I'm hoping this isn't a "where-have-you-been-hiding" question, but I thought I read somewhere a long time ago that OSC has Eliza R. Snow in his genealogy? I assumed that was the inspiration behind his Saints/Woman of Destiny novel. Doesn't Dinah generally follow Eliza and Charlie follows Lorenzo?
Posted by kacard (Member # 200) on :
Eliza R. Snow is not in his geneology. Charlie Kirkham is mostly based on experiences of William Clayton. And Dinah is based partly on Eliza R. Snow and partly on Scott's actual ancestor, Zina Diantha Huntington, and partly based on experiences of other early Mormon women.
Posted by dink_meeker (Member # 2130) on :
Ahh, I see. I knew there was an ancesteral link there, but must have thought Eliza was the link. Thanks for the insight!
Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
But do remember that, thanks to polygamy and generations of endogamy, all Mormon families who have been in the church for more than two generations are related to all others in that category. I'm descended from Brigham Young and the Richards family, all very productive of Mormon babies who grew up to marry other Mormons and have lots more Mormon babies. We're related to EVERYBODY.
Posted by LibbieM (Member # 9820) on :
Yay, we're distant cousins! Actually, anybody with a Mormon family on this forum is probably related - you're right. I'm descended from Brigham Young, too. I even have a first cousin named Brigham Young Ricks.
Hey, I bet you actually might technically be "Uncle" Orson to many people here. Posted by dink_meeker (Member # 2130) on :
Wow, honored to have OSC give a remark. To either OSC and/or kacard (or anyone else for that matter), do you have any recommendations for good biographical reading of William Clayton or Zina Huntington?
Posted by Brian J. Hill (Member # 5346) on :
Kristine's father, James B. Allen, wrote a full-length biography on William Clayton which though I haven't read it personally, I have on good authority is excellent. OSC used his research a lot in formulating Saints, which is still one of my favorite OSC novels.
edit: I googled Zina Huntington Young and found what looks like an interesting book. Posted by Cashew (Member # 6023) on :
As far as Mormons of more than 2 generations being all related, that would apply only to UTAH Mormons (maybe some other states), certainly not to the Mormon members of this forum from OTHER COUNTRIES. We're not all Americans here, yaknow...
Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
Ah, but you forget - it doesn't take more than a few intermarriages for entire populations to become related, if not by direct descent, then through cousinship. Do you know how many of those Utah Mormons went back after their missions and married local girls? (Or, in the case of sister missionaries, guys?) They have children. Those children are now a link between the two populations. Cousinship abounds.
Posted by winkey151 (Member # 9656) on :
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