Emeline Free was born in Belleville, St Claire, Illinois to Absalom and Betsy Strait Free. Absalom’s first wife had died, leaving him with 4 children. He married Betsy a couple years later. Emeline was the second of their 12 children.
They were deeply religious and therefore, according to the history of Absalom Pennington Free, “It is easy to understand the enthusiasms they felt when word reached them that an angel was coming to visit their community. This term “angel” was commonly used when referring to the Mormon Elder. This was in the summer of 1830, soon after the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Free home was the largest in the neighborhood, so it was natural that meeting preparations should be made in their home. They listened, asked questions, and visited, however they did not accept the Gospel at this time. They became very fond of the missionary and invited him to return if ever he was in their neighborhood again. It was not long until this Elder did return, but he came with the chills and fever and needed care.
Betsy tenderly nursed him back to health. During the two weeks he was convalescing, he talked to her about the Gospel and by the time he was well enough to leave, she was ready for baptism, but not her husband, nor any other member of the family. However, the seeds were sown and when Elders Simon Carter and John Brown called on them in 1834, they were ready to listen. Andrew and Mary Pennington, Absalom and Betsy, two sisters and a large number of other relatives were baptized and became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at this time.
As soon as they became members of the Church, they were eager to join others of their faith in Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri. They sold their property and moved to Far West where Absalom purchased land and built another lovely home. They were considered well-to-do. Persecution was great during this time in church history. The Saints had been driven out of Jackson County, Missouri, and mobs were ravaging Davis County, but there had been peace in the city of Far West. This was the beginning of trouble for the Free family. When Absalom, joined the forces for defense of the city, he left a sick son at home with the women folk, who, with five other families, had to defend their homes and their lives…” (2)
The family continued to join in the sufferings and privations of the early days of the Church and eventually landed in Nauvoo, IL. It was here that Emeline was married to Brigham Young on April 30, 1845.
She traveled with the Brigham Young family to the Salt Lake Valley in 1848, one child in tow. After arriving in Salt Lake, Emeline and Brigham had 9 more children, making 10 total.
“She was above medium height, very fair and of fine appearance.” (1) “Beautiful as a dream,” Susa Young Gates remembered. “Magnetic, with dark brown hair, regular features, sparkling eyes, a certain vivacity of manner which instantly won and held the pleased attention of her listeners, she was the mother of ten of father’s children. Six beautiful daughters and four sturdy sons, she was beloved of father and certainly admired by all her sister wives…” (4) Another source mentioned that Brigham loved to dance with her at parties.
Toward the end of her life, she “lived many years as an invalid, but those years were not spent in useless repining. Her time was ever occupied by mental culture, and her sick room was illuminated by the light of intellectual thought. Her conversation at times was most spiritually beautiful, and on such occasions her face would light up…” (3)
She died in Salt Lake City July 17, 1875. Her home stood where the City Creek Mall now stands.
Her obituary describes her as follows:
“We are seldom called upon to mourn the loss of one more beautiful in character or more mature in christian faith. She was blessed by nature with a rare union of gentleness and strength, of sensitiveness and firmness, of free, joyous life and deep thoughtfulness. Her face was the true index of her heart - it was marked by purity and earnestness… Her trust in God was like that of a little child… In prayer, she found both joy and strength… As a mother, her devotion was unsurpassed… Her ready sympathy and words of encouragement will long live in the hearts of those who were privileged to know her.” (3)
Notes:
1 - Pictures and Biographies of Brigham Young and His Wives. James H Cockrell - publisher.
2 - https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJZ-783
3 - Salt Lake Herald-Republican. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=11610378
4 - Susa Young Dunford Gates in her biography of and with her mother, Lucy Bigelow Young