Maria Young Dougall
Born: 20 December 1849
Called as First Counselor in the Young Women's General Presidency: 1887
Released: 6 December 1904
Died: 30 April 1935
Called as First Counselor in the Young Women's General Presidency: 1887
Released: 6 December 1904
Died: 30 April 1935
Biographical Articles
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 2
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 4
Young Woman's Journal, December 1890, Maria Young Dougall
Young Woman's Journal, November 1919, Reminiscences by Maria Young Dougall
Juvenile Instructor, November 1927, True Pioneer Stories - Maria Y. Dougall
Relief Society Magazine, June 1935, Maria Y. Dougall
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 4
Young Woman's Journal, December 1890, Maria Young Dougall
Young Woman's Journal, November 1919, Reminiscences by Maria Young Dougall
Juvenile Instructor, November 1927, True Pioneer Stories - Maria Y. Dougall
Relief Society Magazine, June 1935, Maria Y. Dougall
Jenson, Andrew. "Dougall, Maria Young." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 2. pg. 617-619.
DOUGALL, Maria Young, counselor in the General Presidency of the Y. L. M. I. A. of the whole Church, was born Dec. 10, 1849, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Pres. Brigham Young and Clarissa Ross. The following sketch of her life is principally culled from the History of the Y. L. M. I. A. Sister Maria Y. Dougall descends on both sides of her parents from old New England stock, her ancestors on the father's side being among the colonizers of Massachusetts as early as 1720; on her mother's side, Betsy Ross, one of her family was the fashioner of the first American flag. Sister Dougall was raised in the Lion House, Salt Lake City, and her childhood was passed amidst the difficulties and hardships among the early settlers of Utah, although her education, even under these circumstances, was not neglected; the wisdom of her illustrious father having provided a private teacher and school-room for his children, where an excellent rudimentary education could be acquired. Among the studies taught was physical culture, with the early appliances invented by Dr. Dio Lewis. The quaint, single seats are now all destroyed; but there are still extant some of the back-boards which were used in those early and primitive "gymnastics." A private music teacher was always a part of the family life, the first piano and organ having been drawn across the plains with ox teams. Not a daughter of Pres. Young lacked the musical ear, and most of them were, for those days, superior musicians. Mrs. Dougall was one of David O. Calder's solo singers in his famous pioneer singing school. All this was before high schools in Utah were known, and Mrs. Dougall was married before it became possible to pursue the so-called "higher education." When eight years old, little Maria's mother died, and her subsequent life-training, until she was married, was under the judicious care of that excellent and beloved mother in Israel, Sister Zina D, H. Young, to whose teachings she is indebted for much of the solidity of character and the good judgment which she possesses. June 1, 1868, she became the wife of Wm. B. Dougall, who was for years superintendent of the Deseret Telegraph Company, a young man of great sagacity and refinement. Her marriage was a happy one, and five children were born to her. Sister Dougall has lived all her life in Salt Lake City and from her early years has been earnestly engaged in doing good, both in public and in private life. She was present at that memorable meeting in the Lion House, Nov. 28, 1869, and was chosen as one of the counselors to her sister, Ella Y. Empey. In 1879 she was made president of the 17th Ward K- L. M. I. Association and acted as such till she was chosen as first counselor to Mary A. Freeze, the first president of the Salt Lake Stake Y. L. M. I. A. from this position in 1887 she was called to become first counselor to Pres. Elmina S. Taylor. She acted for six years as first counselor to Sister Julia Howe in the Primary Association of the 17th Ward, and Sister Howe deeply regretted the necessity for her resignation from that position, to take up the heavier burdens involved in the general work of the Mutual Improvement Association. She was also connected for several years with the Woman's Co-operative Store, acting as vice-president to Pres. M. Isabella Home. In 1893 Sister Dougall was called to act as a worker in the Salt Lake Temple at the completion of that great edifice, and here she has remained at her post in season and out of season. When the Bureau of Information was opened Mrs. Dougall became one of the guides who gave their time free of charge for the instruction of tourists who visit Salt Lake City. All this, too, in addition to her duties in the Mutual Improvement Association and the many loving burdens which rest upon her as mother and home-maker. Sister Dougall has on four different occasions attended the great convention of Council of Women, once at Chicago, once at Omaha, and once at Washington and New York. She attended also the Suffrage Convention in 1887 held at Washington, D. C. in company with Sister Sarah M. Kimball, Sister Dougall being chairman of the executive committee of the State association. The brief facts here outlined of a full and beautiful life do not portray the half of the good deeds done; for it is in trouble or sickness, in distress and in poverty that the tender hand of this wise counselor has been most often extended. In those offices, where woman ministers to woman, her gentle hands have comforted and blessed hundreds of Zion's daughters. Her character is one of force and strength and yet so calm and equable is her temperament that a storm-tossed soul can always find a sweet refuge in the sheltering love that knows no distinction between rich or poor, high or low, only the suffering and unfortunate. Her beautiful home has hospitable doors swung wide to every one who knocks at the portals; and, together with her husband, who died April 11, 1909, she ministered to every traveler who went their way. For many years the general officers' meetings of the Y. L. M. I. A. held at the April and October conferences, were convened in Sister Dougall's home. Here the sisters from every part of Zion gathered and held some of the best spiritual and the most profitable business meetings ever known in the history of the Mutual Improvement work. These meetings outgrew the parlors, in the course of ten years; but those who attended these interesting meetings in the Dougall home cannot forget the hallowed influence of that. beautiful and consecrated hearthstone! Sister Dougall is also a prominent worker in the Society of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, she being chosen as first counselor to Mrs. Anne T. Hyde, the founder general in 1901. She is also a honorary member of the Daughters of the Handcart Veterans, having the honor of assisting in the organization of that society in 1910.
