one occasion, in his "City of the Saints"
testifies of this: "The discourse began slowly, word
crept titubantl}' after word, and the opening phrases were
hardly audible; but as the orator warmed, his voice
rose high and sonorous, and a fluenc}' so remarkable
succeeded falter and hesitation, that although the
phenomenon is not rare in strong speakers the latter
seemed almost to have been a work of art. The manner
was pleasing and animated, and the matter fluent, im-
promptu, and well turned, spoken rather than preached.
* * * The gestures were easy and rounded,

not without a certain grace, though evidently untaught."

The Colfax party left for the west on June 19th. The
result of their visit was a better understanding of the
Mormons, with whom they were well pleased in all
respects, save in their practice of polygamy, with which

152 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

the}^ were deeply disgusted. The Speaker's determina-
tion as to the stand which the government should take
against it found vigorous administrative effect when
later he became Vice-President of the United States, and
the close and confidential adviser of the great warrior
President, Ulysses S. Grant. To this visit, and the deter-
mination formed, may be traced the beginning of the
judicial persecution that came upon President Young and
his people in 1870-1-2-3-4-5, not to say the inhuman
feeling that nearly resulted in determining the adminis-
tration to send the army to Utah, to sweep the practice
away by the bayonet.

President Grant was inaugurated on March 4th, 1869,
and the policy to let the Mormons alone was from now
on abandoned by the administration. Having settled the
slavery question, the President determined to solve the
Mormon problem, termed the "twin relic," by special
legislation and judicial machinery, or, these failing, by the
sword as the first had been determined. There were
persons who were responsible for his unfriendliness to the
Saints, first among whom was Vice-President Colfax,
whose advice to abandon polygamy, given some years
previously, the Saints had not heeded; secondly, the
Rev. J. P. Newman, a Methodist minister, the so-called
intellectual warrior Chaplain of the Senate, who came
from Washington to discuss polygamy with the Mormon
leader; and thirdly, the establishment, in 1870, of the
Liberal Party in Utah, the misrepresentations of which
backed the agitations and designs of the others.

Vice-President Colfax once more visited Utah, in
1869, but declined the hospitality of the people. Evi-
dently, he came to view the field once more before

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG. 153

beginning vigorous action, before deciding whether to let
the courts, officered by bitter foes to the Mormons, or the
army, with their bayonets, decide the fate of the Saints.
It was about this time that the Godbeite, or "new
movement" began in Salt Lake City. A number of
disaffected Mormons began to oppose President Youno",
and what they termed his "one man power," his temporal
leanings, exemplified in the organization of Z. C. M. I.,
the building of railroads and other secular enterprises.
These Elders were at length excommunicated, and their
withdrawal threatened a dangerous schism in the Church.
Mr. Colfax, whose visit occurred about three weeks
prior to the excommunication, heard of the prospective
schism, and considered it a good sign; he therefore
took pains to meet with the leaders of the movement,
and it is maintained by them that the answer which
Mr. Stenhouse, one of the heretics, gave to the Vice-
President's question: "Will Brigham Young fight?"
averted another Mormon war, or at least tempered the
spirit of the Vice-President to such an extent that he
decided that the Government should foster the schism,
and let it take the place of the army for the present.
Mr. Stenhouse's answer was: "For God's sake, Mr.
Colfax, keep the United States off." The seceding
Mormon Elders asked to be let alone to solve the
problem, with the countenance and favor of the Govern-
ment. "But this very movement against the parent
Church," says the Historian TuUidge, "composed of
Apostate ]\Iormon Elders and leading Salt Lake mer-
chants, prevented the interposition of the military arm,
and greatly changed and modified the original intentions
of the Government, as inspired by Vice-President

Colfax, and determined by President Grant."
11

154 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

From this new movement grew in time the Liberal
Party, a party composed entirely of non-Moromns and
apostates, whose bitter and unscrupulous warfare against
the Saints is almost without a parallel in the history of
political strife. Only the calm and cool judgment of
President Young and the patience and self-control of
the Mormons, averted a bloody and disastrous conflict.
The troubles which the members of this party, always
aided by conspirators at the seat of Government, were
enabled to bring. upon the whole people, will some day
appear as one of the strangest chapters in our national
history.

It was not long after the visit of Mr. Colfax that
the Cragun and Cullom bills were introduced into Con-
gress, but their animus over-reached itself, and on this
account, as well as a visit of Mr. Godbe, the leader of
the "new movement," to President Grant and Senator
Cullom, they failed of passage.

