Frances Ward (Alger) Custer (1817 - 1889)

Born 30 Sep 1817 in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts USA

Ancestors

Wife of Solomon Franklin Custer — married 16 Nov 1838 in Dublin, Wayne, Indiana, United States

Descendants

Died 29 Nov 1889 at age 72 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana USA

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Biography

The following obituary was found in the Adolphus Barnes Family Bible (also known as the Stephen Barnes Family Bible). Spelling and punctuation are uncorrected.

"Fanny W. Custer, wife of the late Solomon Custer, was born in northern Ohio, near Cleveland, on September 30, 1817, and passed from this life at her son's home in Indianapolis, on the evening of November 29th, at the age of 72 years, 1 month, and 29 days.

"Aunt Fanny, as all her long time friends and acquaintances of Dublin called her, was one of the earliest settlers of this locality, having come to Dublin, then a scattering hamlet with a hut here and there, that spoke of the advance of civilization, when this part of the country was looked upon as but the borders of the great wilderness to the westward -when the forests that abounded on every side were as nature formed them, and through whose inaccessable depths roamed the Indian, and the bear; and which were, at that time being gradually, but surely, pressed toward the setting sun, by that toward tide of civilization, that has at last covered the vast territory lying between the two oceans, lakes and gulf. The deceased was untied [united] in holy wedlock to Solomon Franklin Custer, in this place, at the old tavern stand, that used to occupy the site of the late Benjamin Cruil's residence in the east part of town, on Nov. 16th, 1838. As the result of this union, she had born to her nine children, two of whom survive her. With the exception of a very short period at two different times, aunt Fannie had made "Dublin her home, since first coming to the settlement; then just forming, away back in the 20's. She was generally beloved by all who knew her, and was noted for her benevolence of spirit and generous-heartedness; being known as one who would share her last crust with whosoever should need it.

"She joined the Universalist church on the evening of the 10th of Octrober, 1874, and until her last, held to that belief. She passed away peacefully and resignedly, with an abiding faith in the justice and love of an All Powerful and Supreme Being, and with joy in the full belief that she would meet with dear ones gone before.

"Having fulfilled the duties of life, with a conscientious regard for the welfare and happiness of those who were compelled to lean on her in her middle and early life, she passed away, fully trusting that the welcome applaudit summons, "well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord," would greet her on the other side. Funeral services were held at the Universalist church in Dublin, on Sabbath morning, Dec. 1, 1889, Rev. P.S. Cook and C.T. Swain, officiating"

Fanny Alger was allegedly the first plural wife of the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. Alger's parents were neighbors of the Smith's, and Alger lived with the Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma. Chauncey and Ann Eliza Webb later recalled that rumors had been whispered while Alger lived with the Smiths about Smith and Alger. Alger stopped living with the Smiths as a result of a fallout with Emma and was dismissed as their housekeeper. Alger then lived with relatives in Mayfield, Ohio until she moved with her relatives to Indiana. On November 16, 1836 she married Solomon Custer in Dublin, Wayne County "at the old tavern stand, that used to occupy the site of the late Benjamin Cruil's residence in the east part of town" With Solomon she had nine children. When later asked about her relationship with Joseph Smith after his death, she is reported to have said: "That is all a matter of my own, and I have nothing to communicate." (for quote see, Richard Lyman Bushman, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005), 327)

Fanny and Solomon had lived on Jackson St in Dublin, near the railroad tracks.

NOTE ON DATES, PLACES AND PARENTS: Alt. Birth date- 30 Sept. 1816. Alt. Birthplace- Cleveland, Ohio. (see above obituary) Have used 1817 date from obituary calculation "72 years, 1 month, and 29 days." Ancestry.com also notes, "Born in Middlefield, Connecticut, USA on 7 Mar 1814 to Eleazer Augur and Abigail Church. Fanny married Newton Edward Northam and had 2 children. She passed away on 15 Feb 1875."

Sources

Additional notes from other sources (not Wikipedia):

Benjamin Johnson, a close friend of Joseph Smith, described Fanny as, “varry nice and comly, [to whom] everyone Seemed partial for the ameability of her character.” She is generally considered the first plural wife of Joseph Smith. Although undocumented, the marriage of Fanny and Joseph most likely took place in Kirtland, Ohio sometime in 1833. She would have been sixteen years old. At the time, Fanny was living in the Smith home, perhaps helping Emma with house work and the children. Ann Eliza Webb recalls, “Mrs. Smith had an adopted daughter, a very pretty, pleasing young girl, about seventeen years old. She was extremely fond of her; no mother could be more devoted, and their affection for each other was a constant object of remark, so absorbing and genuine did it seem”.

Joseph kept his marriage to Fanny out of the view of the public, and his wife Emma. Chauncey Webb recounts Emma’s later discovery of the relationship: “Emma was furious, and drove the girl, who was unable to conceal the consequences of her celestial relation with the prophet, out of her house”. Ann Eliza again recalls: “...it was felt that [Emma] certainly must have had some very good reason for her action. By degrees it became whispered about that Joseph’s love for his adopted daughter was by no means a paternal affection, and his wife, discovering the fact, at once took measures to place the girl beyond his reach...Since Emma refused decidedly to allow her to remain in her house...my mother offered to take her until she could be sent to her relatives...”

Book of Mormon witness, Oliver Cowdery, felt the relationship was something other than a marriage. He referred to it as “A dirty, nasty, filthy affair...” To calm rumors regarding Fanny’s relationship with Joseph, the church quickly adopted a “Chapter of Rules for Marriage among the Saints”, which declared, “Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with...polygamy; we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife...” This “Article on Marriage” was canonized and published in the Doctrine & Covenants. In 1852, the doctrine of polygamy was publicly announced, thus ending eighteen years of secret practice. “The Article on Marriage” became obsolete and was later removed.

Fanny stayed with relatives in nearby Mayfield until about the time Joseph fled Kirtland for Missouri. Benjamin Johnson remembers: “Soon after the Prophet[‘s] flight in the winter of ’37...The Alger Family left for the west and Stop[ped] in Indiana for a time...Soon [Fanny] Married to one of the Citizens of ther & altho she never left the State She did not turn from the Church nor from her friendship for the Prophet while She lived..” Benjamin continued, “And I Can now See that as at Nauvoo – So at Kirtland That the Suspicion or Knowledge of the Prophets Plural Relations was one of the Causes of Apostacy & disruption at Kirtland altho at the time there was little said publickly upon the Subject.” Fanny lived the rest of her life in Indiana with her children and husband, Solomon Custer.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2674850/posts