DOUGALL, Maria Young, counselor in the General Presidency of the Y. L. M. I. A. of the whole Church, was born Dec. 10, 1849, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Pres. Brigham Young and Clarissa Ross. The following sketch of her life is principally culled from the History of the Y. L. M. I. A. Sister Maria Y. Dougall descends on both sides of her parents from old New England stock, her ancestors on the father's side being among the colonizers of Massachusetts as early as 1720; on her mother's side, Betsy Ross, one of her family was the fashioner of the first American flag. Sister Dougall was raised in the Lion House, Salt Lake City, and her childhood was passed amidst the difficulties and hardships among the early settlers of Utah, although her education, even under these circumstances, was not neglected; the wisdom of her illustrious father having provided a private teacher and school-room for his children, where an excellent rudimentary education could be acquired. Among the studies taught was physical culture, with the early appliances invented by Dr. Dio Lewis. The quaint, single seats are now all destroyed; but there are still extant some of the back-boards which were used in those early and primitive "gymnastics." A private music teacher was always a part of the family life, the first piano and organ having been drawn across the plains with ox teams. Not a daughter of Pres. Young lacked the musical ear, and most of them were, for those days, superior musicians. Mrs. Dougall was one of David O. Calder's solo singers in his famous pioneer singing school. All this was before high schools in Utah were known, and Mrs. Dougall was married before it became possible to pursue the so-called "higher education." When eight years old, little Maria's mother died, and her subsequent life-training, until she was married, was under the judicious care of that excellent and beloved mother in Israel, Sister Zina D, H. Young, to whose teachings she is indebted for much of the solidity of character and the good judgment which she possesses. June 1, 1868, she became the wife of Wm. B. Dougall, who was for years superintendent of the Deseret Telegraph Company, a young man of great sagacity and refinement. Her marriage was a happy one, and five children were born to her. Sister Dougall has lived all her life in Salt Lake City and from her early years has been earnestly engaged in doing good, both in public and in private life. She was present at that memorable meeting in the Lion House, Nov. 28, 1869, and was chosen as one of the counselors to her sister, Ella Y. Empey. In 1879 she was made president of the 17th Ward K- L. M. I. Association and acted as such till she was chosen as first counselor to Mary A. Freeze, the first president of the Salt Lake Stake Y. L. M. I. A. from this position in 1887 she was called to become first counselor to Pres. Elmina S. Taylor. She acted for six years as first counselor to Sister Julia Howe in the Primary Association of the 17th Ward, and Sister Howe deeply regretted the necessity for her resignation from that position, to take up the heavier burdens involved in the general work of the Mutual Improvement Association. She was also connected for several years with the Woman's Co-operative Store, acting as vice-president to Pres. M. Isabella Home. In 1893 Sister Dougall was called to act as a worker in the Salt Lake Temple at the completion of that great edifice, and here she has remained at her post in season and out of season. When the Bureau of Information was opened Mrs. Dougall became one of the guides who gave their time free of charge for the instruction of tourists who visit Salt Lake City. All this, too, in addition to her duties in the Mutual Improvement Association and the many loving burdens which rest upon her as mother and home-maker. Sister Dougall has on four different occasions attended the great convention of Council of Women, once at Chicago, once at Omaha, and once at Washington and New York. She attended also the Suffrage Convention in 1887 held at Washington, D. C. in company with Sister Sarah M. Kimball, Sister Dougall being chairman of the executive committee of the State association. The brief facts here outlined of a full and beautiful life do not portray the half of the good deeds done; for it is in trouble or sickness, in distress and in poverty that the tender hand of this wise counselor has been most often extended. In those offices, where woman ministers to woman, her gentle hands have comforted and blessed hundreds of Zion's daughters. Her character is one of force and strength and yet so calm and equable is her temperament that a storm-tossed soul can always find a sweet refuge in the sheltering love that knows no distinction between rich or poor, high or low, only the suffering and unfortunate. Her beautiful home has hospitable doors swung wide to every one who knocks at the portals; and, together with her husband, who died April 11, 1909, she ministered to every traveler who went their way. For many years the general officers' meetings of the Y. L. M. I. A. held at the April and October conferences, were convened in Sister Dougall's home. Here the sisters from every part of Zion gathered and held some of the best spiritual and the most profitable business meetings ever known in the history of the Mutual Improvement work. These meetings outgrew the parlors, in the course of ten years; but those who attended these interesting meetings in the Dougall home cannot forget the hallowed influence of that. beautiful and consecrated hearthstone! Sister Dougall is also a prominent worker in the Society of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, she being chosen as first counselor to Mrs. Anne T. Hyde, the founder general in 1901. She is also a honorary member of the Daughters of the Handcart Veterans, having the honor of assisting in the organization of that society in 1910.
Jenson, Andrew. "Dougall, Maria Y." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 4. pg. 258.
DOUGALL, Maria Young, a member of the General Board of the Y. W. M. I. A., was born Dec. 10, 1849, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Brigham Young and Clarissa Ross. She received her education from private tutors in her father's house. Her mother died when she was 8 and she was mothered by Zina D. H. Young. On June 1, 1868, she was married to Wm. B. Dougall and was the mother of five children. She served as a counselor to Sister Ella Y. Empey in the first Retrenchment Association, organized on Nov. 28, 1869, served as counselor in the 17th Ward Association and then as counselor in the Salt Lake Stake Y. L. M. L A. In 1887 she was called as first counselor to Pres. Elmina S. Taylor in the general presidency of the Y. L. M. I. A. In 1893 she was called as a worker in the Salt Lake Temple. She attended three national conventions of the National Council of Women and the Suffrage Convention in 1887 in Washington, D. C. She died April 30, 1935.
DOUGALL, Maria Young, a member of the General Board of the Y. W. M. I. A., was born Dec. 10, 1849, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Brigham Young and Clarissa Ross. She received her education from private tutors in her father's house. Her mother died when she was 8 and she was mothered by Zina D. H. Young. On June 1, 1868, she was married to Wm. B. Dougall and was the mother of five children. She served as a counselor to Sister Ella Y. Empey in the first Retrenchment Association, organized on Nov. 28, 1869, served as counselor in the 17th Ward Association and then as counselor in the Salt Lake Stake Y. L. M. L A. In 1887 she was called as first counselor to Pres. Elmina S. Taylor in the general presidency of the Y. L. M. I. A. In 1893 she was called as a worker in the Salt Lake Temple. She attended three national conventions of the National Council of Women and the Suffrage Convention in 1887 in Washington, D. C. She died April 30, 1935.
"Maria Young Dougall" Young Woman's Journal. December 1890. pg. 97-102.
MARIA YOUNG DOUGALL.
“I AM sure,” laughed Sister Dougall, when I went to her, pencil in hand, “you will neither require patience nor time to say all that can possibly be said of me.”
“Why so?” I asked.
“Well after you have said that I was born and married there is little more to say. My life has flown along like a swift, smoothly running river, with no immense boulders of special incident to ruffle the surface into eventful waves.”
“That may all be true, and yet we may find much that is deeply interesting; for no one reaches the place in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints you have occupied so long without some undercurrent, strong and true, of daily sacrifice and constant effort. It shall be my duty to reach and touch some of those hidden springs of character and purpose.”
Many of the older inhabitants of this territory remember the house built by Pres. Young for a portion of his family, called the “old log row,” which stood a little north of the old school house inside the wall which enclosed the eastern portion of Pres. Young’s city dwellings. The old school house still stands to call up vivid pictures of the happy days spent in its roomy walls. But the “log row” disappeared many years ago.
Here, in the month of December on the tenth day, 1849, Clara Chase Young, gave birth to a bright-haired little girl, who was duly christened with the sensible, good, old-fashioned name of Maria. Her oldest girl was called Mary, but so skillfully were the best characteristics of the ancient women blended in the two girls, that both were Marys and both were Marthas.
Always a quiet, sensible child, the little girl still had enough temper to furnish frequent employment to the wise mother and afterwards stepmother in grafting on the strong young soul the priceless lessons of self control and patience. Temper is to the human soul what generated power is to the machine; of incalculable value when held down by the thumbscrew’s of reason and will, but of equally great power if allowed to burst through the slender confinement of policy and conventionality. Happy is the child who has the lessons of restraint so strongly impressed that neither passion nor pleasure can destroy the iron castings of early training.
In 1855 a part of the President’s family moved into the White house on the hill, among which was Maria’s mother. A couple of years were spent in this house, and then with the rest of the family Sister Clara Chase Young moved into the nearly completed Lion House.
When the child was about seven years old, and after having been the willing mother of three girls and one son, Sister Clara C., was delivered of a still born child, and soon followed the little one to the grave. The little children were tenderly cared for by Aunts Martha B. and Margaret P. Young, wives of the President, until the year 1858, when Pres. Young requested Sister Zina D. to take the motherless children and rear them as her own. How faithfully that trust has been fulfilled none but the loving children could ever tell. One little incident well illustrates this fact.