Then followed Dr. Newman's evangelical crusade,
his correspondence with President Young, in which the
latter's tact and intelligence, as well as superiority, is
beautifully illustrated, and the Doctor's defeat by
Apostle Pratt. The whole had the effect of setting the
minister more than ever against the Mormons; and since
he was a dear, personal friend of President Grant, the
reverend gentleman did much to promote the bitter
judicial crusade against the Saints that followed.

The Grant-Colfax administration, as stated, now
decided to abandon to some extent the proposed military
subjugation of the Territory, but to go to war in deadly
earnest against Mormonism through appointed federal
officers. To begin with the proper men were found in
J. Wilson Shaffer, and Chief Justice James B. McKean

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAJl YOUNG. " 155

the most determined foes that Utah ever had. Their
mission was not alone to depose Brigham Young, but it
was to overthrow Mormonism, "a mission," Judge
McKean is said to have remarked, "as high above my
mere duty as judge as heaven is above the earth." Says
the historian Whitney: "They not only strained every
energy of their souls, every function of their offices and
every power of the law, but where the law fell short they
eked it out with legislation of their own, usurping
powers and functions that did not pertain to their
offices, and by acting as arbitrary despots covered them-
selves and the cause they represented with more or less
reproach. These facts were apparent not only to the
Mormons, but to many Gentiles as well. We speak
more particularly of Judge McKean, whose career in
Utah was much the longer."

The administration sent out soldiers to act as a
"moral force" in the protection of Gentiles and
apostates, and so that the "oppressed" might find a
shield. Camp Rawlins, near Provo, was thus formed.

The first move on the part of the Governor was to
forbid the muster of the territorial militia, he being, by
virtue of his office, Commander in Chief of the Nauvoo
Legion. Without authority of the Legislature and con-
trary to law, the Governor took it upon himself, also,
to dismiss Lieutenant-General Daniel H. Wells, and
appoint P. E. Connor Major-General of the militia of
Utah. Then he issued a proclamation disarming and
practically disbanding the Mormon militia. He was
carrying out his threat to depose President Young as
Governor de facto of Utah. He had said upon arriving:
"Never after me shall it be said that Brigham Young is
Governor of Utah." He considered that the Mormon

156 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

militia, instead of being under the control of the Gover-
nor, was under the authority of the Church or Brigham
Young, hence his attack. The Provo riot and other
unlawful acts followed, so that a constant agitation was
continued.

On the 31st of October, 1870, the Governor died,
but his successors followed in his footsteps. In the
summer of 1871 George L. Woods became Governor.
He pursued the same policy as his predecessors towards
the militia. The acting Governor under him, Secretary
Black, commanded "that all persons except United
States troops desist from participating in or attempting
to participate in any militar}' drill, muster or parade, of
any kind, at any place within said territory, from and
after this date (June 30. 1871), or until it shall be other-
wise ordered and commanded by the Governor and Com-
mander in Chief of the militia of the Territory of Utah."
The command was brought out from the fact that some
of the militia were asked to participate in a Fourth of
July celebration, which was thus forbidden them.

Judge McKean had not failed to fill his part of the
program, and the disbanding of the militia was but a
prelude, doubtless considered necessary for safety, to
the judicial invasion of the people's rights brought
about by his high-handed acts. He made the dead
Cullom bill his guide and law, disgracing his office "in
a manner to which the world can furnish no parallel,"
until the Supreme Court of the United States reversed
his decisions.* At length every step was ready for the

* In reviewing Judge McKean's administration, George Caesar Bates, Esq.,
United States District Attorney for Utah, says: "Appointed through the
Jesuitical influence of the Methodist Church, and sustained by the combined
bigotry of the land, his downfall only came Ihrough the sheer recklessness
of his despotic and brutal career.

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 157

consummation of the climatic act of the Judge's ambi-
tion— the indictment, arrest and trial of President Brig-
ham Young. He, with other leading iMormons, was to
be tried, not for polygamy under the Congressional act
of 1862, but for lewd and lascivious cohabitation under a
territorial law which he, himself, as Governor, had
approved, and which, of course, was never intended to
apply to plural marriages.

The Utah Penitentiary, a Territorial institution, was
taken and placed in the hands of the United States
Marshal. Jurors for the fall term of the Third District
Court had been chosen — in an illegal way, be it said —
no Mormons being admitted. Everything being thus in
readiness even the "moral force" of the army was not
lacking. President Young was arrested on Monday,
October 2nd, ISTl. He w^as ill at the time, and could
not leave his home, hence, through the kindness of the
Marshal, he was allowed to remain there, being per-
mitted to answer to the call of the court as soon as he
was able. He appeared on the 9th, and was admitted
to bail in the sum of S5,000.00.* Defendant's counsel

"A careful search of the records will reveal how, through such instru-
mentalities as those of packed grand and petit juries, a corrupt judge, a pre-
tended United States District Attorney, appointed by that judge, and the
states evidence of an atrocious murderer, who purchased his own immunity
from justice by his perjury, it was intended to consummate the judicial
murder of Brigham Young, Mayor Wells, of Salt Lake City, Hosea Stout,
Joseph A. Y''oung and other leading Mormons, on charges the most absurd
and untrue.'"

