Wilford Woodruff Enjoyed Wearing A Colorful Dress And Sunbonnet While Hiding From The Police
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2023 3:40 am
Just another weird story from Church history. Apparently, Wilford Woodruff was fond of wearing a dress and sunbonnet during his years of hiding from the authorities.
Wilford Woodruff pictured here in drag
Smith, Daymon Mickel (2007). The last shall be first and the first shall be last: Discourse and Mormon history (PhD). University of Pennsylvania. p. 77. ProQuest 304833179. [Wilford] Woodruff often hid in southern Utah, though his notoriety led to suspicions cast on anyone nearby. ... Seemingly benign requests for eggs or flour became, once Woodruff was around, indicators that the neighbors were potential spies. Yet [Emma] Squire does not report any action which verified this assumption; instead, Woodruff concealed himself in a 'mother hubbard' dress, and avoided anyone he did already trust.
"Early LDS prophet goes undercover in dress, sunbonnet". The Spectrum. St. George, UT. Gannett Co., Inc. 12 July 2006. Emma Squire made him a 'Mother Hubbard' dress and sunbonnet, similar to the ones she wore. He put them on when he went back and forth from the house so people passing could not recognize him. ... Years later, Emma met one of Woodruff's granddaughters and learned that they still had the 'Mother Hubbard' dress and bonnet in the family. They had often wondered who made them for him. They knew the items had been used for many years when he was in hiding.
Wilford Woodruff pictured here in drag