A visitor one day came to Aunt Zina’s rooms and seeing so. many children playing about inquired,
“Are all these children yours?” “Well yes; that is,” replied Aunt Zina, “three of them are my own and the other four are the children of my husband.”
When the visitor was gone, the little Maria looked sorrowfully up into the face of her stepmother and said,
“What did you say that for, mother? About us. I love you just as well as if you had homed me.”
The name of the eldest of these motherless children was Mary. And never a girl so well deserved the lovely name and its sweet associations as did this noble girl. She was a youthful mother in whom the busy stepmother could place implicit trust. Her many calls to the sick and suffering gave the young Mary many hours of care and loving service. She is long since dead, this sweet sister Mary, but in the minds of all of those who knew and loved her, her memory dwells like the everlasting perfume of a rose of Paradise. To her then, Maria looked as an elder sister and a patient friend.
Like other nice girls Maria had her quota of youthful admirers; but she was neither flippant nor vain enough to win the epithet of coquette, and so when her heart found a safe keeping in the person of the young telegraph operator, Wm. B. Dougall, she quietly passed the successive stages of courtship, engagement and marriage with all the womanly dignity that has since been so marked a feature of her life.
The wedding was to have occurred on the 8th of June, the birthday of Mary, but President Young’s duties calling him south, he desired the young couple to be married on June 1st, his own birthday.
On June 1st, ’68 Maria Young then changed her name to Maria Y. Dougall. Her husband’s mother was Mrs. Catherine Harrocks, a Scotch lady of ancient lineage and high breeding. Into his mother’s pretty little cottage the young husband took his bride, and for twenty-two years the mother in-law has formed a part of the household.
“I want,” said Sister Dougall, in relating this fact, “to here bear my strong testimony to the happy associations I have ever enjoyed with my dear mother-in-law. She has helped me to learn many lessons of forbearance and patience. And even now in her old age, feeble as she is, no word of complaint as to her bodily afflictions ever passes her lips. She is one of earth’s choicest ones.”
Indeed, it is good to visit this home where the grandmother, beloved and revered by all, sits quietly awaiting her “summons” surrounded as she is by family ties—her son, the honored and wise head of the household, her daughter-in-law the prudent, thoughtful mother and wife, the beautiful children, the boys chivalrous and tender, the little girls loving and wise—all unite to form a domestic picture of purity the like of which I have seen but one other time in my life.
When a bride, an old friend of Sister Harrocks, a patriarch and a Saint, dear old Uncle Billy Perkins, came one day visiting. He desired to bless Maria. It was the first time he had ever blessed a child born under the new covenant of plural marriage, and he seemed visibly affected by that fact as well as by the nobility which he felt inhabited the tabernacle of the young wife. He gave her a glorious blessing, remarkable above all in that the words and terms used were like those addressed to men. The patriarch said she should perform a work in the world that should be a marvelous work and a wonder. He prophesied that she should “have a kingdom and sit upon a throne, and wear a crown of celestial glory.” Her “sons and daughters would be powerful in the Holy Priesthood, they will have power to raise the dead and to cast out devils. Your posterity will rise up and praise the Lord their God forgiving them such a mother.” “You will go to the center stake of Zion.” “In that temple you shall see many of the Saints with their resurrected bodies. In that house you shall witness the return of your Savior with a great multitude of Saints with Him. The power of God will rest so abundantly upon you that the brightness of His appearing will not dazzle your eyes.”
The young girl was astonished at the promises for she had been from childhood essentially a quiet, homegirl, domestic in the extreme.
Speaking of blessings reminds me of one given to her in a peculiar manner. While Maria was acting as counselor to Sister Mary Freeze, of the Salt Lake Stake Presidency, Sister Freeze was once in Draper, and there met Patriarch Charles Smith. She spoke kindly of Sister Dougall and her labors, when the patriarch said he felt like giving her a blessing and he would do so through Sister Freeze. Accordingly it was done. Sister Freeze came to Sister Maria’s house and repeated the blessing word for word. Having a poor memory for words, yet anxious to retain the precious promises, Sister Dougall sat down that evening and after a few words of earnest prayer she wrote the blessing down almost word for word. One phrase of this blessing was singularly prophetic—she was to have power with the young and with the old. She was also to preach the gospel to the young, and her tongue was to be unloosed. How this promise has been fulfilled, many can testify.
When her first child was about ten months old, her husband took them on a visit to Ogden. The cars were a very novel feature here at that time, and many strangers came here with curiosity to see our people. The baby was a remarkably beautiful, bright boy, already walking at ten months old, as well as lisping a number of words.
He attracted much attention in the car; especially was he admired by a party of gentlemen who sat across the aisle.
These gentlemen at last drifted into a discussion of the baneful effects of polygamy, especially to the offspring of such unions.
The talk became so bitter and was so altogether untrue that Sister Dougall’s sense of justice could brook the implied insults no longer. Grasping her toddling babe, she held him up as she said,
“Gentlemen, this is a product of polygamy. He is also a grandson of Brigham Young.”
The bombshell did its work thoroughly and peace and civility reigned supreme in that car.
Sister Dougall was first called to a public position in 1877, when she accepted the position of First Counselor to the President of the 17th Ward Y. L. M. I. A. Acting in that capacity for three years, she next became President of the Association. Three years she acted in that position and was then chosen to act as Counselor to the Stake Presidency of the Y. L. M. I. A. Three years she spent in that capacity, and in the fall of 1887 was chosen as First Counselor to President Elmina S. Taylor, being set apart by President George Q. Cannon to fill that office. All of her trusts were accepted and fulfilled in the humble, earnest manner that characterizes the true Saint.
Sister Dougall has made one trip to the coast in 1874, one trip, in company with her husband, east in 1883, on which trip they visited Washington, and were the recipients of many courtesies from both President Cannon, who was there, as well as from Delegate Caine. They visited congress and heard the arguments of Senators Edmunds, Logan, Call, of Florida, and Brown, of Georgia, on the Edmund’s Bill, then before the Senate.
Her last visit east was made last winter when she went to Washington with Sister Sarah M. Kimball, as a delegate to the N. W. S. A. Her trip was highly successful as well as pleasurable, and was so considered by Miss Anthony, whose introduction of them to the assembly was brief but expressive. She said, “Utah had the franchise for seventeen years, had lost it, but was now struggling to regain it. Utah is here today,” concluded Miss Anthony, “with a magnificent delegation.”
Miss Anthony was extremely kind in her attentions and secured a room in the Riggs’ House for them on their arrival. When Brother George Q. Cannon called to see Sister Kimball and Sister Dougall he remarked to them that they were occupying the same room he had formerly occupied for eight months when delegate from Utah. The coincidence seemed quite singular. The visit east was somewhat remarkable in many ways and the sisters did an excellent work in removing prejudice and correcting erroneous ideas. Suggestions came to their minds in what they felt to be a strongly inspirational manner even in small things all of which redounded to their influence among the ladies to whom they had been sent. Sister Dougall relates that on one occasion, when a grand banquet was given to Miss Anthony on her seventieth birthday, all the suffragists present appeared with yellow badges (the color of the association.) While preparing to attend the banquet she had incidentally chosen some beautiful yellow roses to wear during the evening not knowing anything, at the time, of the badges or color, of the association. On appearing among her friends in the banquet hall she was the recipient of many compliments on her taste and tact in choosing yellow roses instead of the ordinary badge. Small as it may seem even this added to the sisters’ influence.
