He had the largest house in the ward, and the religious services were held there by Bishop Johnson who also acted as Justice of the Peace in that ward.  Gardner’s family all ate at the same table over which the first wife presided.  She was, indeed, mistress of the house, the other wives treating her with great respect, and all were, to all outward appearance, quite friendly.  Gardner bestowed much attention on his first wife, though I always suspected that he was just a little more fond of the youngest one, and I did not blame him much for she manifested strong affection for him even in the presence of the others, and yet there was no outward manifestation of jealousy.

The second, or the one I will call the second because she was in age between the others, and was the mother of the third or youngest, a widowed mother and her daughter having been sealed to Gardner at the same time, the first wife having given her consent and standing with them at the triple matrimonial altar, and then and there joining in the sacred ceremony.  As I was about to say, the second wife seemed to be pleased at the manifestation of affection for the common husband by the youngest wife, and No. 1 would in a good-humored way say:—­“My, Annie, don’t be so demonstrative in the presence of other people,” when the husband would laugh and go and kiss No. 1.

Gardner spent most of his leisure time, particularly during the day and evening, in his first wife’s apartments with her and her children.  He was a very religious man, and always had family prayers before retiring at night, and all persons about the house were expected to join, at least formally, in this service.  The use of profane language was not allowed in or about the house.

Many of the higher church officers were entertained at Gardner’s house and table, among whom were Brigham Young, George A. Smith, Heber C. Kimble, George Taylor, and Parley P. Pratt, with all of whom I formed some acquaintance.  Brigham was a dignified, clever gentleman, not austere but kind and affable.  Kimble was also a nice, genteel, genial, redheaded gentleman.  Smith was a heavy man with a very large abdomen, dark hair full beard, exceedingly jovial and apparently always happy.  Pratt was a small, rather slim, quick and athletic man, rather austere, refined, active and energetic.  Taylor was a large man, highly intellectual, and rather unsocial.  Kimble was my favorite notwithstanding the fact that he had fifteen wives, mostly young and handsome, all in one house, and my impression is that none of them had any children.  I think it was conceded that his was the finest harem in Utah.  He called me his young Gentile, was very kind and affable, but he never invited me to inspect his harem.

About the first of December, 1849, Field arrived in Salt Lake City, and I will allude to a little matter in which he was concerned, after which I will give you a short account of his trip from the time we parted company until he arrived in Salt Lake as he afterwards gave it to me.  Soon after he arrived in the City of the Saints he heard of another who had recently arrived from the south and that he was located in the fifth ward on Mill creek at the house of one Gardner, and at which house he soon arrived.