Eliza Roxcy Snow (1804-1887)

21 Jan. 1804–5 Dec. 1887. Poet, teacher, seamstress, milliner. Born in Becket, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Daughter of Oliver Snow and Rosetta Leonora Pettibone. Moved to Mantua, Trumbull Co., Ohio, ca. 1806. Member of Baptist church. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5 Apr. 1835, in Mantua. Donated funds for construction of Kirtland temple. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1837. Moved to Adam-ondi-Ahman, Daviess Co., Missouri, 1838. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, 1839. Served as first secretary of Female Relief Society, beginning 1842, in Nauvoo. Plural wife of Joseph Smith, married on 29 June 1842. Lived with Joseph Smith and family, Aug. 1842–1843. Acted as scribe for Joseph Smith’s journal, Sept. 1842. Moved to Yelrome, Hancock Co., July 1843. Married Brigham Young as a plural wife, 3 Oct. 1844, in Nauvoo. Moved to Winter Quarters, unorganized U.S. territory (later in Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), 1846. Migrated to Salt Lake City, 1847. Oversaw reestablishment and operation of ward relief societies, 1868–1880, in Salt Lake City. Served mission to Palestine to witness rededication of land for return of Jews, 1872–1873. Served as general president of Relief Society, 1880–1887. Known as Eliza R. Snow Smith, 1880–1887. Died in Salt Lake City.

Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.