Sister Dougall is the mother of five children, two sons and three daughters, her oldest, a son, being twenty-one years of age. Last August she lost her youngest, a beautiful girl, a little over two years of age, the pet of the house and her father’s darling. The blow was a most severe one but through the blessing of the Lord she has been able to bear up marvelously and bows in submission to His will. She has one own brother, Willard, a captain in the United States Engineer Corps; one sister, Phebe Y. Beatie, living, and her oldest sister, Mary Croxall, dead. These four constituted her mother’s family. Sister Eliza R. Snow one day while Sister Dougall was visiting her in July, 1886, placed her hand on her shoulder and prophesied, saying she “should be mighty and powerful and should have the gifts of prophecy and wisdom and discernment and of mighty faith. And many not yet born should rise up and call her blessed.”
One prominent characteristic of our sister must certainly be mentioned ; a strong, earnest, simple faith in the ordinances of the Priesthood. Her children have imbibed the same loving faith, and called first and always for the administration and consecrated oil.
I can well close this sketch with a remarkable blessing or message which she recently received from her father in the spirit world.
One day about three years ago she answered a knock at the door to find one of President Young’s wives, Sister Margaret P. Young, who works in the Logan Temple, at the door.
“I have come, Maria, to deliver a message to you from your father. I haven’t been down to the city for eighteen months and desired to come down this fall to conference. The night previous to my leaving Logan I dreamed I was in the temple, and opening the door of the room in which I work, I saw your father, as plain as I ever saw him in life, standing talking to Sister Richards, the lady who officiates with me. I retired for a few moments not wishing to interrupt them, then entered again. Your father had gone, and so Sister Richards said, ‘Sister Margaret, President Young wishes you to deliver a message to his daughter, Maria, as you are going to conference in the morning, he says tell her to be a good girl, not to be lifted up in pride, but be humble and faithful in keeping the commandments of God and she shall be great for I desire her to be great.* ”
Those who know Sister Dougall best love her deeply. She is so thoroughly governed by principle that one knows that any line of action presented to her notice will be first questioned upon:
“Is this right?” not “Is this expedient?”
Her home is elegant and yet in such quiet taste that no one is dazzled, none overawed by outer magnificence. Her beautiful parlors have been used for several years for many of the business and semi-private meetings of the various associations of which she is an important part.
Her simple, earnest daily life, in which the refinements of unselfish love and regard for duty form the all pervading influence, is the best exponent of her character. Beloved by her husband, honored by her sons and daughters, and sought by the good in Zion, she may well exemplify Solomon’s happy chaunt,
“Let the Lord be magnified. Which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
MARIA YOUNG DOUGALL.
“I AM sure,” laughed Sister Dougall, when I went to her, pencil in hand, “you will neither require patience nor time to say all that can possibly be said of me.”
“Why so?” I asked.
“Well after you have said that I was born and married there is little more to say. My life has flown along like a swift, smoothly running river, with no immense boulders of special incident to ruffle the surface into eventful waves.”
“That may all be true, and yet we may find much that is deeply interesting; for no one reaches the place in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints you have occupied so long without some undercurrent, strong and true, of daily sacrifice and constant effort. It shall be my duty to reach and touch some of those hidden springs of character and purpose.”
Many of the older inhabitants of this territory remember the house built by Pres. Young for a portion of his family, called the “old log row,” which stood a little north of the old school house inside the wall which enclosed the eastern portion of Pres. Young’s city dwellings. The old school house still stands to call up vivid pictures of the happy days spent in its roomy walls. But the “log row” disappeared many years ago.
Here, in the month of December on the tenth day, 1849, Clara Chase Young, gave birth to a bright-haired little girl, who was duly christened with the sensible, good, old-fashioned name of Maria. Her oldest girl was called Mary, but so skillfully were the best characteristics of the ancient women blended in the two girls, that both were Marys and both were Marthas.
Always a quiet, sensible child, the little girl still had enough temper to furnish frequent employment to the wise mother and afterwards stepmother in grafting on the strong young soul the priceless lessons of self control and patience. Temper is to the human soul what generated power is to the machine; of incalculable value when held down by the thumbscrew’s of reason and will, but of equally great power if allowed to burst through the slender confinement of policy and conventionality. Happy is the child who has the lessons of restraint so strongly impressed that neither passion nor pleasure can destroy the iron castings of early training.
In 1855 a part of the President’s family moved into the White house on the hill, among which was Maria’s mother. A couple of years were spent in this house, and then with the rest of the family Sister Clara Chase Young moved into the nearly completed Lion House.
When the child was about seven years old, and after having been the willing mother of three girls and one son, Sister Clara C., was delivered of a still born child, and soon followed the little one to the grave. The little children were tenderly cared for by Aunts Martha B. and Margaret P. Young, wives of the President, until the year 1858, when Pres. Young requested Sister Zina D. to take the motherless children and rear them as her own. How faithfully that trust has been fulfilled none but the loving children could ever tell. One little incident well illustrates this fact.
A visitor one day came to Aunt Zina’s rooms and seeing so. many children playing about inquired,
“Are all these children yours?” “Well yes; that is,” replied Aunt Zina, “three of them are my own and the other four are the children of my husband.”
When the visitor was gone, the little Maria looked sorrowfully up into the face of her stepmother and said,
“What did you say that for, mother? About us. I love you just as well as if you had homed me.”
The name of the eldest of these motherless children was Mary. And never a girl so well deserved the lovely name and its sweet associations as did this noble girl. She was a youthful mother in whom the busy stepmother could place implicit trust. Her many calls to the sick and suffering gave the young Mary many hours of care and loving service. She is long since dead, this sweet sister Mary, but in the minds of all of those who knew and loved her, her memory dwells like the everlasting perfume of a rose of Paradise. To her then, Maria looked as an elder sister and a patient friend.
Like other nice girls Maria had her quota of youthful admirers; but she was neither flippant nor vain enough to win the epithet of coquette, and so when her heart found a safe keeping in the person of the young telegraph operator, Wm. B. Dougall, she quietly passed the successive stages of courtship, engagement and marriage with all the womanly dignity that has since been so marked a feature of her life.
The wedding was to have occurred on the 8th of June, the birthday of Mary, but President Young’s duties calling him south, he desired the young couple to be married on June 1st, his own birthday.
On June 1st, ’68 Maria Young then changed her name to Maria Y. Dougall. Her husband’s mother was Mrs. Catherine Harrocks, a Scotch lady of ancient lineage and high breeding. Into his mother’s pretty little cottage the young husband took his bride, and for twenty-two years the mother in-law has formed a part of the household.
“I want,” said Sister Dougall, in relating this fact, “to here bear my strong testimony to the happy associations I have ever enjoyed with my dear mother-in-law. She has helped me to learn many lessons of forbearance and patience. And even now in her old age, feeble as she is, no word of complaint as to her bodily afflictions ever passes her lips. She is one of earth’s choicest ones.”
Indeed, it is good to visit this home where the grandmother, beloved and revered by all, sits quietly awaiting her “summons” surrounded as she is by family ties—her son, the honored and wise head of the household, her daughter-in-law the prudent, thoughtful mother and wife, the beautiful children, the boys chivalrous and tender, the little girls loving and wise—all unite to form a domestic picture of purity the like of which I have seen but one other time in my life.