*0f his appearance, the Salt Lake Tribune, his bitterest enemy, said :
•' There can be no doubt that the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints made several very good points yesterday. His being there
a quarter of an hour before Judge McKean, patiently waiting his coming,
was very wisely arranged and looked well on an occasion which opens a

158 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

plead that "he can only be indicted for the crime afore-
said by a Grand Jury duly selected, drawn, summoned
and impaneled according to the laws of the Territory of
Utah. That said Grand Jury, by whom said pretended
indictment was found, was not drawn according to said
law; but an open venire was issued."

A motion was made to quash the indictment on the
ground that it contained sixteen counts for the same
offense. Then came arguments pro and con which con-
tinued for several days, when Judge McKean finally
rendered a decision on the various points in question, a
decision that created a profound sensation. Why?
Because in it was this extraordinary announcement: "It
is therefore proper to say, that while the case at bar is
called The People vs. Brigham Young, its other and real
title is, Federal Authority vs. Polygamic Theocracy."

So it seemed that notwithstanding the complaint, he
was arrested not for unlawful cohabitation — not for a
personal crime, but for polygamy, the grand offense of
the whole people, and yet he was to be tried under a
law for adultery. " In short, " says the Historian Whitney,
"instead of an action brought by the public prosecutor
against Brigham Young, as a person, it was, according

series of circumstances destined to form a chapter of history. His appearance
in court too — his jquietude, and an altogether seeming absence of a spirit
chafing with rage at being brought to trial, evidently made a good impression.
* * * It is evident that President Young thus coming to court, and
his resolution to abide every trial, and contest the charges brought against
him, constitutionally through his counsel, was the very wisest course he
could have taken. ♦ * * Perhaps there was more respect and
sympathy felt for Brigham Young wl en he left the court room, feeble and
tottering from his recent illness, having respectfully sat in the presence of his
judge three-quarters of an hour after bail had been taken, than ever there
was before in the minds of the same men."

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 159

to Judge McKean, a crusade inaugurated by the United
States Government against the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. It was this that created the sensa-
tion; and not only in Utah among the Mormons, but in
other parts of the country the extraordinary language of
the Chief Justice was commented upon and severely
criticised. "

On October 16th, the defendant having plead not
guilty, further proceedings were postponed to give both
sides an opportunity to prepare. It was understood the
case would not be called up before the following March
term. In the meantime other indictments charging lead-
ing Mormons with murder, were ground out by the grand
jury, on the false testimony of the notorious Bill Hick-
man. Daniel H. Wells was thus arrested. President
Young was indicted under this charge, on the 28th of
October, but he departed for his yearly visit to Southern
Utah soon thereafter and was therefore not arrested.
He was accused of being accessor}^ to the murder of one
Richard Yeates, November 15, 1857, during the
"Buchanan War."

When he left Salt Lake City, first obtaining the
counsel of his attorneys, for the south, he was not aware
of this indictment, which had secretly lain in the Judge's
pocket for a month, and departed expecting to return in
time to answer to the charge of lascivious cohabitation
in March. Consequently it was a matter of grave sur-
prise to all when, on the 20th of November, his case was
suddenly called for hearing. His attorney asked for a
postponement, basing his request on the promise of the
court implying a grant of time until the opening of the
March term. The prosecuting attorney wished to proceed,
however, and finally persisted in demanding a forfeiture

160 THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG.

of the bond, notwithstanding counsel for defense declared
he would be ready for trial on reasonable notice. The
prosecuting attorney argued that the defendant had
absconded, intimating that it was owing to the murder
indictment. He then demanded the forfeiture of the bond
as a legal right. At last it was agreed to set the time for
hearing for December 4th.

Meanwhile it was published throughout the land that
President Young had fled from justice, and extravagant
tales were told of his conduct and whereabouts, that
evidently being the object of calling the case so early and
suddenl3^

On the day set for the trial, a new district attorney,
Mr. Bates, was present and took his oath of office. The
case was brought up, but the defendant not being present,
it was decided to re-call and press it for trial on the 9th
of January.

