Pearl Velasquez

Pearl Velasquez's family were Mormon polygamists. The Mormon Church required all the polygamist families to leave Utah and go to certain areas of Northern Mexico. It was a requirement for Utah to become a state. Once statehood was attained the Church allowed those that wanted to to return, but only to certain areas and each wife was supposed to have her own home. Only the first wife retained the husbands last name, all other wives kept their existing name. Many times these woman were widows. It was one of the few ways for widows and orphans to have a roof and food, other than prostitution and kept kids out of orphanages. Different times, different rules. In Idaho in the 1860s until the 1880s Mormons were not allowed to vote. This would make Pearl a Mexican!! This was submitted via Diana Velasquez by Inez Austin-Maupin