Emmeline Blanche Wells was born on February 29, 1828 in Petersham, Massachusetts. At age 15 Emmeline got married to her first husband. After her first child died, her husband left town for good never to come back. She found a passion for writing poetry and being a school teacher. Ms. Wells then decided to re-marry to Newell K. Whitney. They then ventured west to Utah with the Mormon pioneers. Within a month of traveling Newell died, he left behind Emmeline and their two daughters. Emmeline had a very hard time supporting her daughters and being a widow traveling to Utah. She then wrote a letter to Newell’s best friend. She asked him to marry her and he accepted, becoming his seventh wife.

Em became the editor of The Women’s Exponent. This was the first women’s magazine west of the Mississippi River. Em was Utah’s representative for the National Women’s Suffrage Association. She was also the president of the LDS women organization called Relief Society. Em was called to do a project by the president of the LDS church. The project was that she would store grain (the grain was brought in by many farmers) in case it was needed in difficult times. This project was for long term purposes. It was a big success all over Utah. She even provided grain for the starving Europeans at the end of World War 1. Later on, close to the end of Em’s life she met the the President of the America, Ronald Reagan in Washington. Emmeline B. Wells died on April 25, 1921.

Emmeline was important for many reasons such as pushing for economic, educational, and political opportunities for all women and she stored grain for starving families all over Utah. This especially helped through the harsh winters. Some of her main connections to Utah are coming here as a Mormon pioneer, being Utah’s representative for the National Women’s Suffrage Association (NWSA), and a well renowned newspaper editor. She also strongly defended polygamy, so much so she went to talk to three presidents about the it. Emmeline B. Wells is honored in the Utah State Capitol Building, by a bust, for her many accomplishments and efforts in making Utah a better place.

Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel., and Susan Allen. Myers. The Utah Journey. Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith, 2009. Print.

"Utah State History." Emmeline Wells. Government, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.

"Emmeline B. Wells: A Fine Soul Who Served - Ensign July 2003 - Ensign." Emmeline B. Wells. Ntellectual Reserve, Inc, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.