President Young, hearing that he had been indicted,
came from St. George, of his own accord, and without
warning, to answer to the charges, appearing before the
Judge, in court, on the 2nd day of January, 1872. His
accuser were greatly surprised, it is said, at the sudden
return of the alleged fugitive from justice; their surprise,
however, was more in the nature of a disappointment.
Their object in making themselves and the nation
believe that he had fled, was of course to call in question
his courage and honor, which they succeeded in doing^
not to the desired extent, in certain quarters. But here
he stood, the lion of the hour, to confound his enemies,
and their wicked aspersions upon his noble character.
He "had returned to surrender himself to his persecutors,
to face in open court his accusers and stand trial before
a biased judge and a hostile jury upon the charges that

THE LIFE OF BEIGHAM YOUNG. 161

had been laid at his door. Yes, it was even so; in spite
of every prediction and expectation of his enemies to the
contrary, the Mormon leader had come back, as he in-
tended doing when he departed; though his return, in
order to redeem his pledge, to relieve his bondsmen, and
to honor the requisition of the law, was fully two months
earlier than he had anticipated at starting. Nearly 400
miles in mid- winter, traveling almost the entire distance
by team, through mud and sleet, through frost and snow
and winter's biting blasts, he had come to confront and
confound his foes."

His attorney asked that he be admitted to bail, to
which the U. S. Attorney replied that it was left with
the discretion of the court, but if bail were accepted, he
(the attorney) would ask that it be fixed at $500,000.00.
This amount was $400,000.00 more than was required of
Jefferson Davis, by the Chief Justice of the United States,
for the high crime of treason, and President Young's
attorney protested.

Judge McKean gave his decision, in which he said:
The defendant now at the bar is reputed to be the owner
of several houses in this city. If he shall choose to put
under the control of the Marshal some suitable building
in which to be detained, it will be for the Marshal to
decide whether or not he will accept it. It is at the
option of the defendant to say whether or not he will
make such an offer, and equally at the option of the
Marshal to say whether or not he will accept it. In any
event, where or however the defendant may be detained,
the Marshal will look to it that his every comfort be pro-
vided for, remembering that the defendant is an old man.
I decline to admit the defendant to bail."

In charge of the U. S. Marshal, President Young

162 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

passed out greeted on every hand by the mulititude who
pressed forward to see the noble veteran, or grasp his
hand in friendly sympathy. The Marshal permitted him to
remain a prisoner in his own home, where he was guarded
by deputies, treated with due courtesy, and permitted
every reasonable comfort.

On January 9th, the day set for the trial, the U. S.
District Attorney, at the suggestion of the Attorney
General, asked for a continuance of all court business,
because there was no money to carry on the work. The
court accordingly ordered all criminal and civil causes,
that were to be tried before juries, continued until the
second Monday in March.

The charges never came to trial. Before President
Young's cases were reached, the Supreme Court of the
country, in the famous Englebrecht liquor case, decided,
April 15th, 1872, that the jury in that case "was not
selected and summoned in conformity with law." This
applied to nearly all other cases which Judge McKean
and the crusaders had busied themselves with for the
past twenty months. On the 80th of April, the assistant
district attorney of the Third District Court moved the
release of all persons held under indictments found by
grand juries impaneled under the illegal method. This
was granted. President Young was previously, on
April 25th, given his freedom, on a writ of habeas cor-
pus before Judge Elias Smith of the Probate Court of
Salt Lake County.

Thus ended these indictments against the Mormon
leader, to the great chagrin and dishonor of his enemies.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 163

11. ONE DAY IN THE PENITENTIARY.

But Judge McKean still seemed determined to wreak
his vengeance on the Founder of Utah. The opportunity
offered itself, but it cost the Judge his place. It pro-
voked his own doom.

On the 28th of July, 1873, the famous Ann Eliza
Webb Young, the alleged "nineteenth" wife of President
Young, planted a divorce suit in Judge McKean's court.
She set forth that defendant, Brigham Young, was in
receipt of an income of about $40,000.00 per month, and
asked that $1,000.00 per month be set aside for her
support. The case remained in court for nineteen
months, when,' on February 25th, 1875, the Judge
directed that defendant pay the plaintiff $3,000.00 to aid
in prosecuting her suit for divorce, and that he also pay
her the further sum of $500.00 per month for the main-
tenance of herself and her two children, to begin from the
date of the filing of the complaint. Ten days were
given the defendant to pay the first amount, and twenty
days in which to pay the accumulated alimony, amounting
now to $9,500.00. The defendant hesitated in complying
with the order, appealing to the Supreme Court.

