Mary Lois Walker Morris was a Mormon woman who challenged both American ideas about marriage and the U.S. legal system. Before the Manifesto provides a glimpse into her world as the polygamous wife of a prominent Salt Lake City businessman; during a time of great transition in Utah. This account of her life as a convert; milliner; active community member; mother; and wife begins in England; where her family joined the Mormon church; details her journey across the plains; and describes life in Utah in the 1880s. Her experiences were unusual as; following her first husband's deathbed request; she married his brother; as a plural wife; in the Old Testament tradition of levirate marriage. Mary Morris's memoir frames her 1879 to 1887 diary with both reflections on earlier years and passages that parallel entries in the day book; giving readers a better understanding of how she retrospectively saw her life. The thoroughly annotated diary offers the daily experience of a woman who kept a largely self-sufficient household; had a wide social network; ran her own business; wrote poetry; and was intellectually curious. The years of "the Raid" (federal prosecution of polygamists) led Mary and Elias Morris to hide their marriage on "the underground;" and her to perjury in court during Elias's trial for unlawful cohabitation. The book ends with Mary Lois's arrival at the Salt Lake Depot after three years in exile in Mexico with a polygamist colony.
#901946 in Books Minnesota Historical Society Press 2004-02-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .70 x 6.00l; .68 #File Name: 0873514777214 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Hello to my GGrandfather!By Winda WeeTo find such incredibly well-researched and detailed accounts of the day to day eventsof my great-grandfather; Joseph J. Buck and his infantrymen during the Civil War and the Dakota Waris truly a gift. How I wish we had more pictures of them during this time. I only have two photos of him;one on his wedding day in 1880 and one as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Civil War. I knew some of his Civil War escapades;but to learn about their Northwestern Indian Expedition of 1864 is like looking right into their lives.Their descendants should be proud of their service to our country; at a time when unrest was a common; daily event.Their bravery and perseverance are to be so incredibly admired. Researching the genealogy of my GGrandfather's life hascome full circle with this great account.Thank you; Kurt Bergemann! Our ancestors served with each other!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great chapters on George Northrup and the Battle of Killdeer Mountain!By killebrew1017Following reading other current scholarly works on the U.S. - Dakota War; including "Columns of Vengeance" by Paul Beck and "The Dakota War: The United States Army Versus The Sioux; 1862-1865" by Michael Clodfelter; I came away quite satisfied with their interpretations regarding all facets of this military engagement; including the use of New Military History in Beck's case. However; I also felt like I could do one better; in regards to witnessing a good detailed look into how a specific unit went about this war; from start to finish. And considering that I was also researching the involvement of legendary frontiersman George Northrup in the Dakota War - a man who coincidentally was enlisted in Brackett's Battalion; Bergemann's book was the perfect read for me.This book brilliantly captures the journey of these Minnesota volunteer cavalry soldiers; from their initial enlistment into the Union Army to their two years of service in the Deep South against the Confederacy to their two summers on the plains of North Dakota in pursuing those Dakota Sioux responsible for the 1862 uprising in southwestern Minnesota. Bergemann diligently researched and utilized numerous primary sources to document these ordinary Minnesotans who felt patriotically motivated and obliged to serve their country during these tumultuous years of the early 1860s. As a Minnesotan myself; I enjoyed this book tremendously. As a historian; I overwhelmingly appreciated the coverage of particular micro-histories of the Dakota War; including the tale of George Northrup. This is one of two sources (the other being a 1869 magazine article written by Northrup's biographer) that adequately covers Northrup's involvement in the Civil War; as well as Brackett's Battalion pre-Dakota War years. I gained a greater understanding and appreciate of this Minnesota unit during the Civil and Dakota War during my reading of this book; and I learned plenty about what kind of man that Northrup truly was during his three years in the military.This is surely a must-read for all scholars and casual readers interested in Minnesota's involvement in the Civil War; as well the second war that was going on closer to home with the Dakota Sioux. Witness the transformation of hundreds of ordinary men from Minnesota into battle-hardened cavalry veterans who gave their all to the United States in two great wars. I know I will always admire the ones of Brackett's Battalion that gave the ultimate sacrifice; especially George Northrup; the "Kit Carson of the Northwest"!!!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. My great grandfather's unitBy Doug StoltzmanMy name is Doug Stoltzman and my great grandfather Florence Garen served with Brackett's Battalion thru the entire Civil War. Kurt Bergemann was tireless in his research for this book and did; I feel; an excellant job of recording the battalion's history; people; and characters. It is both factual and personal. One not only gets the history but also the human side of the unit. A very good read.
