She went with the Mormons to Nauvoo, Illinois, to establish a colony there. She married Edward Hunter, a church elder, who had a prosperous farm. Eilley became quickly dissatisfied with the life there, as she believed she was destined for greatness and riches. However, she stayed there five years. At that time, local settlers revolted against the Mormons and killed their prophet Joseph Smith. Brigham Young took over the colony and led them to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Eilley didn't like this valley any better, as a vision told her that her destiny would be in the mountains. In 1852, Brigham Young proclaimed that plural marriage was allowed as long as the first wife gave consent. Her husband had brought three "nieces" with them to Salt Lake City. At this point, Eilley discovered that her husband had secretly married them back in Illinois. Eilley refused to give her permission, even though it was a moot point. He would not divorce them. So she divorced him. She moved in with her sister and got a job at a mercantile. A short time later she met and married Alexander Cowan and moved to his cabin at the age of 25.
In the spring of 1855, church elders sent a delegation to the farthest western section of Utah territory. They arrived at the Washoe Valley near Lake Tahoe later that year. Once again, she became dissatisfied when her husband showed no ambition beyond farming. She set up a boardinghouse to cater to the prospectors.
In 1858, Brigham Young called the Mormons back to Salt Lake City to join a battle against the U.S. Army. She took the opportunity to divorce again and stayed behind at what was known as Genoa. She also received some property in payment for her boardinghouse fees. She staked some of her own claims in promising outcrops. She had been tutored by none other than Ethan Allen and Hosea Grosch, who are generally credited with discovering the Comstock Lode. The miners had been looking for gold and finding only small amounts. Finally an assay determined that the ugly gray rock being discovered and tossed aside was silver. And there was a lot of it.
