One of Brigham Young's favorite wives.

WOMAN Who Aided Famous Leader in Early Struggles in Utah Succumbs to Paralysis

Salt Lake City - Amelia Folsom Young, widow of President Brigham Young, and one of the best known women in the United States, died Sunday at her home in this city.

At her bedside at the time of death was a notable group of men and women, whose lives ad doings, along with hers, date back to the early days of Mormonism.

Death was due to a fatal form of paralysis which had been creeping steadily upon her for three years, following a stroke which temporarily disabled her.

Amelia Folsom Young was born at Buffalo, N.Y. August 3, 1838. She was married to President Brigham Young on January 24, 1863, having been acquainted with President Young since, as a child of five, her future husband had held her on his knee.

Moved by his infatuation for this beautiful and intelligent woman, President Young built the famed Amelia palace, filled it with beautiful things and placed his wife in it as queen of all its beauties. There she reigned, a goodly woman, using her influence in all directions to the bettering of things in Utah. With the death of Brigham Young in 1877, she sold the Amelia palace, and bought the old family home at No. 6 South First West, where she spent the remainder of her days.

Beaver/Weekly Press
16 December 1910
∼Daughter of William Harrison Folsom and Zerviah Eliza Clark

Married Brigham Young, 24 Jan 1863, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

History - Harriet's father and family embraced the Gospel in 1841, and removed to Nauvoo, Illinois soon afterwards. In the year 1846, when the Saints were driven from that state, they moved to Keokuk, Iowa, and afterwards went to Council Bluffs. Early in 1860 they started across the plains for the Valley of the Great Salt Lake arriving in October of that year. Amelia was then twenty-two years of age, tall and queenly in appearance and was of fair complexion. She was intelligent and charming and also an accomplished pianist and vocalist. Amelia became acquainted with President Brigham Young in 1860, but was not married to him until January 24, 1863.

Shortly before President Young's death he decided to erect an official residence where he could entertain people who came to see him. The family understood that Amelia would live there and was happy that President Young had chosen her to assume the responsibilities of all social affairs. Before the residence was completed President Young passed away. It was finished by President John Taylor and named the Gardo House.

In the Brigham Young room in the Pioneer Memorial Museum hangs a beautifully tinted likeness of Amelia Folsom Young. There is also a case in which are displayed some of her personal belongings. She was a woman of exquisite taste. Among these articles are five lovely shawls; a large black lace, a red silk embroidered and fringed; a white silk, also embroidered, and two small lace shawls. There are collars of intricate lace and bead work; elegant fans and other accessories. Several dresses which belonged to her are on display, notably a light blue taffeta trimmed with cream colored lace which was worn by her at the Inaugural Ball honoring President Ulysses S. Grant in 1869. The dress contains 16 yards of silk, bought in France, and 125 yards of lace at $5.00 a yard. Cost of dress approximately $700. Another lovely dress is a two-piece black silk brocade with pink silk lining, trimmed with black beads. The silk was manufactured in Utah.