In a recent thread today, a poster asked if the Mormons settlers who founded the Mexican colonias (colonies) were officially LDS-sanctioned (yep, they were, they were not fundamentalists). Cheryl then reminded us that many newer readers are unaware that not only were the Manifestos not enforced at the start, but also that existing polygamous families continued cohabitating until into the late 1960s.

Here then is a classic article by D. Michael Quinn about post-Manifesto polygamy. Worth a read!

http://www.mormonismi.net/kirjoitukset/quinn_moniavioisuus.shtml

This is one of the most important articles ever published about church history. (It's publication was also one of the reasons that Quinn was excommunicated.)

I've read many, many things concerning Mormonism. but Quinn's Post Manifesto writings are in a "league of their own."

I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know the "true character" of the "Brethen" and how they behave when no one is looking.

I have Van Wagoner's "Mormon Polygamy" book. In it he documents the last births of children into polyg families as late as the 1930s (feasible if a young plural wife was taken 1890s-1908) and that family units remained intact until the 1950s. He doesn't mention the Eyring trio (Edward C, Emma Romney, Caroline Cottam Romney) specifically, but I believe they are the last known surviving mainstream LDS polyg family. Caroline died in 1955. Emma and Edward survived until 1957.

Caroline's place of residence on her death certificate

http://images.archives.utah.gov/data/81448/4093689/4093689_0024.jpg

is in SLC (presumably the home of Mr and Mrs Spencer Kimball). Since she died of stomach cancer, it's quite possible she was brought to SLC for treatment (Phoenix was VERY small back then) and/or for comfort care by Camilla Eyring Kimball. Camilla is listed as informant on the certificate, and it appears that her usual abode was "Pima, Graham County, AZ" and that she'd resided in SLC for only three months. The address of death was the same as the address for Camilla Kimball, indicating she died at home and not in a hospital. It appears the doctor saw her the day before she died and that she passed away shortly after midnight the next day. Caroline had "only" three children, one was the eminent chemist, and I don't know where the other daughter lived (?Utah) but it appears that Camilla was the closest child geographically who could care for her.

Emma's find-a-grave.com page

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18325772

does not list her marriage date, but states she was the second wife. Since Edward C. married Caroline in 1893 (first wife), the marriage to Emma was an example of post-1890 polygamy.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/2012 10:30AM by PtLoma.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19195275

No resume of church callings in her obit
Taught high school English at Highland HS for over thirty years.
Wrote books that were not aimed at the Deseret Book crowd.

(almost sounds "less than active"

No children listed, but she won a "Utah Mother of the Year" award which would make one think she was not childless.

This set of demographics DEFINITELY went against the LDS grain, even more astounding given she was sister-in-law of a living profit.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/2012 10:54AM by PtLoma.

The Eyring trio were the sisters and brother-in-law of Mitt's grandfather Gaskell Romney. Therefore, they are the great-aunts and great-uncle of Mitt, and they survived into his late childhood (until he reached the age of 9-10).