I know that following the Civil War there were a lot more females around then males. It was not uncommon for a guy to have a wife and a couple of more ladies around the place who were known as "cousins".
It was better then working in a brothal and less uncertain then becoming a mail order bride.
Out West where the problem was not enough women you had the situation the other way around.
I say again - survival was not at stake teddy. Being adulterous is not the same as the recognition of polygamy as legal. Fact - both were illegal.