EMMELINE BLANCHE WOODWARD WELLS
Name: Emmeline Blanche Woodward Wells
Born: 29 February 1828
Died: 25 April 1921
Emmeline Blanche Woodward Harris Whitney Wells (February 29, 1828 - April 25,
1921) was an American journalist, editor, poet, women's rights advocate and
diarist. She served as the fifth general president of the Relief Society of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1910 until her
death.
Emmeline Blanche Wells was born in 1828 in Petersham, Massachusetts, the
daughter of David and Deiadama Hare Woodward. Her father died when Emmeline was
four years old. Precocious, energetic and intelligent, she graduated at age
fourteen from the New Salem Academy. She taught school briefly before her first
marriage at the age of fifteen.
Woodward joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in
1842. She married 16 year old James Harris, also a new member of the church, the
following year. In 1844, the young couple, his parents, and other Latter Day
Saints from their region migrated to the headquarters of the Church, Nauvoo,
Illinois. After the death of their infant son Eugene Henri, Harris left Nauvoo
looking for work and never returned.
The young Emmeline Harris returned to teaching. Through his children in her
school, she met and later married Newel K. Whitney, a significantly older man,
under the LDS doctrine of plural marriage. Emmeline Whitney left Nauvoo in 1846,
and traveled to Utah with the extended Whitney family in 1848. At this time, she
began maintaining a personal journal. Wells would continue writing in her
diaries (forty-six journals are known) until 1920, shortly before her death. On
the first page of volume 1, dated Friday, February 27, 1846, she recorded:
“ "Mrs. Whitney, Sarah Ann, and myself crossed the river to go the encampment of
the Saints. We crossed the river a part of the way on foot, and then went on the
encampment about 1 mile beyond.... We repaired immediately to Mr. H. C. Kimball's
tent, took supper, and slept for the first time on the ground. There was a
snowstorm without, yet all was peace and harmony within."
Whitney's death in 1850 left her with two young daughters, whom she supported by
again teaching school in Salt Lake City. She remained primarily responsible for
supporting herself and her children for the rest of her life.
Emmeline Whitney approached Daniel H. Wells, a friend of her late husband and a
prominent civic leader, about marriage. In 1852, she became Daniel Well's
seventh wife, bearing him three daughters. Their early marriage was distant, as
Daniel Wells was heavily involved in civic and church duties and had six other
families. However, later in their lives, the couple became fond and loving
companions.
Wells was the editor of Utah's Woman's Exponent, a semi-monthly periodical
established in 1872 for Mormon women. She also wrote numerous short stories and
poems, most published in She later compiled her poetry into a single volume,
Musings and Memories. In 1912 she became the first Utah woman to receive an
honorary degree, in literature, awarded her by Brigham Young University.
A bust of Wells, inscribed "A Fine Soul Who Served Us", is found in the rotunda
of the Utah State Capitol. The bust was funded through the efforts of women's
groups in Utah, including the feminist community, LDS women's groups, and women's
groups from other church organizations. Wells is, to date, the only woman so
honored.
Name: Emmeline Blanche Woodward Wells
Born: 29 February 1828
Died: 25 April 1921
Emmeline Blanche Woodward Harris Whitney Wells (February 29, 1828 - April 25,
1921) was an American journalist, editor, poet, women's rights advocate and
diarist. She served as the fifth general president of the Relief Society of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1910 until her
death.
Emmeline Blanche Wells was born in 1828 in Petersham, Massachusetts, the
daughter of David and Deiadama Hare Woodward. Her father died when Emmeline was
four years old. Precocious, energetic and intelligent, she graduated at age
fourteen from the New Salem Academy. She taught school briefly before her first
marriage at the age of fifteen.
Woodward joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in
1842. She married 16 year old James Harris, also a new member of the church, the
following year. In 1844, the young couple, his parents, and other Latter Day
Saints from their region migrated to the headquarters of the Church, Nauvoo,
Illinois. After the death of their infant son Eugene Henri, Harris left Nauvoo
looking for work and never returned.
The young Emmeline Harris returned to teaching. Through his children in her
school, she met and later married Newel K. Whitney, a significantly older man,
under the LDS doctrine of plural marriage. Emmeline Whitney left Nauvoo in 1846,
and traveled to Utah with the extended Whitney family in 1848. At this time, she
began maintaining a personal journal. Wells would continue writing in her
diaries (forty-six journals are known) until 1920, shortly before her death. On
the first page of volume 1, dated Friday, February 27, 1846, she recorded:
“ "Mrs. Whitney, Sarah Ann, and myself crossed the river to go the encampment of
the Saints. We crossed the river a part of the way on foot, and then went on the
encampment about 1 mile beyond.... We repaired immediately to Mr. H. C. Kimball's
tent, took supper, and slept for the first time on the ground. There was a
snowstorm without, yet all was peace and harmony within."
Whitney's death in 1850 left her with two young daughters, whom she supported by
again teaching school in Salt Lake City. She remained primarily responsible for
supporting herself and her children for the rest of her life.
Emmeline Whitney approached Daniel H. Wells, a friend of her late husband and a
prominent civic leader, about marriage. In 1852, she became Daniel Well's
seventh wife, bearing him three daughters. Their early marriage was distant, as
Daniel Wells was heavily involved in civic and church duties and had six other
families. However, later in their lives, the couple became fond and loving
companions.
Wells was the editor of Utah's Woman's Exponent, a semi-monthly periodical
established in 1872 for Mormon women. She also wrote numerous short stories and
poems, most published in She later compiled her poetry into a single volume,
Musings and Memories. In 1912 she became the first Utah woman to receive an
honorary degree, in literature, awarded her by Brigham Young University.
A bust of Wells, inscribed "A Fine Soul Who Served Us", is found in the rotunda
of the Utah State Capitol. The bust was funded through the efforts of women's
groups in Utah, including the feminist community, LDS women's groups, and women's
groups from other church organizations. Wells is, to date, the only woman so
honored.