At the -expiration of the time, plaintiff's counsel ob-
tained an order of attachment requiring the defendant to
come into court and show cause why he should not be
punished for contempt. On the 11th of March, President
Young appeared personally to make answer. Through
his attorney, he disclaimed all intention to disregard or
treat contemptuously the order of the court, and prayed
to be discharged until the appeal to the Supreme Court
had been determined. His counsel also asked that de-
fendant, being in poor health, might be permitted to

164 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

withdraw, on his own recognizance or on a bond, while
the arguments were being heard. This the Judge
refused, because he desired, evidently that the victim of
his foreordained program should be present when the
issue came. After the arguments, which, with the pre-
liminaries, lasted three hours, the Judge delivered his
decision adjudging the defendant guilty of contempt,
inflicting a fine of $25.00, and ordering him to be im-
prisoned twenty-four hours.

After the rendering of the decision the $3,000.00
was paid to the plaintiff's counsel, and the unparalleled
outrage of sending the defendant to prison was indig-
nantly, but without demonstration, witnessed by the
excited citizens.

The imprisonment of a man seventy-four years of
age, in ill health, for an offense which was not intended,
and under a decision subsequently determined to be
illegal, was pronounced by all, regardless of party, as a
mean, unmagnanimous act. But the Judge evidently
wished to humiliate the man he hated. In this he failed,
for President Young, with the calm dignity so character-
istic of him, maintained his composure, was not in the
least disconcerted, nor in the slightest uneasy or excited.
With a quiet demeanor, indicating his superiority, he
left the court in custody of an officer, drove to his
residence, ate his dinner, supplied himself with bedding,
and was then conveyed, accompanied by many friends,
through a heavy storm, to the penitentiary. Here he
was at firet placed with thieves and criminals, but after-
wards given a private room where he passed the night
in comparative comfort. Next day, March 12th, he was
liberated and escorted to the city amid a multitude of
friends.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 165

The press of the country strongly condemned the" act
of Judge McKean. He had been prosecuting polygamists
for adultery, and now, by his decision in this case, he
acknowledged a polygamous marriage as legal, by grant-
ing alimony. It was more than even the administration,
which should have removed the Judge when the Supreme
Court checked his former illegal methods by reversing
his decisions, could tolerate, and on the 16th announce-
ment was made that President Grant had appointed a
new Chief Justice, Judge McKean having been removed
because of his fanatical and extreme conduct, and
because of several acts of his which the President con-
sidered ill-advised, tyrannical, and in excess of his powers
as Judge. Thus sank Judge McKean never to rise again,
except to be detested in the memory of a people for
whom he harbored a deadly hate. That feeling has
today given way to pity and forgiveness, even as Presi-
dent Young was magnanimous enough to forgive and pity
him when he subjected the great founder to what the
zealous missionary Judge supposed was a great humilia-
tion.

Of the Ann Eliza case it need only be said that
when it came to trial at last, April 20th 1877, Judge
Shaeffer decreed the polygamous marriage between the
two to be null and void, and he directed "that all orders
for temporary alimony which had not been complied
with, paid or collected, be revoked and annulled, and
assessed the cost of the suit against the defendant."

166 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

12. HIS CLOSING YEARS.

The days of Brigham Young were drawing to a
close. Until the last, however, he was busy with work
for the advancement and welfare of the Latter-day
Saints. Up to the end, he was interested in the coloni-
zation of the country. Utah was now dotted in all parts
with thriving settlements of Latter-day Saints. In 1873,
a move was made to colonize Arizona. Missionaries from
all parts of the Territory of Utah ■ were called for this
purpose, and they met in Salt Lake City on the 8th of
March to receive the needed instructions of the great
and experienced colonizer. It was not long thereafter
until organized companies were seen wending their way
south. On being asked concerning this move, by some
publisher from the east. President Young thus explains
the motive: "We intend establishing settlements in
Arizona, in the country of the Apaches, persuaded that
if we become acquainted with them we can influence
them to peace in accordance with President Grant's
Indian policy, and open up that country to the settle-
ment of the whites. Our cities, towns and villages now
extend about four hundred miles in that direction, and,
in view of the railroad crossing that country, we hope
to be prepared to assist in its construction, and when
completed bring a large portion of our emigration that
way to settle the country."

The colonizers at first met with failure, but their
efforts resulted in the experience which finally led to
success, and at present Arizona contains several Stakes
and many thriving settlements of the Latter-day Saints.

The founder of Utah was a strong advocate and a
f.rm friend of education, in its true sense. "Every

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 167

accomplishment, " said he, "every polished grace, every
useful attainment in mathematics, music, and in all science
and art belong to the Saints, and they should avail them-
selves as expeditiously as possible of the wealth of
knowledge the sciences offer to every diligent and
persevering student." Besides aiding in the establish-
ment of the Deseret University, he was the founder of
two of the leading educational institutions in the Terri-
tory— the Brigham Young Academy of Provo, and the
Brigham Young College of Logan. The former dates its
history from October 16, 1875, on which day the founder
executed a deed of trust of certain buildings and grounds
in Provo City, to a board of seven trustees, with provi-
sions for perpetuating the organization. To aid in
sustaining the institution thus founded, he conveyed
other premises to the trustees, on his birthday in 1877.

