Item Detail
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Young, Margaret Pierce Whitesides
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1823-1907
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MSS SC 882
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1 fd. containing a typed transcript of Margaret Young's autobiography
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Margaret Pierce Whitesides Young was born in Ashton, Pennsylvania on April 18, 1823. As a young girl she took cold on the ice pond, developing a fever and heart trouble that kept her ill for many months and threatened her life. Two L.D.S. missionaries, through faith and a healing prayer, saved her. This event led the Pierce family to investigate the Church and in December, 1839, the family was baptized. Margaret's family opened their house to many missionaries and church leaders including Joseph and Hyrum Smith and Erastus Snow and his wife. On September 22, 1843, Margaret and her family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. In 1841, at the age of 18, Margaret married Morris Whitesides. However she was widowed after 7 months. On January 22, 1846, Margaret married Brigham Young. She was in the first company of Saints to enter the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Margaret had only one child, Morris Young, who was born on January 18, 1854. She spent her life participating in many social service activities and was praised by many for her selflessness. Margaret died on January 16, 1907 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Margaret Pierce Whitesides Young wrote her autobiography in December 1903. She spent her life mixing with many leaders of the Mormon Church and relates several experiences that help define the personalities of such people like Brigham Young and Eliza R. Snow. As a conclusion to her autobiography, Margaret writes her opinion and testimony on subjects like the Suffrage movement and plural marriage. Her autobiography also includes a small appendage written by family members that provides Margaret 's genealogical information. Polygamy, Pioneer women, Trek, Genealogy
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