Mari Grana

Mainly of regional interest, this is a biography of Martha Hughes Cannon. Born in Wales, Mattie (Martha) immigrated with her parents and family to to Utah in 1861. The author documents her career as a physician and a wife in a polygamist marriage. Due to the Edmunds Act (Enforcement of the Morrill Act that outlawed polygamy), Mattie and her child fled to exile in England for a few years. After returning, Martha became involved in politics and fought for women's right to vote. She was the first woman state senator in the United States and served two terms in the Utah State Senate. Recommended to readers interested in Mormon history (LDS Church). lj… (mer)

An interesting chapter in western history from the post Civil War era, this book tells the life story of Martha Hughes, born in Wales and migrated with her family to Utah because of their Mormon faith. The church sent her to the University of Michigan to attend medical school and she became a practicing physician upon her return.
Although the subtitle of the book lists physician and politician before polygamist, it is the issue of polygamy which drives her story. She lived in the era when the Mormon church actively practiced and in fact became the fourth wife of Angus Cannon. Unfortunately this marriage framed her life, sending her into exile in Europe when the federal government prohibited plural marriages, and curtailing her medical career for many years. She never lived with her husband; he barely provided for her and their three children. Like other single mothers she had to be the sole support, both financially and socially. One has to wonder why she ever agreed to this arrangement when she was educated, intelligent and hard working.
The author provides an extensive bibliography from which to draw more information on the Mormon faith and polygamy, although the book details rather well the issues involved both spiritually and politically. Mattie's story details the personal and social cost to women and their children.
I was disappointed that the book wasn't longer. There is no information on the other five wives or their children; we barely know their names. Angus plays a small role, but given the circumstances it was probably accurately small. I wish there had been more on her medical role. We learned that she had office hours but only four hours a week. How did she have an active, financially supportive practice at that rate? We never learned of any of her patients' issues and what she could do for them. The topic of her political career took more of the book and was very interesting. I want to read more about that, but I just wish the book was balanced between medicine, politics and polygamy. A good stepping off point for further reading.… (mer)