On July 24th, 1877, he deeded to the trustees of the
Logan institution, which w^as that day founded, a tract
of land consisting of 9642 acres, located south of Logan
City, the rents, profits and issues of which were to be
used for the support of the Brigham Young College.

He w^as inspired to organize the Young Men's and
Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations, and to
give the key note to the work expected of them, which
work began in the summer of 1875, and which has grown
until these societies of the 3'oung now number among
their members tens of thousands of the sons and daugh-
ters of the Mormons. He took the liveliest interest in the
Sunda}' schools, and the children who greeted him with
honor whenever he appeared in the settlements of the
Saints were his pride and joy and his dear friends.
There are tens of thousands who have stood in line to
greet him, who now revere his memory, and other sixty

168 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

thousand, now in childhood, who have learned to love
his name.*

He lived to see completed, and to dedicate, the first
temple in the midst of the Rocky Mountains. In April,
1877, he saw the temple at St. George fully dedicated
and prepared for the administration of holy ordinances
for the living and the dead, himself setting it in order.

He devoted his last days to the completion of the
organization of the Church, setting in order the Priest-
hood, and organizing the various Stakes of Zion, accord-
ing to the pattern revealed from heaven, thus giving a
government to the Latter-day Saints which is the admira-
tion of all who make it a study. He finished this work
on the Sunday preceding his death. He showed the
people the beaut}^, helpfulness, and harmony of their
religion, and in his constant and untiring labors among
them, he made the gospel a living force, full of power
and marvelous beauty — "a perfect law of libert}^, compre-
hending lite and light, justice and judgment." He
visited in all seasons and weathers, instructing, counsel-
ing, advising, correcting and encouraging his people, on
all kinds, of subjects, simple and profound, temporal and
spiritual, both in public and private. Whether in
matters affecting the common affairs of life, or those
involving the dearest interests of humanity, in his inter-
course with the people, he was ever kind and patient,
manifesting deep wisdom and fatherly solicitude. Thus

* " When questions pregnant with great events pressed hard, he was
able to build upon the firm foundation of wisdom and justice, forecast the
future, meet the demands of the present, and then in a breath show his
confidence in God, his freedom from care, by caressing the lips of innocent
childhood and tenderly winning the love of babes." — Moses Thatcher.

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 169

he endeared himself to the Saints, in whose hearts love
has deeply enshrined his memory.

Honored and beloved, ripe in age, surrounded by his
family, to cheer, wait upon, and administer to him, he
passed peacefully to rest. He died at -i o'clock p.m.,
August 29th, 1877. He said to those around him: "You
are so good," and his last words were, "Joseph, Joseph,
Joseph." "His departure was like the falling asleep of
a little infant. No tremor, no contortions; but as peace-
ful and as quiet, as still as if it were indeed the most
gentle slumber. "

Over 25,000 persons viewed his remains lying in
state in the Tabernacle, and over 30,000 came from all
parts of the Territory to attend the funeral ceremonies
which were held on the 2nd of September, 1877. It was
a fine, calm Sabbath day, and the sun shone with beauty
from, a cloudless, lovely sky. Memorial services were held
everywhere throughout the Territory and wherever
colonies of the Saints existed.

His mortal remains rest in a private cemetery, on
an elevation a short distance north-east of the Eagle
Gate, commanding a splendid view of Salt Lake City, and
the valley south and wezt. There is no monument over
his unpretentious grave, possibly from the fact that "Brig-
ham Young needs no monument to perpetuate his name
and character, save that which he himself, by his own
works and virtues, has reared in the hearts of his people."

His spirit is with God who gave it; the stamp of
his genius, his work, his master mind, his public-spirited-
ness, is sealed upon every enterprise in the common-
wealth: his goodness, greatness and large-heartedness.
upon every heart which knew, or which has learned to
know him.

170 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.

President Brigham Young was the father of fift3^-six
children, and left seventeen wives, sixteen sons, and
twent3'-eight daughters, to perpetuate his name and
greatness in the earth. As a husband and father, he was
kind and loving. His family were as deeply devoted to
him as he was to them, and their affection for him
speaks in loud praise of his kindness, goodness and
fatherly care.