When a bride, an old friend of Sister Harrocks, a patriarch and a Saint, dear old Uncle Billy Perkins, came one day visiting. He desired to bless Maria. It was the first time he had ever blessed a child born under the new covenant of plural marriage, and he seemed visibly affected by that fact as well as by the nobility which he felt inhabited the tabernacle of the young wife. He gave her a glorious blessing, remarkable above all in that the words and terms used were like those addressed to men. The patriarch said she should perform a work in the world that should be a marvelous work and a wonder. He prophesied that she should “have a kingdom and sit upon a throne, and wear a crown of celestial glory.” Her “sons and daughters would be powerful in the Holy Priesthood, they will have power to raise the dead and to cast out devils. Your posterity will rise up and praise the Lord their God forgiving them such a mother.” “You will go to the center stake of Zion.” “In that temple you shall see many of the Saints with their resurrected bodies. In that house you shall witness the return of your Savior with a great multitude of Saints with Him. The power of God will rest so abundantly upon you that the brightness of His appearing will not dazzle your eyes.”
The young girl was astonished at the promises for she had been from childhood essentially a quiet, homegirl, domestic in the extreme.
Speaking of blessings reminds me of one given to her in a peculiar manner. While Maria was acting as counselor to Sister Mary Freeze, of the Salt Lake Stake Presidency, Sister Freeze was once in Draper, and there met Patriarch Charles Smith. She spoke kindly of Sister Dougall and her labors, when the patriarch said he felt like giving her a blessing and he would do so through Sister Freeze. Accordingly it was done. Sister Freeze came to Sister Maria’s house and repeated the blessing word for word. Having a poor memory for words, yet anxious to retain the precious promises, Sister Dougall sat down that evening and after a few words of earnest prayer she wrote the blessing down almost word for word. One phrase of this blessing was singularly prophetic—she was to have power with the young and with the old. She was also to preach the gospel to the young, and her tongue was to be unloosed. How this promise has been fulfilled, many can testify.
When her first child was about ten months old, her husband took them on a visit to Ogden. The cars were a very novel feature here at that time, and many strangers came here with curiosity to see our people. The baby was a remarkably beautiful, bright boy, already walking at ten months old, as well as lisping a number of words.
He attracted much attention in the car; especially was he admired by a party of gentlemen who sat across the aisle.
These gentlemen at last drifted into a discussion of the baneful effects of polygamy, especially to the offspring of such unions.
The talk became so bitter and was so altogether untrue that Sister Dougall’s sense of justice could brook the implied insults no longer. Grasping her toddling babe, she held him up as she said,
“Gentlemen, this is a product of polygamy. He is also a grandson of Brigham Young.”
The bombshell did its work thoroughly and peace and civility reigned supreme in that car.
Sister Dougall was first called to a public position in 1877, when she accepted the position of First Counselor to the President of the 17th Ward Y. L. M. I. A. Acting in that capacity for three years, she next became President of the Association. Three years she acted in that position and was then chosen to act as Counselor to the Stake Presidency of the Y. L. M. I. A. Three years she spent in that capacity, and in the fall of 1887 was chosen as First Counselor to President Elmina S. Taylor, being set apart by President George Q. Cannon to fill that office. All of her trusts were accepted and fulfilled in the humble, earnest manner that characterizes the true Saint.
Sister Dougall has made one trip to the coast in 1874, one trip, in company with her husband, east in 1883, on which trip they visited Washington, and were the recipients of many courtesies from both President Cannon, who was there, as well as from Delegate Caine. They visited congress and heard the arguments of Senators Edmunds, Logan, Call, of Florida, and Brown, of Georgia, on the Edmund’s Bill, then before the Senate.
Her last visit east was made last winter when she went to Washington with Sister Sarah M. Kimball, as a delegate to the N. W. S. A. Her trip was highly successful as well as pleasurable, and was so considered by Miss Anthony, whose introduction of them to the assembly was brief but expressive. She said, “Utah had the franchise for seventeen years, had lost it, but was now struggling to regain it. Utah is here today,” concluded Miss Anthony, “with a magnificent delegation.”
Miss Anthony was extremely kind in her attentions and secured a room in the Riggs’ House for them on their arrival. When Brother George Q. Cannon called to see Sister Kimball and Sister Dougall he remarked to them that they were occupying the same room he had formerly occupied for eight months when delegate from Utah. The coincidence seemed quite singular. The visit east was somewhat remarkable in many ways and the sisters did an excellent work in removing prejudice and correcting erroneous ideas. Suggestions came to their minds in what they felt to be a strongly inspirational manner even in small things all of which redounded to their influence among the ladies to whom they had been sent. Sister Dougall relates that on one occasion, when a grand banquet was given to Miss Anthony on her seventieth birthday, all the suffragists present appeared with yellow badges (the color of the association.) While preparing to attend the banquet she had incidentally chosen some beautiful yellow roses to wear during the evening not knowing anything, at the time, of the badges or color, of the association. On appearing among her friends in the banquet hall she was the recipient of many compliments on her taste and tact in choosing yellow roses instead of the ordinary badge. Small as it may seem even this added to the sisters’ influence.
Sister Dougall is the mother of five children, two sons and three daughters, her oldest, a son, being twenty-one years of age. Last August she lost her youngest, a beautiful girl, a little over two years of age, the pet of the house and her father’s darling. The blow was a most severe one but through the blessing of the Lord she has been able to bear up marvelously and bows in submission to His will. She has one own brother, Willard, a captain in the United States Engineer Corps; one sister, Phebe Y. Beatie, living, and her oldest sister, Mary Croxall, dead. These four constituted her mother’s family. Sister Eliza R. Snow one day while Sister Dougall was visiting her in July, 1886, placed her hand on her shoulder and prophesied, saying she “should be mighty and powerful and should have the gifts of prophecy and wisdom and discernment and of mighty faith. And many not yet born should rise up and call her blessed.”
One prominent characteristic of our sister must certainly be mentioned ; a strong, earnest, simple faith in the ordinances of the Priesthood. Her children have imbibed the same loving faith, and called first and always for the administration and consecrated oil.
I can well close this sketch with a remarkable blessing or message which she recently received from her father in the spirit world.
One day about three years ago she answered a knock at the door to find one of President Young’s wives, Sister Margaret P. Young, who works in the Logan Temple, at the door.
“I have come, Maria, to deliver a message to you from your father. I haven’t been down to the city for eighteen months and desired to come down this fall to conference. The night previous to my leaving Logan I dreamed I was in the temple, and opening the door of the room in which I work, I saw your father, as plain as I ever saw him in life, standing talking to Sister Richards, the lady who officiates with me. I retired for a few moments not wishing to interrupt them, then entered again. Your father had gone, and so Sister Richards said, ‘Sister Margaret, President Young wishes you to deliver a message to his daughter, Maria, as you are going to conference in the morning, he says tell her to be a good girl, not to be lifted up in pride, but be humble and faithful in keeping the commandments of God and she shall be great for I desire her to be great.* ”
Those who know Sister Dougall best love her deeply. She is so thoroughly governed by principle that one knows that any line of action presented to her notice will be first questioned upon:
“Is this right?” not “Is this expedient?”
Her home is elegant and yet in such quiet taste that no one is dazzled, none overawed by outer magnificence. Her beautiful parlors have been used for several years for many of the business and semi-private meetings of the various associations of which she is an important part.
