History of Matilda Price Spencer

By Claudia Spencer Sadler

Matilda Price Spencer was born February 26, 1843 in Birmingham, England. Her father was Edward Price (1817-1875); a merchant in Birmingham, and her mother was Matilda Lawrence (1821-1864), who was an expert dressmaker. Matilda was the third child and the first living child born in the family. Edward, Matilda’s father, was born in Tatenhill, England to William Price a merchant and Jane Rode. Her mother was born in Bronsgrove or Whilley, England and was the daughter of John Lawrence a lawyer and Lettitia Langston. Lettitia died when her daughter Matilda was two years old and so the child was left in care of her grandmother Hannah Langston.

A few months before Matilda’s birth in 1842, her mother had a dream.

"I dreamed that I heard a man preaching a strange doctrine that I had never heard before, and I woke up thrilled with happiness and contentment. At first I was going to wake my husband to tell him but he was sleeping so sound that I lay there thinking of my dream till morning—then in a hurry of the morning I put off telling my dream again. I forgot again and gradually it faded from my mind. One day in the late summer my aunt came to me and said, "Matilda, there’s a new preacher in town preaching a new doctrine; they claim to have had revelations and communications with angels. He is going to preach Sunday. Would you like to go and hear him?" And I answered, "Maybe he is one of the false prophets the Bible tells will come in the last days." My aunt said, "Perhaps so, but I am going to hear him." I made up my mind to go with her. The meeting was held in a part of the town that I had never been before. As I came into the street everything seemed familiar, although I knew I had never been there before. When I reached the meeting house it all seemed so natural and I sat there pondering on the strange feeling that seemed to have taken possession of me. As soon as I saw the preacher come into the pulpit, my dream all came back to me, and I knew why I felt that way—it was the same place, the same voice and every word was the same as I had heard in my dream. And I sat there enraptured, listening, and wondering at the strange coincidence. I went many times to hear this new doctrine after that; every time I felt more convinced that it was the true church. Then I would make up my mind to join, every time I did so I felt perfectly content and happy. At that time I was in a delicate condition and thought I would wait a little while before baptism. Every time I would put it off doubts would creep into my mind and I would be unhappy. Whenever the doubt would come a voice seemed to ring in my ears saying, "Repent and be baptized." Two months later the Lord gave me a lovely baby girl."

In 1853, when Matilda was ten years old, her parents were preparing to join with the saints in America but her father lost most of his property through standing bondsmen for friends who proved unworthy of his trust. Soon after Matilda’s sister Alice, a five-year-old twin died. Despite financial problems, the Price family was determined to save money for the trip the Zion; so Matilda’s mother opened a store while her father worked. They lived one block away from the Mormon meeting house in Birmingham, and they kept a room ready for the elders so they had a home whenever they were in town. In 1857 a small pox epidemic spread through Birmingham and Matilda’s parents lost three more children in two weeks. One child, Louisa Kate was five, Rosina was three and Albert was one and a half. Nine years after the Price family had originally planned to leave for America; they left Birmingham on May 14, 1862 for Liverpool. Arriving there they went directly on board the ship, William Tapscot commanded by Captain William Bell, bound for New York. The family consisted at this time of Edward Price age 51, Agenes 13, Walter Lawrence 12, Arlina 4 and Eli Edwin 15 months. Matilda had been so excited about going to the Salt Lake Valley that she had left one year earlier with some family friends. She sailed the Atlantic on the ship Underwriter and traveled to Salt Lake in Captain Homer Duncan’s ox train company in 1861. After Matilda reached Salt Lake City she stayed with George Bourne and his family. She worked as a seamstress and began preparations for the arrival of her family. The Price family arrived in New York City on June 24, 1862 while the Civil War was in progress. After one night’s stay they left for St. Joseph, Missouri by railroad. After arriving in Chicago, the group of saints with whom the Prices were traveling found that the passenger train cars they had rented to take them to St. Joseph had been burned by Southerners. The depot master offered to rig up some boxcars and they decided to go on in the boxcars. When they reached St. Joseph they went by steamboat up the Missouri to Florence. They camped at Winter Quarters for four weeks waiting for teams from Salt Lake to arrive and take them to Utah. They arrived in Salt Lake City on October 19, 1862. Crossing the plains was a difficult experience for most and this was no different for Matilda Lawrence Price.

