Letter to Mary Ann Jackson Woodruff Ross, 30 April 1857
Great Salt Lake City April 30th/57.
Sister Jackson
I Recceved a Note from you of
March 7th which ought to have been answered before this time
but the multiplicity of business has stood in my way of answering before
you say wherein you have Erred & gone astray you ask my forgiveness
In Reply I would say I feel to freely forgive you & all men
who have in any wise sined against me. I lay nothing up against you
but with Regard to Entering into the bonds of Matrimony I do not
feel prepared to take that step for we have had a long experence in
that & the past has fully shown that we have not Rendered each
other happy, even after being seperated for years I agan provided
you with a home but our spirits for some cause were not
congenial & but a shor it was but a short time before you Requed [Requested]
me to give you a Bill of Divorce which I did do by the
advice of pre[s]ident Youg, & you signed wishing Releasing me
from all further obligations. Our marriage has caused us both a
good Deal of unhappiness which has been felt throghout my whole
family. at Present I have peace & union with evry member of my
family. I would not wish to take any step to for they are all subjct
to me & all strive to abide my council & act for each others interest
& welfare & without this principle does exist & is carried out o^i^n my family
their will not be peace union or Happiness but the reverce
will be expernced. and I do not feel that is^t^ is wisdom to take
the steps which you sugget lest we should both be Rendered unhappy
instead of bettering our conditn. with Regard to James I will say I
am Ready at any time you please to take him & furnish him a home
& do as well as I can by him as soon as He is old En[ou]gh He