Her simple, earnest daily life, in which the refinements of unselfish love and regard for duty form the all pervading influence, is the best exponent of her character. Beloved by her husband, honored by her sons and daughters, and sought by the good in Zion, she may well exemplify Solomon’s happy chaunt,
“Let the Lord be magnified. Which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
Dougall, Maria Young. "Reminiscences." Young Woman's Journal. November 1919. pg. 594-595.
Reminiscences.
By Maria Young Dougall
“How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood, When fond recollection presents them to view.”
How well I remember the old Lion House parlor, where my beloved father called his family together every evening for prayer. Father came from his office to the parlor. Oftentimes he brought some one with him, perhaps one of his brothers, or some of the Twelve, and sometimes intimate friends of the family came in for prayer. At 7:30 Father would take the prayer bell from its accustomed place, and look around to see if any of the children were there to ring it, something the children liked to do. If none were present, he would ring it himself, and all the family would gather for evening prayer. When the prayer was ended, the children left, but the wives and visitors and the older children remained for a pleasant chat. I recall some of the conversations he had with Aunt Eliza, my mother, and others of his wives after prayer was over, concerning his children. How anxious he was to organize his daughters into some sort of society for the repression of extravagance, frivolity, table expenditures, etc., and for the cultivation of spiritual knowledge and mutual improvement.
One evening in 1868, when our family prayer was over, our honored father with his brother, Daniel H. Wells, and some of the family, was still chatting. Father led in a discussion on the effects the incoming railroad, which was nearing completion, would have upon our people.
"Yes,” he remarked, “we left the world, but the ‘World’ is coming to us; and our people will be tempted to follow after the foolish fashions, especially the young. They will not have the same kind of trials their fathers and mothers have passed through. They will be tried with the pride and follies and pleasures of a sinful world. We must arm them to resist them by the power of faith and understanding.’’
I distinctly remember the meeting held November 28, 1869, where Father organized his daughters into the first Retrenchment Society, which is so well described in the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement History. He wanted us to set an example to the daughters of Zion that would he worthy of imitation.
The first meeting after our organization was held at Aunt Emmeline’s, in the old Grant home on Main Street. Those present, besides the members of the society, were Aunt Eliza, Sister Zina, Sister Horne. Aunt Bathsheba, Sister S. M. Kimball, Sister Phoebe Woodruff, and others. Instructions were given to us by Aunt Eliza as to the objects and aims of the society. We were to have resolutions and by-laws, and we were to retrench in our clothing. Instead of having six widths of calico in the skirts of our dresses, we should reduce them to four, and the overskirts and “pinbacks” were to be abolished altogether. If any of us had ruffles on the bottoms of our skirts, they we erto be taken off. All kinds of trimmings were to be done away with.
As I think of that meeting now it seems rather pathetic as well as humorous. I recall Aunt Bathsheba asking, in her sweet innocent way, "Sister Eliza, do we have to take even the caps off the tops of our sleeves?”
While we had been previously allowed to have ruffles, overskirts, and "pinbacks,” anything suggesting a "Grecian Bend” was prohibited, but some of us could not resist the temptation of pinning up the backs of our overskirts, being very careful, however, to remove the pins before going to prayers.
Many of us cut rather sorry figures when we had removed the ruffles, as our skirts were of two distinct shades: at the bottom the material was bright and new looking, the original colors, the upper part decidedly light and faded.
I remember my sister Zina had quite a blow when she met a good brother who lived near by, who 'remarked, "Why, Zina, your (Tress is so changed that you look like a yard of pump water.”
One evening T went to the Lion House to be present at family prayer. I noticed my sister Fanny was there as usual. Father remained to visit with his family. Aunt Eliza, looking searchingly at Fanny, remarked, "President Young, I think Fanny has too many buttons on her dress.”
Father glanced at Fanny and then at Aunt Eliza, and said, "It looks to me as if you had a gross on your own, and I notice you have an overskirt too.”
Not at all abashed, Aunt Eliza answered, "Well, President Young, this is a homespun dress which I have worn for many years. I am going to have it made over, and I assure you that all the trimming shall then be left off.”
We met a number of times in the old Lion House that winter and then we joined the organizations in the different wards in which we resided. I joined the Thirteenth Ward, which had just been organized with Miss Flora Shipp as President. In the meantime the Relief Society was organized into a general Retrenchment Association, with Sister M. L. Horne as president, and we were regular attendants.
I remember a little incident on the occasion of our first attendance. My sister, Ella Empey, was our President, and she and I were sitting near the front. She was of course very plainly dressed, but she had a small pink ribbon bow on her white linen collar. One of the sisters signaled to her and rebuked her for wearing even as much as a ribbon bow at her neck.
As time went on, new dresses replaced our old, partly faded ones, which were ever reminders of our previous disappointments and we became accustomed to our change in style and ceased to regret our ruffles and overskirts, and went on with our retrenchment work in earnest. And now these experiences which were then really great trials are only memories of our bygone days.
Reminiscences.
By Maria Young Dougall
“How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood, When fond recollection presents them to view.”
How well I remember the old Lion House parlor, where my beloved father called his family together every evening for prayer. Father came from his office to the parlor. Oftentimes he brought some one with him, perhaps one of his brothers, or some of the Twelve, and sometimes intimate friends of the family came in for prayer. At 7:30 Father would take the prayer bell from its accustomed place, and look around to see if any of the children were there to ring it, something the children liked to do. If none were present, he would ring it himself, and all the family would gather for evening prayer. When the prayer was ended, the children left, but the wives and visitors and the older children remained for a pleasant chat. I recall some of the conversations he had with Aunt Eliza, my mother, and others of his wives after prayer was over, concerning his children. How anxious he was to organize his daughters into some sort of society for the repression of extravagance, frivolity, table expenditures, etc., and for the cultivation of spiritual knowledge and mutual improvement.
One evening in 1868, when our family prayer was over, our honored father with his brother, Daniel H. Wells, and some of the family, was still chatting. Father led in a discussion on the effects the incoming railroad, which was nearing completion, would have upon our people.
"Yes,” he remarked, “we left the world, but the ‘World’ is coming to us; and our people will be tempted to follow after the foolish fashions, especially the young. They will not have the same kind of trials their fathers and mothers have passed through. They will be tried with the pride and follies and pleasures of a sinful world. We must arm them to resist them by the power of faith and understanding.’’
I distinctly remember the meeting held November 28, 1869, where Father organized his daughters into the first Retrenchment Society, which is so well described in the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement History. He wanted us to set an example to the daughters of Zion that would he worthy of imitation.
The first meeting after our organization was held at Aunt Emmeline’s, in the old Grant home on Main Street. Those present, besides the members of the society, were Aunt Eliza, Sister Zina, Sister Horne. Aunt Bathsheba, Sister S. M. Kimball, Sister Phoebe Woodruff, and others. Instructions were given to us by Aunt Eliza as to the objects and aims of the society. We were to have resolutions and by-laws, and we were to retrench in our clothing. Instead of having six widths of calico in the skirts of our dresses, we should reduce them to four, and the overskirts and “pinbacks” were to be abolished altogether. If any of us had ruffles on the bottoms of our skirts, they we erto be taken off. All kinds of trimmings were to be done away with.
As I think of that meeting now it seems rather pathetic as well as humorous. I recall Aunt Bathsheba asking, in her sweet innocent way, "Sister Eliza, do we have to take even the caps off the tops of our sleeves?”