"The journey across the plains was very hard on mother. She walked eight hundred miles, giving up her place in the wagon to someone she felt needed it more than she did. She was always cheerful and courageous and ready to meet the train at night and help make camp. One night when the wagon pulled in she was not there to meet us as usual. No one seemed to know what had become of her until one sister spoke up and said, "Sister Price was walking with me and she was so tired she sat down to wait for the wagon." The captain and two or three others went back to look for her and found her about two miles back from the camp. She was so exhausted from the dust and thirst that she could not speak, and it was hours before we could reduce the swelling in her tongue."7

Young Matilda was so excited to see her family that she had Brother Bourne drive her nine miles up Emigration Canyon to meet them. She placed her mother in the buggy and drove her ahead to the city. Matilda had rented a home for her family but is wasn’t quite finished so the Price family stayed with the Bourns' for two weeks. Matilda’s father did odd jobs until he had enough money saved to go into business for himself. He dug potatoes, hauled rocks from Red Butte Canyon for the Walker Brother’s store, took charge of the Pony Express horses and did odd jobs for William Jennings, the leading merchant in the territory. Three years after his arrival in 1865 Edward Price started his business as a green grocer, and his family settled in the Eleventh Ward, which was located approximately eight blocks east of State Street.8

Young Matilda had a lovely singing voice and Pres. Brigham Young knew had and admired her voice. When she attended church functions, and he was present he would often request her to sing. She was a very fine dressmaker and an excellent cook. Matilda was popular with those who knew her, "having a pleasing and gracious personality with lovely features." A few months after her arrival in the valley she met Claudius Victor Spencer. Claudius had recently returned from his second mission to England, having been released early because of ill health. Two years later in 1863Matilda age 20 and Claudius were sealed in the Endowment House by a close friend Brigham Young on February 7, with Daniel H. Wells and S.L. Sprague acting as witnesses.11

Claudius took Matilda to live with him at the Spencer house located at 252 State Street. Here she lived with Louisa King, Claudius’ third wife and Susannah Francis Neslen his fourth wife.

Claudius’ first wife was Mariah Antinett Spencer (1826-1850). She was Hirum and Mary Spencer’s daughter and Claudius’ cousin. They grew up together in West Stockbridge, Mass. When Hirum lay dying on the Iowa plains in 1847 with Claudius watching over him, knowing how found Claudius and Mariah were of each other, he asked Claudius to marry her and take care of her. They were married January 25, 1847. He was 23 and she was 21. She had two daughters born in Salt Lake City after their arrival in September of 1847. The first child was Sophronia Eliza. She died at one month in 1849. The second child, Marie Antoinette, (1850-1918) lived to maturity but her mother Mariah Antinett died three days later after the young Marie was born. She was buried beside her first daughter in the garden burial plot behind Daniel Spencer’s home in Salt Lake City.

Claudius’ second wife was Georgiana King. A month after Mariah's death in March 1850, Claudius was called to serve a mission to England. While in England he was President of the Norwich Conference and in this capacity he met the King family and the Neslen family. Franklin D. Richards a member of the quorum of the Twelve was serving as President of the British Mission and he performed the ceremony on April 28, 1852 at the King residence uniting Georgiana and Claudius in marriage. At the request of Georgiana’s mother, Hannah Tapfield King, the couple were also married during the month of May in the Church of England in order "to make things proper". Claudius was appointed to take charge of 321 saints, including the King and Neslen families, bringing them across the ocean and to the Salt Lake Valley arriving on September 19, 1853. Two weeks prior to entering the valley, Georgiana caught Mountain Fever. Upon the arrival in the valley of the Great Salt Lake, Claudius took the King family to his father’s home and there Georgiana died a week later. She too was buried behind Daniel’s home.

Louisa King was Georgiana’s younger sister and twelve days after Georgiana’s death on September 26, 1853, he took both Louisa King and Susannah Neslen as wives. He had Mariah and Georgiana sealed to him by proxy on October 9, 1853 in the Endowment House.14

Pleural marriage was new to Louisa age 20 and Susannah age 23, and the thought of it added weight to learning other new things in a new country. As with most polygamous families living in a single dwelling, Claudius found it necessary to expand his original two story brick and stone structure by making a single story brick and stone addition to each side of his house. Since each addition had its own individual doorway, they were very useful in accommodating Louisa and Susannah and their families.

