women of the company also performed vital tasks along the way. while much time was spent on traditional activities such as cooking, sewing, and tending children, several women served as scribes and diary keepers. harriet page young, wife of lorenzo young, was the first woman selected for the company. she was in ill health and lorenzo young feared to leave her and their young children behind. the other original women of the company, ellen sanders kimball, wife of heber c. kimball, and clarissa decker young, wife of brigham young, were asked to accompany the group to look after harriet young and keep her company. the three women were joined by a larger group of women church members from mississippi who merged with the main party at laramie, wyoming.