Kaaterskill Books

Brigham Young Throws Wedding Party

[Mormons] Young, Brigham.

[Manuscript] Brigham Young Invites Son-In-Law, George Thatcher & Wife to a Family Party at the Locust Lodge Forest Farm to Celebrate Marriage of his son John Willard Young.

Salt Lake City: 1864. [1 pp.] bifolium. 4 x 6 inches folded to 2 1/2 x 4 inches. Very good, folded, tiny pin pricks at upper edge. Item #46094

Unsigned manuscript invitation, in a secretarial hand, dated February 16th, 1864: "Pres. Brigham Young presents his compliments to Bro. George Thatcher and his wife and request the pleasure of their company at a Family Party at Locust Lodge Forest Farm on Tuesday, Feb. 16 1864. Dinner at 4 o clock. Dancing in the Evening." Addressed to Thatcher on the verso,

That morning Young married his son to Lucy Maria Canfield, the first of his five wives: "Young sealed his son John Willard Young & wife at the Altar. He laid his hands upon their heads as he sealed them."(Wilford Woodruff Jr.: "Journal (January 1, 1860 – October 22, 1865), p. 303. Wilford Woodruff Papers).

George Washington Thatcher (1840-1902 ) had married Brigham Young's daughter, Eunice Carline in 1861, and managed the Youngs'' Salt Lake City estates and businesses up until 1867. Afterwards, Thatcher was involved in Utah railroads, banking, and politics, and was named a Trustee of Brigham Young College.

We could locate only three invitations to an event by Brigham Young: two being printed invitations completed in manuscript, neither signed by Young: Sotheby's 1957 (Sale: VESPUCCI-122) & Swann 2019 (Sale 2517-154), and one signed by Young, Swann 2020 (Sale 2533-1580). University of Utah has a photograph of the printed invitation.

Price: $3,000.00