A few years later in a letter written from Louisa to her brother she said that "Claudius is a good husband and provides well for the families but he is having the upstairs rooms painted and I wonder if he is going to take another wife. And so Matilda entered the Spencer home in February of 1893, ten years following Claudius’ marriage to Louisa and Susannah. All three wives lived in the same house; all three families of children reared together, all eating at the same table. From these three marriages there were twenty children born. Louisa had seven children with four living to maturity. Susannah had six children with three living and Matilda had five with three living. The wives lived harmoniously sharing in the work of harvesting their fruit trees, gathering their strawberries and vegetables. Living in polygamy they honored it and did their best to promote peace. There was never a cross word exchanged between wives and the children of the wives respected them and Matilda, Louisa and Susannah counted this as a blessing from living the law.

The year following Matilda’s marriage was not a happy one for her as tragedy entered her life. In January 19, 1864 her mother gave birth to her fifteenth child and died three days later. This was hard for Matilda to see her mother go when they were so close to each other. Matilda had learned her mother’s dressmaking skills and her fine embroidery talents. In May of the same year Matilda gave birth to her first child, a son, and they named him Edwin Forrest. Edwin lived only five months and died on October 10. On October 16, 1865, her second son was born and they named him William Samuel and called him "Will" for short.

On March 14^th, 1868 Matilda gave birth to her first and only daughter. They named her "Maud" Isabella after her sister and nicknamed her Beth. What joy she brought into Matilda’s life. Now she could pass to her daughter all the many talents that Matilda’s mother had passed on to her. Two months later in Many, Susannah gave birth adding to the growing number of children in the Spencer house. But in 1869 tragedy struck both women when they lost their two precious infants. On September 11, 1869 Susannah lost her son and seven days later on September 18, Matilda lost her little Beth with teething as the cause of death at the age of 18 months.20

Two weeks later Claudius was called on his third mission. He left on October 7, 1869 for a short mission to the Eastern States. He probably traveled on the newly completed Union Pacific Railroad. The wives carried on helping each other through their sorrows and their joys. Then on October 13, 1870 Matilda was blessed with another son who was named George Sterling. William was now five years old and was a good helper for his mother. In 1873 another son was born, on June 23, named Edward Price after Matilda’s father. Matilda now had three fine sons to care for.

Claudius supplied what he could for his large family and worked hard as a farmer to provide for them. In the early part of Matilda’s marriage, Louisa had a brother on a mission in England and Claudius had him send thread, woolen cloth and lace and such items to help clothe his family. There were times when the family had to struggle to survive although people in the community thought them rich and some passed opinions on them because of their living quarters. Claudius admonished his wives and children to never complain or falter under humiliations but to work hard and keep their faith in the gospel. He said that the errors of men, whether in the highest or lowest positions, could not violate the truth and that the conduct of others did not give them (the family) the least excuse to do wrong.23

The doctrine of Plural Marriage had been revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith during the early years of the restoration. This doctrine was secretly practiced prior to its public announcement in August of 1852 by Orson Pratt. Claudius entered into polygamy about one year following the public announcement of the doctrine. Most of the citizens of the United States were antagonistic to the "peculiar Mormon custom" and laws were passed by Congress in 1862 and 1874 to eradicated the practice. The Supreme Court of the United States upheld the constitutionality of the anti-polygamy laws in 1879. Congress increased its crusade against polygamy by passing the Edmunds Act in 1882, and the Edmunds-Tucker Act in 1887. The Edmunds Act defined cohabitation with a polygamous wife as a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not to exceed $300, by imprisonment not to exceed six months or both. Although many Mormons believed the Edmunds Law to be invalid as it interfered with their freedom of religion, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of this law in 1885. About 15 - 20% of Latter-day Saint families during this period were polygamous. As a polygamist, Claudius was quite typical marrying two women ages 20 and 23 years in 1853 when he was 29. Ten years later, in 1863 he married Matilda who was 20 when he was 39 years old.24

After living in polygamy for eighteen years, Susannah became disenchanted with the doctrine and with her situation in the Spencer home. She had lost her last three children dying in infancy (1864, 1866, and 1869). She moved in 1871 to 224 East where she lived the remaining years of her life, dying in March 1900 of bowel obstruction.

