Tamma Durfee Miner Curtis' Story

Many stories are told of the early pioneers. Tamma and Albert Miner were part of that story. Albert died in Iowa on the trip west. Tamma arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1850 and lived another 35 years as Utah was established and growing. She was widowed twice and bore a total of 14 children. Her polygamous marriage has raised many eyebrows, but it was logical and necessary for a single mother of the day. Even if it does have many reminders of the old song "I'm My Own Grandpa"...

Tamma wrote her life story in 1880 at age 67. It has been annotated and corrected, with additions from other stories she told and wrote by 3rd great-granddaughter Gloria Galloway in 1985. Brackets in the story show the changes.

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A few years ago, my terrific graphic-oriented granddau by marriage, Pam Tamayo Knowles, designed this image to show Tamma's marriages and children. Her three husbands were Albert Miner, John White Curtis and Enos Curtis. Both John White Curtis and Enos Curtis had other wives also. All of the couples had children! Tamma had 8 with Albert Miner; 4, including twins, with Enos Curtis; and one girl with John White Curtis. Enos Curtis had 14 children with wife Ruth Franklin. John White Curtis had 2 sons with wife Almira Starr, and 14 with wife Matilda Miner (who was the daughter of Tamma and Albert Miner - yes, mother and daughter married the same man.)