While we had been previously allowed to have ruffles, overskirts, and "pinbacks,” anything suggesting a "Grecian Bend” was prohibited, but some of us could not resist the temptation of pinning up the backs of our overskirts, being very careful, however, to remove the pins before going to prayers.
Many of us cut rather sorry figures when we had removed the ruffles, as our skirts were of two distinct shades: at the bottom the material was bright and new looking, the original colors, the upper part decidedly light and faded.
I remember my sister Zina had quite a blow when she met a good brother who lived near by, who 'remarked, "Why, Zina, your (Tress is so changed that you look like a yard of pump water.”
One evening T went to the Lion House to be present at family prayer. I noticed my sister Fanny was there as usual. Father remained to visit with his family. Aunt Eliza, looking searchingly at Fanny, remarked, "President Young, I think Fanny has too many buttons on her dress.”
Father glanced at Fanny and then at Aunt Eliza, and said, "It looks to me as if you had a gross on your own, and I notice you have an overskirt too.”
Not at all abashed, Aunt Eliza answered, "Well, President Young, this is a homespun dress which I have worn for many years. I am going to have it made over, and I assure you that all the trimming shall then be left off.”
We met a number of times in the old Lion House that winter and then we joined the organizations in the different wards in which we resided. I joined the Thirteenth Ward, which had just been organized with Miss Flora Shipp as President. In the meantime the Relief Society was organized into a general Retrenchment Association, with Sister M. L. Horne as president, and we were regular attendants.
I remember a little incident on the occasion of our first attendance. My sister, Ella Empey, was our President, and she and I were sitting near the front. She was of course very plainly dressed, but she had a small pink ribbon bow on her white linen collar. One of the sisters signaled to her and rebuked her for wearing even as much as a ribbon bow at her neck.
As time went on, new dresses replaced our old, partly faded ones, which were ever reminders of our previous disappointments and we became accustomed to our change in style and ceased to regret our ruffles and overskirts, and went on with our retrenchment work in earnest. And now these experiences which were then really great trials are only memories of our bygone days.
Jensen, Harold H. "True Pioneer Stories - Maria Y. Dougall." Juvenile Instructor. November 1927. pg. 610-611.
True Pioneer Stories
By Harold H. Jensen
Maria Y. Dougall
Utah has some wonderful women, many of whom are still living. The writer intends featuring a number of articles that tell of the life's work of these women, some of whom figured prominently in pioneer life, growing up with the state of Utah.
Among these is Maria Young Dougall, daughter of President Brigham Young and Clarissa Chase, who was born in Salt Lake City, Dec. 10, 1849, two years after the pioneers came. Sister Dougall is one of the most charming personalities one could meet. One characteristic of the Young's, well worth mentioning that Sister Dougall possesses, is worth patterning after, that is always speak well of everyone. Her motto could be termed "if you can't say anything good about a person do not say anything bad."
But on with the story. Introductions are hardly necessary in this case, for hundreds know Sister Dougall and her worth.
In brief, Sister Dougall said, "I was born in what was called the 'Old Log Row,' where now stands the Eagle Gate apartments. My mother died when I was just eight years old, and my subsequent training was under the 'judicious care of Zina D. H. Young. My first recollection is of our early home, for my parents had moved out of the Old Fort, and the White House, the official residence of my father, then Governor Young, was in course of erection. We did not have the luxuries of today, though we did have a good school. My father had a family school. About 75 attended, mostly his children and grandchildren, although the families of Heber C. Kimball and Daniel H. Wells also came. We were taught the three 'R's' and grammar and spelling. The desks were home-made at father's carpenter shop. My desk I still prize, and is housed with the Pioneer Relics at the State Capitol.
"We went to Church with our parents in the Bowery and old Tabernacle.
"I can also remember Indians visiting father, whose plan was 'it is better to feed them than fight them.' I recall one winter Chief Arapeen and his wife lived in a little adobe house, formerly a shoe shop in the rear of father's yard. The Indians used to come down to Main Street, then called by some 'Whiskey Street,' light a bon fire and give dances singing 'ha ya,' 'ha ya.' They were friendly and never harmed us.
"I think also of our family prayer meetings. Each evening the bell would ring and the families would assemble in the Lion house, and father would lead in prayer. Often his apostles came with him, for in those days most of the council meetings were held at night, as many of the brethren worked in the daytime.
"The majority of father's family lived in the Lion House, although two families lived in the Beehive House. The Amelia Palace, was not built for President Young's wife 'Amelia,' but was the Gardo House, built as the office for President Young where he might receive visitors and have larger quarters.
"My father was anxious that his family set the example and wanted all to 'retrench.' That meant not to (follow the pattern and styles of the day, but to dress, act and dance properly. To accomplish this he organized in his own family, in the parlor of the Lion House, the Retrenchment Association, Nov. 28, 1869, with Ada Y. Empey, president; Emily Y. Clawson, Zina Y. Williams, Caroline Young and myself a counselors. I can well remember our long full skirts, some ankle length, some with trails that dragged in the dirt. Long sleeves and high necks. Also our 'Linsey Woolsey's,' as we called our home made cotton and wool dresses, home-spun. Father had his own weaver, John Lyon, and the weave room often turned out plaid and patterns that our mothers designed.
"We also had our own dancing school, under the direction of Henry Maiben, cultured Englishman, who taught us the waltzes, square dances and fancy numbers of his own origination. We had parties and invited our friends, but always had a select crowd. Father's office force, many of whom were musicians, organized what was known as the 'Shanghai Band.' I remember ' H. K. Whitney played the flute, John Mills the violin and 'Billie' Foster, the accordion. We were not allowed to wear the frills, full overskirts, Parisian bends and pinch backs, that others wore at dances, but our clothes were beautiful, though plain.
"The Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association is an outgrowth of the original Retrenchment Association. At its organization, in 1877, Elmina S. Taylor was chosen president. I was chosen first counselor in place of Margaret Y. Taylor who resigned. Martha H. Tingey, the present president of Y. L. M. I. A. was second counselor. In 1879 I was made president of the 17th Ward Y. L. M. I. A.
"I have not taken active part in women's politics, though I went on four different occasions to the conventions of Council of Women, arid also the Suffrage Convention held in Washington, in 1887. I well remember how Utah was the second to grant suffrage to women, Wyoming being the first. This state has always given women a fair deal and they have been partly responsible for its growth. I also assisted Isabella M. Home in establishing the 'Women's Co-op.' and helped Emmeline B. Wells start the Reaper's Club. With Annie Hyde, organized the Daughter's of Utah Pioneers and have worked in every organization.
Today, I think, the war has made a change in women. During that period they were called to do men's work and many think themselves independent. Often I sit and watch them pass in the morning and cannot help but note the change in dress and manner, yet there are just as good girls in the world as yesterday, although I think a woman's first place is in the home. Early marriages are discouraged today, though at 18 I married William B. Dougall and never regretted it. I have been a widow for 14 years and Temple Work has helped pass away the time, though for 33 years I have been a Temple worker.
In looking back I still think the home is the place. Among my happiest days were spent in the Lion House. I cannot remember any serious quarrels. Our families helped each other, for in. unity there was strength."
True Pioneer Stories
By Harold H. Jensen
Maria Y. Dougall
Utah has some wonderful women, many of whom are still living. The writer intends featuring a number of articles that tell of the life's work of these women, some of whom figured prominently in pioneer life, growing up with the state of Utah.