The 1880’s brought great trials to the Spencer household. When the Edmunds Law was passed in 1882, Claudius, Louisa and Matilda made a covenant that they would uphold the law and in no way be found guilty of breaking the law. Matilda stayed in the home but she was paid wages as help, since they rented rooms and ran the home like a hotel. The family agreed to this to protect Claudius. Matilda ate her meals either alone in the kitchen or with the hired servant girl, thus severing social and public connections between her and Claudius. She lived this way for three years, but despite her efforts, Claudius was summoned to appear in the Third Judicial District Court of Utah on May 1, 1885 before Judge Zane on a charge of unlawful cohabitation.26

There was much family discussion between Claudius, Matilda and Louisa. Their future was in their hands. Their suffering and anguish were great. The decision was made by Matilda, that Claudius should plead to Judge Zane that he would live the Edmunds Law. 27 This would cause a very sorrowful parting and breaking apart of a family who were very dear and close to each other. It was hard on the children, especially the children of Matilda because this meant that their father had disowned them. Claudius would be safe from jail but the door was open to ridicule and scorn from both church and community. These kinds of decisions would split families, make enemies of friends and splinter the church. The enforcement of anti-polygamy legislation at this time was so stringent, that the period has been referred to as "the Raid."

On May 1, 1885, Claudius appeared in court and the headlines of the Deseret News for that day on the page concerning the District Court proceedings read: "C.V. Spencer Pleads Guilty".

Claudius not only received repercussions from the community but also from the Church. At the May 3, 1885 Salt Lake Stake Conference proceeding "Claudius Victor Spencer was dropped from the list of Home Missionaries For renouncing his Wives and children in accordance with the request of Charles M. Zane, United States Judge of the Third Judicial District of Utah". (29)

When Matilda moved out of the Spencer household with her children she dropped out of sight for a few years. She could have stayed for a while at Victor's Ranch in Almo, Idaho, but most likely remained in Salt Lake. to be by her family. Her son William was 20 in 1885 and was working for G.C. Gemmell, a civil engineer and had already moved out on his own, living at 221 (S.) 2nd East. George was 15 and working as an office boy for John W. Young, and Edward was 12. In 1889, George was listed in the City Directory as living at 174 East 2nd south and Matilda and Edward were probably living with him.

Claudius had various occupations to support his wives and children. He had been a farmer, a hotel proprietor and had been in the live stock business then in real estate. He no doubt helped Matilda find new living quarters. In 1893, Matilda and her two sons moved to 151 Social Hall Avenue. It was necessary for her to find work to help support herself. She became the superintendent of Woman's Co-op Mercantile and Manufacturing Co., located at 63 East lst South and had this job for two years until 1895. (30) In 1894 Claudius purchased a home for Matilda at. 32 (S.) 2nd East. She moved there with her son Edward. Matilda's home was large enough to take in boarders and since she had entertained guests and important people in the Spencer house she carried on the tradition, using her good cooking abilities to keep her busy.

After Matilda's father died on August 20, 1875, her brother Walter Lawrence Price took over the produce business from his father and he supplied Matilda with much of the produce that she needed.

In 1889 William was married to Emily Jane Brazier on November 28 in the County Court House with his father C.V. Spencer and Emily's father, William Brazier acting as witnesses. (31) William and Emily had a child in 1890. They named him William Claude. Their marriage lasted only a short time ending in divorce. William moved to El Pasco, Texas afterward where he worked as a telegrapher. He caught pneumonia while living in El Paso and died at age 43, November 19, 1908. With the help of her son George, Matilda had his body brought back to Salt Lake City. He was buried on November 27, 1908 on the family plot of Claudius' in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

In 1894, George married Fanny Elizabeth Ostler on April 4 and left on a mission to England three days later. After arriving in England, he was sent to the Netherlands Mission.

Although Matilda no longer lived with Claudius he was still the father of her children and very much involved in her affairs. In a letter written to their son William, Claudius evidences his concern.

Dated "New Year's Evening 1902. My dear Son 'Will': I have had many thoughts during the day among them the wish that my boy Will would make half the man that he was naturally gifted to make."