In stature, he was a little above the medium height.
In personal appearance, he was stately, having a compact
and well-knit frame, inclined to portliness. His fea-
tures were a pleasant study, regular, sharp, well-formed,
witli clear grey eyes, a broad forehead, a changeable
expression varying according to circumstances from a
smile which revealed a heart full of deep sympathy, love
and affection, to a stern, cold look indicating strong'will,
self-reliance, and a master at rebuke, — the "Lion of the
Lord," as he was often called. Says Apostle Moses
Thatcher: "If he was compelled to disappoint anyone,
how kindly he could explain the reason for so doing!
And yet, with all his tenderness, how terrible was his
rebuke when moved upon by the Holy Ghost." Of his
manner and address, Bancroft says that "he was easy
and void of affectation, deliberate in speech, conveying
his original and suggestive ideas in apt though homely
phrase." Mrs. Lippincott (Grace Greenwood) says of
his appearance, in the Tabernacle at a mass meeting,
that she was greatly surprised: "I could not recognize
the picture so often and elaborately painted. I did not
see a common, gross-looking person, with rude manners,
nd a sinister, sensual countenance, but a well dressed,

THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 171

dignified old gentleman, with a pale, mild face, a clear
gray eye, a pleasant smile, a courteous address, and
withal a patriarchal, paternal air, which of course he
comes rightl}^ by. In short I could see in his face or
manner none of the profligate propensities and the dark
crimes charged against this mysterious, masterly, many-
sided and many-wived man."

His actions toward the sufferers of the great
Chicago fire illustrated his broad practical philanthropy
with as much force as when, in the exodus, with his
sick child in his arms, he shared his scanty rations with
the women and children who held out heir hands for
bread. When the news of this startling conflagration
reached Salt Lake City, his response with that of his
people to the call for relief was as heart}' as it was
generous. In the midst of severe persecution, brought
about by Judge McKean, he set his own difficulties
aside, and headed the subscription list of Utah's relief
oflering to the Chicago suflerers, amounting to about
$20,000, with a donation of Si, 000. Says Grace Green-
wood, who was in the city of the Saints at the time:
"There is to me, I must acknowledge, in this prompt
and liberal action of the Mormon people, something
strange and touching. It is Hagar ministering to Sarah;
it is Ishmael giving a brotherly lift to Isaac."

In language, President Young was outspoken and
plain; he never minced matters with anyone, high or
low, nor treated the simplest honest member of the
Church with less deference than the greatest of the many
distinguished men and women who called upon him
from all parts of the earth. He spoke openl}', and none
could mistake his meaning. Says Judge Hosea Stout:
"He does all his sly deeds before the assembled

172 THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

multitude. * * * j ^^^y ^^y ^^^^ ^^ produce

one solitary example of chicanery or double-dealing in
his character or career." Burton says: "His manner is
at once affable and impressive, simple and courteous, —
shows no sign of dogmatism, — impresses the stranger
with a certain sense of power."

He had an excellent memory, and was a good judge
of character. His mind was as capable of grasping and
deciding upon great questions as it was fitted to direct in
the smallest details of life's everyday affairs. Says Apostle
Thatcher: "The scope of his mind seemed limitless. *
* * He could speak the language of the stars,

discourse eloquently regarding the organization of worlds;,
and then in simple terms direct how to plow and plant,
reap and sow." At his funeral, President George Q.
Cannon said that "he has been the brain, the eye, the
ear, the mouth and hand for the entire people of the
Church. ^ ^ ^ Nothing was too small for his
mind; nothing was too large. His mind was of that
character that it could grasp the greatest subjects, and
yet it had the capacity to descend to the minutest
details. "

His sermons were as practical and full of common
sense, as his demeanor was calm and devoid of extrava-
gance and affectation. He discussed upon the highest
philosophy and upon doctrine the most profound, but in
the same sermon, taught his hearers how to beautify their
homes, how to build cities, how to redeem the desert.
The embodiment of his religion was to do good here upon
this earth, and he put his doctrine into practice. "The
Lord does not thank you for your alms, "said he, "long
prayers, sanctimonious speeches and long faces, if you
refuse to extend the hand of benevolence and charity to

THE LIFE OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. 173

your fellow-creatures, and lift them up, and encourge and
strengthen the feeble."

The people, from whom he sprung, and with whom
he had always mingled, sought his advice for its wisdom
and moderation, and loved him for his hearty, genial, lofty
soul, no less than for his conscientious course and deep
convictions of right and justice. "He has had to settle
difficulties with thousands, and where is the man, Mormon
or anti-Mormon, who ever appealed to him for the
decision of a case but was satisfied with the result?"

