Emma Lee

by Juanita Brooks

The biography of a plural wife to John D. Lee during the years following the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

Genres: Religion, History, Nonfiction, Biography, American History

113 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1975

Reviews

[Abby]

Such a fascinating biography, because while I’ve never read an account of a more badass pioneer woman, I can’t bring myself to call her story inspiring because it was the unfortunate circumstance of her marriage to a truly evil man, John D. Lee, the main perpetrator of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, that caused the unique situations where she was forced to rise up as such a badass. Going into this biography I expected to find a portrait of a subservient woman who was coerced and abused by her awful husband. But no, it was Emma, who, after crossing the plains with the Martin and Willie handcart companies, practically handpicked John D. Lee as her husband. And it was Emma, who, through the will of her own, defended and served the husband that she truly loved and who truly loved her, right up until his execution. In this book I also expected to find a John D. Lee that would match the portraits I’ve read of him in connection to the massacre, one of an unforgiving, soulless murderer, but instead I was shown a man that I never would have suspected of such horrific acts had I not known from other contexts. He appeared to be a very caring husband and father (or at least as much of a caring husband and father you can be in a large polygamous family). But while he wasn’t a manipulator or abuser, it was still because of his actions at the massacre and its fallout that Emma was forced into such physical and emotional hardship. Her most difficult period was as the steward over the property at Lee’s ferry, where she lived dozens of miles away from anyone but her children and some nearby natives. She was forced to take on every role—mother, homesteader, farmer, cook, construction worker, ferry operator. At that home she even delivered her last baby with the help of no one but her teenage son. This is all to say that while I have such a deep respect for how Emma persevered through all these hardships, I also despise the circumstances that brought her there. But I won’t call her a victim, because she would never call herself a victim. It just pains me to wonder if she would have married John D. Lee had she learned of the massacre beforehand, and what she truly thought and believed about his involvement. Ultimately her story is one of a woman whose entire life was shaped by being caught in the crosshairs of such a bizarre, unique, and tragic event in Mormon history, and it was a life of both tragedy and a triumph.

[Sharla Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Lee was a remarkable woman. Reading about her helped me be more grateful and think kindly about my difficulties. She did hard things for the whole of her life. Juanita's style of prose was endearing and left me feeling grateful to know that I will have a chance to meet Emma some day.

[Teresa Segura · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Doyle Lee (the only person convicted and killed for his part in the Mountain Meadows Massacre) is one of my ancestors. Emma Lee was one of his many wives, and as I read about her life I started hoping she was my ancestor too. Alas, we are from another one of John’s wives. Emma Lee was strong, devoted, sassy, and confident - everything want to be! Except a polygamous wife, of course.

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juanita is a VERY impressive historian and writer. Not only can she synthesize journals and historical documents into prose but she also understands the pilgrimage of Mormons to Utah, intimately.

It’s empowering to know that I come from such determined and strong women that served so devotedly in their faith no matter what life threw at them.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read a book like this that really shows the true lives of pioneers. I want to read more. It was so interesting to read about their lives and their culture. How different it is from today.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about Emma Lee, but then I am a fan of Juanita Brooks, that stunningly talented and fearless woman. My only complaint is that I was hungry for more about the Lee's life, their lives as they struggled and worked themselves half to death. Reading it left me wanting to know more about her, and left me with a sadness when considering the hardships she endured. It also left me feeling sad for the many Lee ancestors who were shunned for no good reason. So much for people being punished for their own sins and not for someone else's transgressions. I admire her and I'm not inclined to judge John D. Lee, whatever his involvement in that tragic affair at Mountain Meadows. He clearly had admirable qualities, very evident if one bothers to look at his life as a whole.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I need to find another of her books-mountain meadows massacre for sure!. Very eye opening to plural marriage in ways I’ve not heard before.
Learning of this Emma, her life sounds so hard and tiring, but she thrived. I definitely need to delve into more historical books if this time now.

[Judson Hart]

Grandma Anne

[Jacob Lines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juanita Brooks is a very good historian. She is also a wonderful writer. This book tells the life story of Emma Batchelor from England, who crossed the plains in the Willie and Martin handcart companies and then married the famous John D. Lee, who, unbeknownst to her, had been involved in the Mountains Meadows Massacre just months before. This is a remarkable story of a strong and faithful woman who suffered for her faith and for her husband’s choices. The book follows her as she moves from place to place, at times to help John stay in hiding, and works tirelessly to build a home in the deserts of southern Utah and northern Arizona. After John’s execution, she eventually remarried and spent her later life as a healer in Winslow, Arizona. While I have great feelings of disappointment and revulsion about John D. Lee, I am fascinated with this woman that was so faithful and true in the face of so much opposition. I can’t pretend to understand what she and John were thinking and feeling, but this book makes a good start.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the summer of 1976 each week I loaded rafts at Lee's Ferry just below Lake Powell. It was brutally hot and I wondered what it was like for the pioneers who lived there. The remains of some of the pioneer cabins remain in the area. This short book is the biography of Emma Lee one of John D. Lee's polygamous wives and the one who ran Lee's Ferry. I really liked this book and had tremendous respect for Emma and the hardships she endured. It also gave me more insights into how isolated some of these pioneers were and what happened to their families as they moved into the 20th century. It is a short book but I took more from its 100 pages than from 400 pages of much more popular novels.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this biography, Juanita Brooks tells the story of Emma Lee, an English convert to the Mormon Church who came across the plains in the doomed Martin and Willie handcart companies, became a plural wife to the infamous John D. Lee, birthed six (?) healthy children, cheerfully braved the harsh climates of the Southwest, and operated Lee's Ferry for years practically by herself. This woman was remarkable, and Brooks captures her strength with respectful and honest realism. This is a fantastic read detailing the life of an incredible woman on the frontier. Highly recommended.

[Lee Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short book about a pioneer woman who crossed the plains in the handcart company and her marriage to John D. Lee. It is an excellent read. You learn to admire her courage and loyalty and her hard work. You also learn to admire, and I even felt love, for John D. Lee. A great man that suffered a martyr death. I recomment it highly.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book about one of the wives of John D. Lee. Very powerful and tragic pioneer story.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an awesome book. I love Emma already. I love history stories.