"I enclose you a check for $10.00 (ten dollars) 'no strings to it'. You can use it to pay your debts or have a damned good time! I only wish it to emphasize a little of my love and prayers for you - allow me to say that I hope none of my sons will die allowing people to curse them after death as frauds. Do you ever think Will, of the number of your family and the number of mine? I do not think that all I had when I married - my clothes and my wife's clothes included would bring five dollars in the market today."

"I have been reticent with you for some time past - not from lack of interest or love for in that element you have not stood second to any of my sons and my expectations of your outcome were great God bless you this ensuing year with wisdom and the will of a man born a Spencer - if you will put the bridle on what you know needs curbing and soberly and faithfully serve your employers; and the service you and your dear Mother who brought you into the world, I promise you the fulfillment of the world. Have a happy and prosperous year, C.V. Spencer."(33)

In 1897 Matilda suffered a sorrowful experience. Her son Edward who was not married had been living with her at her home. He was working as a clerk and stenographer for the Union Pacific Fort Depot. (34) He began suffering bouts of depression and threatening suicide with a gun. The problem became worse forcing Matilda, Claudius and George to act as witnesses against him and he was committed through the Third District Court of Salt Lake to the Provo State Asylum. He was taken to Provo and admitted on June 21, 1897 at 24 years of age. (35) It was heart breaking for Matilda to commit her son. There was no psychiatric help or treatment of any kind for patients at this time and unless a patient recovered on his own he was there for life. The sanitary conditions were poor and it was heart breaking for the family to have to leave him. Edward's stay was short lived however, which caused another sorrowful blow to Matilda. He had caught a "cold" or some kind of virus in the asylum during July of 1898. He was sick for only six days and died July 20, 1898, of epiglotitis (swelling of the throat). (36)

George arrived home from his mission in 1896 and in 1898 Matilda had her second grandchild, a son, born to George and Fanny. They named him Orson. In 1900 George and Fanny were blessed with twin daughters who they named Louisa Ruth and Laura Matilda. Tragedy again struck Matilda when her three grandchildren died in the whooping cough epidemic of 1900. Claudius arranged to have the three little children buried in his plot at the City Cemetery.

Matilda was 63 years old in 1906 and running the boarding house was beginning to wear on her and so she gave up managing it. She moved in with George and Fanny on Ashton Avenue for two years and then in 1908 she moved into the Spencer House on 129 Social Hall Avenue. This was Matilda's first experience living in the Spencer house since it was built in 1892. The house was a large one with several self-contained apartments. Many families and individuals had rented from Claudius and Louisa for several years. (37)

After Matilda buried her son William in November of 1908, she left Salt Lake to go to Almo, Idaho and visit her stepson Victor at his ranch. She stayed with Victor for almost a year, helping him with the cooking and upkeep of his house. (38) In December of 1909 Matilda received word from Louisa that Claudius was ill and at age 86 was close to dying. She came back to be with Louisa and help nurse their husband. Claudius died on January 5, 1910.

When Bishop Platt of the Thirteenth ward came to visit the two widows they talked about the passing of their beloved husband. Now they had each other and could again share in each other's companionship. Claudius knew that because of the problems expressed because of polygamy when Susanna moved out, feelings had been caused in the family. In his Last Will of Instruction to his family, he asked them to bury their animosity against him. At his funeral Orson F. Whitney told how Claudius knew "that friends and family members did not admire him, and how he had felt he had been unjustly dealt with, but asked that they not carry this grievance in their hearts beyond the hour of his burial. (40)

Louisa was 77 and not in very good health and Matilda was 67 at the time of his death. Matilda stayed with Louisa and took care of her and she continued renting the apartments at the Spencer house. Louisa died two years later of Bright's disease in 1912. The descendants of Louisa have always been grateful to Matilda for her kindness and considerations particularly as shown to Louisa. (41)

In 1913, George, being a banker and able to care for his mother, took Matilda to live next door to his family of seven children in the recently vacated home of 824 Ashton Avenue. Matilda had shouldered responsibilities for over twenty-eight years and it was time she relaxed and enjoyed herself without having any responsibilities of consequence. An orphan girl, in her teens, came to live with Matilda, named Jeanette Rudelett. She had lived in one of the apartments of the "Spencer house". Jeanette would be her companion for her remaining years.