He had faults, because he was mortal and doubtless
these appeared grave to his enemies, who were man}' and
bitter; but his virtues swallowed them up, and time is
reducing the animus of his diminishing foes to give place
to the admiration of his increasing hosts of friends.
Ranking among the immortal benefactors of his race, his
defects need no apologies, as his character needs.no
chiseled monument to mark its greatness.

In the whole mountain region of the west, we see
the traces of his marvelous genius and his still more
wonderful influence on the minds of his people, their
organizations and institutions. He stamped his opinions
on his day and age, and succeeding generations, gazing
through the clarifying glasses of time, will know the truth
even better than we, and link his name with the greatest
and the noblest characters of earth.

Sl^e follou/ipc^ booKs ^i^d pampl^lets are prir^ted apd
for 5al<? by ihjitti

GEORGE Q. CANNON & SONS CO.,

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH,

— —OR

A. H. CANNON, p. o. box n, ogden, utah.

Book of Mormon, a record of the ancient inhabit-
ants of America, morocco, extra gilt, $3.25;
calf grain, gilt, 2.50; English roan, 1.75; roan,
X.25, cloth $1.00

Doctrine and Covenants, containing the revela-
tions given to Joseph Smith for the guidance
of the Church, morrocco, extra gilt, 3.25; calf
gram, gilt, 2.50; English roan, 1.75; roan, 1.25;
cloth, 1.00

Latter-day Saint's Hymn Book, morocco, extra gilt
1.50; calf grain, gilt, 1.25; roan, .75; cloth 35

Voice of Warning, an introduction to the faith and
doctrines of the Latter-day Saints, morocco, extra
gilt, 1.65; calf grain, gilt, 1.25; leather, .50; cloth
stiff covers, 35 ; cloth, limp covers, 25

Orson Pratt's Works, a series of pamphlets on
the doctrines of the gospel, a book of 314 pages,
75

PEICE-LIST OF MORMON PUBLICATIONS.

The Life of JosephS mith, morocco, gilt, 5.00: lea-
ther gilt, 4. 00 ; cloth, 3.00

The Life of Brigham Young, leather, 1.00; cloth,

.50; paper, 25

A Brief History of the Church, leather. LOO;
cloth, . 50 ; paper, 25

Hand-Book of Reference to the history, chrono-
logy, religion and country of the Latter-day
Saints, 50

Mormon Doctrine, a plain and simple explanation
of the principles of the gospel, in twelve tersely-
written chapters^ with appendix giving scriptural
references, by Charles W. Penrose, 25

History of the Mormons and Manifesto in Regard
to Polygamy 05

Mr. Durant of Salt Lake City, "That Mormon,"
by Ben E. Rich, 1.25

Why We Practice Plural Mrrriage, by a Mor-
mon wife and mother — Helen Mar Whitney, paper
cover, 25

Morgan's Tracts, Nos. 1 and 2, on the Doctrines

J of the Gospel, each.... 08

The Modern Prophet, evidences of the divine
mission of Joseph Smith, 03

Spencer's Letters, exhibiting the most prominent
doctrines of the Latter-day Saints, morocco, gilt,
$2.25; calf grain, gilt, $1.60; roan, $1.25; cloth, 1.00

Historical and Descriptive Sketch of the Salt
Lake Temple, including the dedicatory prayer. .. .10

PEICE-LIbT OF MORMON PUBLICATIONS.

Does the Bible Sanction Polygamy? a discussion
between Elder Orson Pratt and Ur. J. P. New-
man, to which is added three discourses on celes-
tial marriage by Elders Orson Pratt. George A.
Smith and George Q. Cannon 25

Wonderlands of the Wild West, Description of
Life among the Mormons, by ex-U. S. Commis-
sioner to Utah, Hon. A. B. Carlton, cloth 2.00

The Martyrs, an account of the martyrdom of Jos-
eph and Hyrum Smith, with steel engravings of
these noble men, by.L. O. Littlefield 50

City of the Saints, containing views and descrip-
tions of principal points of intrest in Salt Lake
City, also brief sketches of history and religion of
the Latter-day Saints 25

From Kirtland to Salt Lake, an account of the
journeyings, of the Latter-day Saints from the
organization of the Church to the present time,
by James A. Little, 262 pages, (illustrated) lea-
ther, extra gilt, 2.50; leather, gilt, 2.00: cloth, .. 1.50-

Forty Years Among the Indians, by Daniel W.
Jones, 400 pages, leather gilt, 3.00; leather, 2.50;
cloth, 2.00

Whitney's History of Utah. Sold on subscription
only.

FOR SALE BY

GEORGE O. CANNON & SONS CO., Salt Lake City,

OR

A. H. CANNON, - P. O. Box N, Ogden, Utah.

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