Book Review: Mormon Polygamous Families

This is the last of the literature I will be reading to put together the chapter in Isaac's history on polygamy.  This book most closely comes to talking of what life would have been like in Isaac's family.  It does have some limitations.  It bases its view of polygamy on several sources, including interviews with husband, wives and children of polygamous families.  However most of these interviews were conducted with people after Isaac and his wives had passed away, including the Mexican Colonies.  They may represent a life that may have differed from the experience of Isaac and his family. 
However this book brings up many aspects of polygamy I had not thought of, and is a good resource in helping explain Isaac's lifestyle.  It also has a very good summary of the history of Mormon polygamy, and helped me understand this better.

Book Review: The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith

This book is written by Matthew Bowman and published by Random House in 2012.  It is an outline of Mormon history in general, but has a chapter on the polygamy question.  Of course this chapter is less intense on the overall picture of polygamy as some of the books I have looked at.  The book introduced me to the term "The Raid" describing the onslaught of federal marshals after the Edmunds Act in 1882.  Even with this increased scrutiny, polygamy was not going away.  The Edmunds Tucker Act went after The Church directly, seeking to take all their financial resources, which would have included the temples.  At this time St. George, Logan, and Manti temples were completed, with the Salt Lake Temple to follow shortly.  Can you imagine what would have happened had the government confiscated these buildings.  It was under this pressure, that President Wilford Woodruff received revelation of what would happen to the church if it did not abandon polygamy.  The Manifesto was of 1890 was the announcement that the church would no longer practice polygamy.
The other chapters do not really add to Isaac's history as they are about the Church in general.  It scarcely mentions the handcarts, and really doesn't address the economics in Salt Lake Valley.

My Grandmother's Sisters, Aunt Ruth and Aunt Marie

Aunt Ruth

Ruth and Kate Marie

Aunt Marie

My grandmother had two younger sisters.  Kate Marie Brandley was three years younger than my grandmother.  She married Elmo Coburn and they had five children.

Ruth Naomi Brandley was born nine years after my grandmother.  She married Theron Nielsen.  This union ended in divorce.  They did not have children.

Growing up, Aunt Ruth, much of the time, lived with Grandma Wright.  She had the slobberiest kisses you can imagine, but all the same, we were expected to kiss she and grandma whenever we visited.  Her bedroom was the first on the right going in the back door; across from the bathroom.  She always had nice hair combs and other treasures in her room, but we didn't go in there very much.

Book Review: Mormon Polygamy: A History: 2nd edition

I started reading this book, and found most of the early chapters to be junk initially.  It seems he was just quoting every rumor and every lie anyone had said about Joseph Smith and his supposed sexual indiscretion.  It seemed to follow the cliche, Joseph decided polygamy was ok because of his sexual appetites.  I read another review, that was positive book, saying the notes toned much of this down, explaining where the quotes came from.  The book left somethings still dangling, but I was reading the book seeking insight into the life of Isaac Wardle.  A couple interesting things, he does explain the cliche thought people had of Mormon polygamy was wrong, it was not a lascivious lifestyle, but one based on accepting a prophet, and complying with that prophet.  It was a lifestyle requiring sacrifice, and was not always easy.  One thing the author noted was that different communities had different rates of polygamous families, ranging from less than five percent of the men who practiced, up to 60 percent in some communities.  It was not a requirement of all members, but people still had agency.
My bottom line, unless you're motivated by a research, leave this book alone, there are better resources. 

Article Review: Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah

This article is from lds.org and is part of giving answers to gospel topics.
http://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-and-families-in-early-utah?lang=eng
I am looking at this article with the idea of getting some idea as to the conditions of polygamous families in Utah, with the idea of gaining insight and information about what Isaac Wardle and his family may have experienced after Isaac entered polygamy.  This article is very good at giving an understanding of why the church members practiced polygamy, to comply with a commandment.  It also talks of the sacrifice families made, and that it did increase fertility it.  However what it does not do is give a view of what a polygamous family actually looked like.  It leaves the subject with just saying it was a sacrifice.  I continue my search for a better idea of what it was like to live in a polygamous family.

Mom's Signature Book: Relative Signatures

This book was given to my mother in 1939. (mom's tenth birthday) "To Ileen on your birthday March 18, 1939; from your teacher Clara Pearson."

  It has many interesting signatures, and I am including here those by family.

Aunt Ruth composes a rhyme and mentions her husband, Theron.
April 22, 1939: Uncle Theron and I are here today
Tomorrow we will be on our way
Sunshine and truth--
I love you dear, Auntie Ruth

Her father wrote:
Study your music and try to do as mother teels [tells] you to do.  And I am sure that everything will com out all-right.  Dad

Her father added another entry: Ileen, As we do thru life we cannot do as we would like to.  But we must take this world as it comes and goes and in doing so everybody will love and respect you.

Her sister wrote: March 22, 1939, I love you very much.  I hope you do me.  A sister, Rose Marie  (Rose Marie was eight)

This one is written by Aunt Sara Prestwich:  Dear Ileen, I love you very much as a mother and very much as a person.  I will try to help to very much, Love, Sara

From her twin sister: August 26, 1940.  To the year you met Junior Harrison, Roses are red, violets are blue, Sugar is sweet; but you're sweeter.  I love you, Your sister Charleen Wright.  Forget me not.

The note pad also includes similar advise and limericks from classmates, teachers and friends.  There is one who says he is her boyfriend.  There are a couple with pictures attached.

More Unidentified Pictures of my Mother's

dated May 15, 1937
Uncle Jim James VIncent Harlow (2nd husband grandma Jane Jeremy)

Faye Robinson

signed Zola Mae, friend