Although Matilda had suffered many tragedies in her life and had worked very hard, she was a cheerful person and very independent in her thinking. She loved to read, especially the classics and passed this enthusiasm on to her grandchildren whom she was very fond of. She loved to socialize and often had her friends over for dinners and a game of Rook. She was known for her fine cooking and it was a treat to see her bring her plum pudding ceremoniously to the table with the blue flames licking about. (Brandy poured over the pudding and set fire). Matilda enjoyed 'her social gatherings.' She had many visits from dear friends and family. Louisa's last surviving child, Pomeroy, was very fond of Matilda and he visited her often with his wife and children, bringing her a basket of food on their visits. (43)

In 1920 her health began to fail. Her sister Belle (Isabella) came and took Matilda to her home on 450 Redondo Avenue and cared for her until her death, July 16, 1920. Her funeral was held at the Forest Dale Ward the following Sunday afternoon. She was buried July 18, 1920, in the City Cemetery close by her husband and her four children who proceeded her in death. (44) She was 77 years old and was survived by three brothers: Lorenzo, Elias and William Price 'and four sisters: Mrs. Isabella P. Kunkle, Mrs. Agnes Price, and Mrs. Arlinda Woodward all of Salt Lake City and a half sister, Mrs. James Daniels of Payson, Utah. She had eight grandchildren and one surviving son to carry on her line. The arrangement of headstones at the City Cemetery was in this order: Claudius, Louisa, Susannah, Matilda and Mariah and Georgiana. Vandals have since torn down Matilda's and Susannah's headstone and they are no longer visible. Matilda led a life of great fortitude and faith. Her devotion to the duty and to her husband, her cheerfulness, and her skills in cooking and dressmaking are qualities to be emulated by each of us.

1. "Brief Sketch of How My Mother Gained Her Testimony" by Isabella Price Kunkle.
2. Letter written from Isabella Price Kunkle to her cousin Nellie.
3. "Brief Sketch of How My Mother Gained Her Testimony" by Isabella Kunkle.
4. Letter from Isabella P. Kunkle to her cousin Nellie.

1. 1870 Utah Census

1. Autobiography of C.V. Spencer.
2. Endowment House Sealings. Special Collections Room, Church Library
3. Records of Mary Spencer Howard, Magna, Utah. Mariah Antinett's name has been changed through the years to read Marie Antoinette.
4. Personal Journal of Hannah Tapfield King, mother to Louisa King.
5. Endowment House Records.
6. Personal History of Louisa King Spencer, in possession of Carol Catalan, Bountiful, Utah.
7. Letter written from Louisa King Spencer to her brother Owen King.
8. Personal History of Louisa King Spencer.
9. Letter written from Louisa King Spencer to Owen King.
10. History of Louisa King Spencer by Melinda Craner.
11. Salt Lake City Cemetery records.
12. Deseret News file on Claudius V. Spencer.
13. Letter written to Owen King from C.V. Spencer, in possession of Carol Catlin.
14. Personal History of Louisa King Spencer.
15. Stanley S. Ivins, "Notes on Mormon Polygamy" Western-Humanities Review, 1956.
16. Report of Court Proceedings, Deseret News, May 1, 1,885. Salt Lake City Directory, 1883.
17. Report of Court Proceedings, Deseret News, May 1, 1885.
18. Letter to the Editor written by Matilda P. Spencer, May 2, 1885.The Salt Lake Herald.
19. Ibid.

1. Salt Lake City Marriage Records.
2. Vital Statistics of Salt Lake City. City Cemetery Records.
3. Letter written to William Spencer by his father C.V. Spencer, in possession of Claudia S. Sadler.
4. Salt Lake City Directory, 1896,1897.
5. Provo State Hospital Admittance Records, Provo, Utah.
6. Salt Lake City Cemetery Records, Death records of Salt Lake City.
7. Salt Lake City Directory, 1907, 1908, 1909.
8. Ibid.
9. Remarks by Bishop Platt in the Funeral Service of C.V. Spencer, 1910.
10. Funeral Speech by Orson F. Whitney for C.V. Spencer.
11. Interview with Carol Catlin. Salt Lake City Cemetery Records.
12. History of Matilda P. Spencer written by Hope Spencer Beus.
13. Telephone Interview with Beth Ferguson, San Diego, California.