Eliza-Ann Webb Dee Young, commonly known as his “runaway wife,” is his last wedded and nineteenth living wife. If his deceased wives were taken into consideration she would probably be his thirtieth. In this list I have put all the living wives who are sealed to Brigham for eternity first, and thus I count Eliza-Ann fifteen, but had I placed the proxy wives—who are only Brigham’s “for time,” in the list, she would, of course, be the “nineteenth,” as she is generally called.
“MISS” ELIZA R. SNOW.
[Number Sixteen.]
“Miss” Eliza R. Snow I mention here as I have not followed the order of date. She and the three ladies whose names I shall presently give, are the proxy wives of Brigham, living with him.
ZINA D. HUNTINGTON JACOBS YOUNG.
[Number Seventeen.]
Zina D. Huntington Jacobs Young is another proxy wife, and a widow of the Prophet Joseph. She, too, will have to be handed over in the day of reckoning. She has one grown up daughter, of whom I shall presently speak under rather interesting circumstances.
EMILY PARTRIDGE YOUNG.
[Number Eighteen.]
Emily Partridge Young is a tall, dark-eyed, handsome woman, and she also is a “proxy” wife—a relict of Joseph. When Joseph died, Brigham told his wives that they were at liberty to choose whom they would for husbands; and some of them showed their appreciation of his generosity by choosing him himself. Thus it was that Emily Partridge became Brigham’s wife. The Prophet has dealt kindly to his brother Joseph Smith, through her, for she has quite a family of children to be handed over with her. She was young and handsome when the Prophet died, but perhaps it would be wrong to suppose that that had anything to do with Brigham’s generosity to his brother, for it is generally believed that he took all those wives of Joseph, from pure principle.
AUGUSTA COBB YOUNG.
[Number Nineteen.]
Augusta Cobb Young is a very fine-looking woman, and must have been quite handsome in her youthful days. As I before stated, she formerly lived in Boston, but hearing Brigham preach, she fell in love with him, abandoned her home, children, and husband, and, taking her youngest child with her, went to Salt Lake City, and was married to the Prophet. It was she who, when Brigham began to neglect her, wanted to be sealed to Christ, but was ultimately added to the kingdom of Joseph Smith.
Now these are the Prophet’s wives—his real, living wives—nineteen in all. How many spiritual wives he has had it would be impossible to say. Probably he himself does not know their number.