the first wife.

My second wife, Nancy Bean, was the daughter of a wealthy farmer
who lived near Quincy, Illinois. She saw me on a mission and
heard me preach at her father's house. She came to Nauvoo and
stayed at my house three months, and grew in favor and was sealed
to me in the winter of 1845. My third and fourth wives were
sealed to me soon afterward in my own house. My third wife,
Louisa, was then a young lady, gentle and beautiful, and we never
had an angry word while she lived with me. She and her sister
Emeline were both under promise to be sealed to me.

One day Brigham saw Emeline and fell in love with her. He asked
me to resign my claims in his favor, which I did, though it
caused a struggle in my mind to do so, for I loved her dearly. I
made known to Emeline Brigham's wish, and went to her father's
house and used my influence with her to induce her to become a
member of Brigham's family. The two girls did not want to
separate from each other; however, they both met at my house at
an appointed time, and Emeline was sealed to Brigham, and Louisa
was sealed to me. Brother Amasa Lyman officiated at the ceremony.

At the same time Sarah C. Williams, the girl that I baptized in
Tennessee when but a child, at the house of Brother William Pace,
and who later came to Nauvoo, stood up and claimed a place in my
family. She is yet with me and is the mother of twelve children.
She has been a kind wife, mother, and companion.

By Louisa I had one son born, who died at the age of twelve. She
only lived with me one year after her babe was born. She then
told me that her parents were not satisfied to have a daughter
sealed to the one highest in authority and the other below her.
Their teasing caused us to separate, not as enemies, however. Our
friendship was never broken.

After we got to Salt Lake she offered to come back to me, but
Brigham would not consent. Her sister became a favorite with
Brigham, and remained so until he met Sister Folsom, who
captivated him to such a degree that he neglected Emeline, and
she died broken-hearted.

Plural marriages at first were not made public; they had to be
kept still. A young man did not know when he was talking to a
single woman. As far as Brigham was concerned, he had no wives at
his house, except his first wife, or the one that he said was his
first wife. Many a night have I gone with him, arm in arm, and
guarded him while he spent an hour or two with his young brides,