Sarah Lawrence

Sarah is Maria Lawrence's sister and married Joseph at the same time. She married Heber Kimball after Joseph's death, and divorced him. In 1853 she married Joseph Mount they moved to Napa, California, they left Mormonism

Finishing touches

I took this painting in to get critiqued by my art teacher, she had me darken the shaded parts of the faces and bring in some of the background colors into the people to tie all in. I think it made a big difference. 

Maria Lawrence

Maria and her family were living in Canada when they met Joseph and converted. Shorty after they moved to Illinois, Maria's father Edward died, leaving a large estate. Some how Joseph became the children's legal guardian. Edward's widow Margret married Josiah Butterfield and together they tried to acquire the rights to Edward's estate back from Joseph but were unsuccessful. Maria married Joseph  in 1843 at age 18. She married Brigham Young, but later denied it and then married  Col. A.W Babitt. She never went west and died in Nauvoo at age 22.

Lucy Walker

Lucy's mother died leaving a large family behind. Joseph told her grieving father to split up the children, he had Lucy and the older children move in with him and then sent Lucy's father on a mission. He proposed to Lucy when she was 17 years old, she was uncomfortable with the idea and didn't have her parents to counsel with, and did end up marrying him. After his death she married Heber Kimball and had 8 children. She died in Salt Lake City.

Small painting for a friend

I took a break from painting JS's wives and did this little 4x6 for a friend. 

Almera Johnson

Almera married Joseph nine months after her sister Delcena married him. There are several sources that mention they had a romantic relationship, including writings from Almera. After Joseph's death she married  Reuben Barton, at some point he left the church and the couple separated. She made the trek to Utah with her three daughters and settled in Parowan Utah.

Eliza Maria Partridge Lyman

Eliza is Emily's sister and worked as a house girl for Joseph and Emma until Emma kicked them out for marrying Joseph. After Joseph's death she married Amasa Lyman and became his fourth plural wife. Amasa was an apostle until he was excommunicated for teaching false doctrine. Eliza left Amasa and plural marriage. She taught school and passed away at age 65 in Millard County Utah.

Emily Dow Partridge

I am at Zermatt in Midway, my mission is to get as many of these ladies done as I can! I have 19 so far and have about 15 to go! I can hardly keep them straight! I try to remember one little bit of trivia about each wife but it isn't easy. I wish I could share more about their lives, but that would be another whole project. Anyway, this is Emily, she and her sister Eliza were  house girls at Joseph's home. Joseph married both sisters and Emma was furious and kicked them out. After Joseph's death she married Brigham Young and lived a miserable life filled with poverty, depression and loneliness.

Flora Ann Woodworth

There is not a lot of information on Flora, but what we do have is the most scandalous events in polygamous church history. Most of the history is found in William Clayton's diary. She was married to Joseph at age sixteen, secret carriage rides and a fight with Emma over a gold watch are told. After his death she married Carlos Grove, she died on her journey to Utah in her mid twenties.

Ruth Vose Sayers

Ruth spent most of her youth helping her Aunt Polly Vose in her successful upholstery business. Ruth married a well known horticulturist and florist Edward Sayers. In 1843 Ruth married Joseph Smith in a secret ceremony but continued to live with Edward. Ruth and Edward moved to Salt Lake City where he continued his work in horticulture.

Martha McBride Knight

Martha married a farmer, Vinson Knight and had four children, after his death she married Joseph. After Joseph was killed, she famously kept a locket of  his hair, she treasured throughout her life. Martha married Heber Kimball and went west and lived in Ogden with her daughter Adaline and her husband Gilbert Belnap.

Sarah Ann Whitney

Sarah married Joseph in 1842 at the age of 17. Nine months later Joseph arranged a fake marriage for Sarah with Joseph C. Kingsbury to hide the fact they were married. After Joseph's death Sarah married Heber C. Kimball, this ended her faux marriage to Kingsbury. Sarah died in Salt Lake City at age 48 of brain fever.

Eliza R. Snow

Eliza is remembered well in Mormon history, Brigham Young called her 'Priestess,Prophetess and Presidentess'. She was the plural wife that Emma pushed down the stairs causing a miscarriage and was never able to have children. She was married to both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. She was a president of the Relief Society and president of the Deseret Hospital, she was one of the most powerful and influential women in early church history.

Delcena Johnson Sherman

Delcena married Lyman Sherman when she 24 years old, he died leaving her a widow with 6 children. She was living with Louisa Beaman when she married Joseph. Delcena persuaded her sister Almera to marry Joseph as well. Later she married Almon Babbit, made the journey to Utah only to die shortly after arriving.

Sarah Kingsley Cleveland

Sarah was raised wealthy and well educated in Massachusetts. Her first husband was a sea captain, John Howe, he died young and she married John Cleveland. She married Joseph when she was 54. She didn't go to Utah, instead moved to Plymouth and joined the Protestant church.

Elizabeth Davis Durfee

Elizabeth had four husbands during her life time and was married to Joseph. She was one of the older wives and helped arrange marriages with younger women for Joseph. She did not go to Utah, instead joined the RLDS church. Supposedly she was hit by a train and died at 85 years old

Marinda Nancy Johnson Hyde

Marinda married Orson Hyde in 1834. Joseph married Marinda after he sent Orson to Jerusalem on a mission. Marinda had 10 children with Orson and then divorced him after 34 years of marriage. She was a Relief Society president in Salt Lake City, on the board of directors of the Deseret Hospital and was involved in women's rights.

Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner

Mary was married to Adam Lightner when she married Joseph. After Joseph's death she married Brigham Young. Once in Utah Adam and Mary settled in Minersville. She was active in organizing the church and was called to be the Relief Society President. She died in Minersville in1913.

Patti Sessions

Patti is Sylvia 's mother. She married Joseph one month after her daughter. She was also married to David Sessions and later John Perry, in both marriages her husbands took on younger wives and she was financially neglected and lonely. She was a midwife and dedicated the Patti Sessions Academy to educate the poor. She died at age 97.