The life of Parley Parker Pratt was fast and furious from the time he joined Mormonism to his death. He bought Smith’s version of God’s restoration gospel and wasted no time in writing hymns, periodicals, converting dozens and forging new roads up the canyons of Utah and when that didn’t pan out financially he turned his attention to missions work.

In the end Pratt met his match with a man by the name of Hector McLean. Hector didn’t take too kindly to the way Pratt induced his wife all in the name of God.

After she took off with Parley and tried to take the kids with her, McLean chased them down and Mr. Pratt died a martyr’s death in the eyes of Mormondom.

You can read a short bio of him and his 12 wives in our ongoing series of Polygamy and Mormon Church Leaders here.