Quarto bifolium (20,2x12,5 cm. or 8x5 in). 4 pp. Brown ink on yellow lined wove paper. Fold marks, but overall a very good letter, written in a legible hand.

Historically interesting California letter with notes about Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918), the sixth president of the Church of the Latter Day-Saints, and his multiple wives.

The LDS Church practiced plural marriage from 1830 to 1904, when Smith finally withdrew permission for any news instances of polygamy due to intense legal scrutiny.

Addressed to “Dear Bro Hyrum,” the letter was likely written in the early 1880s by one “Anna.” In the text, the author conveys the latest news from San Francisco, discussing severe snowfall and a visit of pioneer Mormon Bishop Joseph Fish (1840-1926). Anna also talks about Apostle Joseph F. Smith (then, the second counselor in the First Presidency to the LDS Church president John Taylor) and mentions him staying in the city “with one of his wimmin.” In the rest of the letter, “Anna” mostly describes her “miserable life” after her husband’s death (“I hope and pray I can learn to for get the past and commence a new life”) and writes about mutual acquaintances. Overall, historically interesting letter mentioning polygamy among the Mormons just a few years before its official ban.

The text of the letter:

“Dear Bro Hyrum once more I seat my self to write to you we are all well at present it has been a long time since I herd from you it is my fault I have neglected to write or it was be cause I could not or did not feel like I could write to any one the snow has been deeper here this winter than it has ever been before since I lived here and very cold it has been something like it was the winter you was here - Eothe and I was at snowflake to Conference it was very cold but we had a very good time and herd some good preaching from the Appostle Smith he has been there all winter one of his wimmin is there with him so they hear him every Sunday I should like to well hyrum I wish you Much joy in your Married life and all the happiness you desire I sincerely hope it will be Much happier than mine has been in the last 3 years althow it has been my own fault I have seen a happy time and was as happy and contended as any woman could be but they soon went by since the one I loved dearer than any one on Earth was taken from me what a miserable being I have been althow it has been nearly 13 years the thoughts of my Dear one is as fresh in my memory as thow it was but ayear a go when I hear of any one getting Married it recalls my past life but all I can do is to live worthy of meeting him here after that is my greatest desire to live so I will be goodenough to meet him for I know he was one of the best of men I do not know as I can be a very good woman after living as I have althow I try hard to and I hope and pray I can learn to for get the past and commence a new life George was not a very good man as for him being mean to me he was not as good as a man could be to a woman but was to easy enfluenced by wimmin it would be different if I would sey a word I would not never do that now hyrum I have some thing to tell you a bout Edie frank and her have parted for good it was through his talk and actions that she felt like she could not live with him any longer some time I will tell you more I can not now I will say it has been more trouble for me than any thing I ever had to pass through he came here new years and gave Manti a whipping then went to concho his Mother and Theadore lives with Ell he whipped mant for something he said a bout him I do not know what frank will do he feels very bad so does Edie I feel so very bad for them both and to see Edie feel so bad it nearly breaks my heart I ask John Hall a bout the jones debt he says it is just as you left it mant has sold the field and tore down the – house and sold it the fence and barn and the little kitchen in front of the fred gardner house is sold he is living in the gardner house now going to schpp; Dellie fish is teaching Edie and – is going to take care the Children they both live here with me we enjoy our selves very well Togather Frank sold out to george he was going to move to round valley George has moved the house to the side of his other one John Hall has sold out to Decker at snow flake for 18 hundred in horses and cows I do not know what he will do or where he will go John George and Decker has gone hunting to phoenix park

I forgot to tell you we have a Bishop and – Bro Peterson is Bishop Joseph fish first and Joseph Brewer see Counsliers the name of our place is pine

Jim Shumwa has gone to get Married I believe I have told you all we have not herd any thing from Sarah Ann or Alice since you wrote they are having a cold trip if they are one the road now I hope they will come and see by I will close hoping to hear from you love to Sadie as ever Anna.”