Among these is Maria Young Dougall, daughter of President Brigham Young and Clarissa Chase, who was born in Salt Lake City, Dec. 10, 1849, two years after the pioneers came. Sister Dougall is one of the most charming personalities one could meet. One characteristic of the Young's, well worth mentioning that Sister Dougall possesses, is worth patterning after, that is always speak well of everyone. Her motto could be termed "if you can't say anything good about a person do not say anything bad."
But on with the story. Introductions are hardly necessary in this case, for hundreds know Sister Dougall and her worth.
In brief, Sister Dougall said, "I was born in what was called the 'Old Log Row,' where now stands the Eagle Gate apartments. My mother died when I was just eight years old, and my subsequent training was under the 'judicious care of Zina D. H. Young. My first recollection is of our early home, for my parents had moved out of the Old Fort, and the White House, the official residence of my father, then Governor Young, was in course of erection. We did not have the luxuries of today, though we did have a good school. My father had a family school. About 75 attended, mostly his children and grandchildren, although the families of Heber C. Kimball and Daniel H. Wells also came. We were taught the three 'R's' and grammar and spelling. The desks were home-made at father's carpenter shop. My desk I still prize, and is housed with the Pioneer Relics at the State Capitol.
"We went to Church with our parents in the Bowery and old Tabernacle.
"I can also remember Indians visiting father, whose plan was 'it is better to feed them than fight them.' I recall one winter Chief Arapeen and his wife lived in a little adobe house, formerly a shoe shop in the rear of father's yard. The Indians used to come down to Main Street, then called by some 'Whiskey Street,' light a bon fire and give dances singing 'ha ya,' 'ha ya.' They were friendly and never harmed us.
"I think also of our family prayer meetings. Each evening the bell would ring and the families would assemble in the Lion house, and father would lead in prayer. Often his apostles came with him, for in those days most of the council meetings were held at night, as many of the brethren worked in the daytime.
"The majority of father's family lived in the Lion House, although two families lived in the Beehive House. The Amelia Palace, was not built for President Young's wife 'Amelia,' but was the Gardo House, built as the office for President Young where he might receive visitors and have larger quarters.
"My father was anxious that his family set the example and wanted all to 'retrench.' That meant not to (follow the pattern and styles of the day, but to dress, act and dance properly. To accomplish this he organized in his own family, in the parlor of the Lion House, the Retrenchment Association, Nov. 28, 1869, with Ada Y. Empey, president; Emily Y. Clawson, Zina Y. Williams, Caroline Young and myself a counselors. I can well remember our long full skirts, some ankle length, some with trails that dragged in the dirt. Long sleeves and high necks. Also our 'Linsey Woolsey's,' as we called our home made cotton and wool dresses, home-spun. Father had his own weaver, John Lyon, and the weave room often turned out plaid and patterns that our mothers designed.
"We also had our own dancing school, under the direction of Henry Maiben, cultured Englishman, who taught us the waltzes, square dances and fancy numbers of his own origination. We had parties and invited our friends, but always had a select crowd. Father's office force, many of whom were musicians, organized what was known as the 'Shanghai Band.' I remember ' H. K. Whitney played the flute, John Mills the violin and 'Billie' Foster, the accordion. We were not allowed to wear the frills, full overskirts, Parisian bends and pinch backs, that others wore at dances, but our clothes were beautiful, though plain.
"The Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association is an outgrowth of the original Retrenchment Association. At its organization, in 1877, Elmina S. Taylor was chosen president. I was chosen first counselor in place of Margaret Y. Taylor who resigned. Martha H. Tingey, the present president of Y. L. M. I. A. was second counselor. In 1879 I was made president of the 17th Ward Y. L. M. I. A.
"I have not taken active part in women's politics, though I went on four different occasions to the conventions of Council of Women, arid also the Suffrage Convention held in Washington, in 1887. I well remember how Utah was the second to grant suffrage to women, Wyoming being the first. This state has always given women a fair deal and they have been partly responsible for its growth. I also assisted Isabella M. Home in establishing the 'Women's Co-op.' and helped Emmeline B. Wells start the Reaper's Club. With Annie Hyde, organized the Daughter's of Utah Pioneers and have worked in every organization.
Today, I think, the war has made a change in women. During that period they were called to do men's work and many think themselves independent. Often I sit and watch them pass in the morning and cannot help but note the change in dress and manner, yet there are just as good girls in the world as yesterday, although I think a woman's first place is in the home. Early marriages are discouraged today, though at 18 I married William B. Dougall and never regretted it. I have been a widow for 14 years and Temple Work has helped pass away the time, though for 33 years I have been a Temple worker.
In looking back I still think the home is the place. Among my happiest days were spent in the Lion House. I cannot remember any serious quarrels. Our families helped each other, for in. unity there was strength."
"Maria Y. Dougall." Relief Society Magazine. June 1935. pg. 374.
Maria Y. Dougall
THE long and beautiful earth life of Maria Young Dougall came to its close April 30, 1935. It was her privilege to live to the age of 85, so during her life she saw the transition from the candle to the electric light, from the ox team to the automobile and flying machine. With great satisfaction she saw her people become firmly established in the Rocky Mountains. She watched the progress of the world and rejoiced in every improvement that came to make life happier and fuller.
She loved the beautiful and looked for the best in her associates. She was generous with her means and the soul of hospitality.
In her time she played many roles. She was a devoted daughter, a loving wife, mother and grandmother. In the precincts of the Temple, she labored for many years and because of her beautiful spirit she was ideal for this service. She worked in the Primary Association in early days but gave it up to devote her time and energy to the Mutual Improvement Association. She was an officer in the first Retrenchment Association organized by her father. She served as President of the 17th Ward Y. W. M. I. A. and as Counselor to Mary Freeze of the old Salt Lake Stake, then as Counselor to Elmina S. Taylor and also to Martha H. Tingey. She was an honorary member of the General Board at the time of her death.
Among the many beautiful lessons she left for examples to be emulated are: Her cheerfulness, her loving interest, her spirit of blessing. When she no longer could be active in organization work, she often said, "I can pray for you and for this great Cause."
May her family and friends emulate her virtues. Their association with her will fill their minds with sweet memories.
Maria Y. Dougall
THE long and beautiful earth life of Maria Young Dougall came to its close April 30, 1935. It was her privilege to live to the age of 85, so during her life she saw the transition from the candle to the electric light, from the ox team to the automobile and flying machine. With great satisfaction she saw her people become firmly established in the Rocky Mountains. She watched the progress of the world and rejoiced in every improvement that came to make life happier and fuller.
She loved the beautiful and looked for the best in her associates. She was generous with her means and the soul of hospitality.
In her time she played many roles. She was a devoted daughter, a loving wife, mother and grandmother. In the precincts of the Temple, she labored for many years and because of her beautiful spirit she was ideal for this service. She worked in the Primary Association in early days but gave it up to devote her time and energy to the Mutual Improvement Association. She was an officer in the first Retrenchment Association organized by her father. She served as President of the 17th Ward Y. W. M. I. A. and as Counselor to Mary Freeze of the old Salt Lake Stake, then as Counselor to Elmina S. Taylor and also to Martha H. Tingey. She was an honorary member of the General Board at the time of her death.
Among the many beautiful lessons she left for examples to be emulated are: Her cheerfulness, her loving interest, her spirit of blessing. When she no longer could be active in organization work, she often said, "I can pray for you and for this great Cause."
May her family and friends emulate her virtues. Their association with her will fill their minds with sweet memories.