Elvira Annie Cowles

23 Nov. 1813–10 Mar. 1871. Maid, nanny, schoolteacher. Born at Unadilla, Otsego Co., New York. Daughter of Austin Cowles and Phebe Wilbur. Moved to Friendship, Allegany Co., New York, 1819. Moved to Franklinville, Cattaraugus Co., New York, by 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 19 Oct. 1835. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1836; to Missouri, fall 1838; and to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, fall 1839. Resided with Joseph Smith’s family in Nauvoo and worked as a maid and nanny, spring 1840–Dec. 1842. Resided in Nauvoo Fourth Ward, 1842.11 Admitted as member and appointed treasurer of Female Relief Society of Nauvoo at its organization, 17 Mar. 1842. Married Jonathan H. Holmes, 1 Dec. 1842, in Nauvoo. Plural wife of Joseph Smith, sealed on 1 June 1843. Moved to what became Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa, July 1846. Migrated to Salt Lake Valley with Jedediah M. Grant pioneer company; arrived, 2 Oct. 1847. Taught school, winter 1847–1848, in Salt Lake Valley. Moved to Farmington, Davis Co., Utah Territory, by 1849, where she taught school. Died at Farmington.