Sunday, May 16, 2010

My Great Great Grandfather


















http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_v._United_States

My Great Great Grandfather was George Reynolds. I have been going through family pictures, and I found this one interesting. George was a polygamist with three wives, and these are this twelve sons. Note the little one in the front in a dress! Grandpa Reynolds was a General Authority under Brigham Young, and he was his personal secretary. He was the test case for the government charging him with the offense of practicing polygamy for religious reasons. It was known as Reynolds v. United States. Actually the Mormon Church asked him to be the one to charged in the case. The case was decided in favor of the government, and George was sent to federal prison in Omaha, Nebraska. Apparently he did not learn his lesson, as he took on another wife upon his release and return to Utah .

1 comment:

Nana & Papa of 16 said...

Wow, what a man huh? Were the twelve sons all from the 3 wives or just one? How many children did he have altogether? I have a great great great grandfather that was a polygamos as well. Great photo.