HISTORY OF ALMA PORTER PIONEER OF OCTOBER 12,1848. WEALTHA PORTER HEINER HISTORY OF ALMA PORTER Father, Alma Porter, was born December 15th, 1834 at Van Buren County, Missouri. He was a son of pioneer parents, Chauncey Warriner and Amy Sumner Porter. He was the oldest Son of Chauncey Warriner and the only son of Amy Sumner, his Mother, who lived to maturity. She had other son's, but they died in infancy. When Father was about two years old his parents moved to Caldwell Co., being driven there with other Saints, they lived there two more years, then were driven again into Illinois, then across the Mississippi into Iowa. Although young in years he began to assist his father, in driving the team and other work. In April 1842, he was baptized into the Church, by Nathan T. Porter, an Uncle. At a very early age he began to show interest in the Gospel. He would defend its principles and the Saints when they were assailed and opposed by their enemies. In the year 1845 the Saints were again compelled by their enemies to leave their all and go west. In the spring of 1846 he writes in his history-- "My Father and family with the rest of the Saints started westward. That summer we stopped twelve or fifteen miles beyond Council Bluff, stayed over the winter, built a house, and plowed a small piece of land. In the fall of 1846 I proved a great help to my Father in hauling logs for building, chopped wood poles and etc. I also looked after the stock. They had to be wintered along the creek bottoms where cane and bullrushes grew for feed. That winter my Father and grandfather went one hundred miles down the river to get provisions for the family taking me along to drive the team. I was twelve years of age. This was in 1846. The sixth of April 1847 my mother died, at Winter Quarters, leaving we children in the hands of the wife Father married just shortly before Mother's death, Lydia Cook. She proved to be a blessing to us all. She was kind and good to us children in keeping the family together. I will just say that during the next year or two father married his third wife Pracilla Strong. This was two wives he now had in place of my Mother. In the fore part of June 1848, Father fitted up a team and wagon, putting my step-mother and her baby, with two of my Sisters, my-self as teamster, with sufficient food to last we started for the valley of the mountains. I was thirteen years of age. Father placed me in care of his brother-in-law Nathan Tenny. He would assist me in yoking and unyoking the oxen greasing the wagon etc. We traveled for twenty or thirty miles, then waited a few days for the others to catch up, then we were to organize for the journey. Ezra T. Clark, was captain of ten wagons. Under his instructions, we traveled to Utah. After a tedious journey of better than three months we entered the valley of the Great Salt Lake on October 12, 1848. Proving myself quite adequate for my task as teamster, for I drove my oxen the entire distance with but very little help. The winter of 1848 and 49 I lived with Ezra T. Clark, my old Captain and friend, helping him in hauling wood, hunting cattle and what ever work needed doing. The spring of the next year, I plowed and planted the first crop raised on his land, also helped him building his first home in the west. About the first of July the next year I bid adieu to my old friend and went to live with my Uncle where my step-mother lived, helping uncle harvest and haul his grain. In September, of the same year I went back to help the emigrating Saints, their teams being badly worn out. With two yoke of oxen, food and bedding I started on my journey. I met my father about the middle of Echo Canyon. When Father arrived he took all his family four or five miles south of the City, along the Jordon River, where we lived together during the winter. In the spring of 1851 Father rented a saw mill twelve miles south of the city, eight miles up the canyon. The mill however, didn't make us any money so we gave it up and went back to farming. In 1853 Father built a double log cabin, took up some land, plowing, fencing, putting in grain but that year the crickets ate about every thing we raised. Here I got disheartened, left the family and went again to live with my uncle. The rest of the family persuaded Father to leave and move to Centerville where the rest of the folks were. In March 4th, 1855 I was ordained a Teacher in the Aronic Priesthood. On May 6th, 1856 I was chosen with others to get my endowments. I was ordained an Elder at this time. I was 22 years of age. On February 24th, 1857 I was ordained to the Seventies Quorum. The year Pres. Young took the contract to carry the government mail, I with others was called to go back and take provisions, tools what was needed to put up stations along the way for the Pony Express. The year 1856 I worked with others digging the Cottonwood Canal. In 1858 the Saints moved south. I made two trips to help with stock and provisions, That winter I spent with the Militia in Echo Canyon under Captain Lot Smith and Porter Rockwell. The United States Army came to the valley and wintered on Black fork all winter. The following year a treaty was made between Saints in Utah and the United States Government. In fall people returned to their homes without loss of life or property. In November 1858 Minerva Ann Dewel and I were united in marriage by Apostle Charles C. Rich at her fathers home. Two weeks after our marriage I rented a little house from my Grandfather across the street. In this little house where I had taken my bride two children were born to us, first a son, named Alma William, he was born August 6th, 1859, died November 22nd of same year. Mary Minerva, a daughter born Sept. 19th, 1860. Next spring we moved from Centerville, Davis County to Porterville, Morgan Co. My father Chauncey Warriner Porter from whom Porterville was named was Pres. of East Porterville Branch. I was called to labor as a teacher. On October 22nd, 1862 Ann Eliza was born, Our next two children we lost, Lewis Alfred, and Nelson Warriner. They both died in infancy. In December 17th, 1867 Chas. Worthy was born, and the next spring I buried my father, Chauncey Warriner Porter, died March 3rd, 1868. In the autumn and winter of 1868 and 69 the Union Pacific Railroad came through. I cut and hewed 500 ties for the road. I also built on to my house that year. Orson Merit another son was born July 26th, 1868. In that year I was appointed to preside over Porterville Branch. March 17th, 1871, George Myron was born to us. The next few years were mighty lean ones for grasshoppers were bad, eating nearly everything green. I spent the summer of 1872 hauling ore from a mine in Dry Canyon, but I never got my pay for that work. The 29th of January 1873 Amy Vilate was born, on the 10th of February, twelve days later the mother died. This left me with six small children to care for. With all my losses and misfortunes this was hardest to bear. I was now alone, no one to be with me, I must paddle the canoe of life alone, the labor and trials were mine alone to bear." For nearly ten long years father struggled along the best he could under the circumstances. He must now be father and mother to his little brood. Only to those who know sorrow through death and separation can know the lonliness and heart¬ache. Mary Minerva the oldest daughter was but thirteen years when the responsibility of keeping house, doing the work fell to her. Uncle Lyman's third wife, Sarah, cared for the tiny baby Vilate for the immediate years ahead. In the spring of 1877 father was working in the canyon, cutting timber whene he fell broke his leg, The shinbone of right leg broken in two. Good Doctors were hard to find in those days to set a broken bone. Uncle Sanford who had served in the Mormon Batallion in the Medical Corps set the bone, but in putting on the bandage, wrapped it too tightly, stopped the blood circulation. The pain was so severe that when the bandage was loosened the bone's lapped each other again and thus it healed to some degree. Father was lame on that leg all the days of his life after that. Many, many times he used crutches to get about especially when he worked too hard or lifted too heavily. When the Morgan Stake was organized in July 1877, Father was ordained a Patriarch. He was 43 years of age when called to this position, and held this office until his death. Many beautiful and soul inspiring blessings were given under his hands by power of the priesthood. He was set apart as a high Councilman July 16th, 1884, by Albert Carrington, an Apostle. Before 1882 Mary and Eliza were married and had homes of their own. Its plain to see why Brother Ezra Clark advised his son Hyrum to go to Porterville and get one of Alma Porter's daughters for a wife. Hyrum and Eliza, the ideal couple, or so it always seemed to me. With the girls gone with their husbands, Father, Charles, Orson and Myron lived as batchlors for sometime. Then one morning as Father lie awake in bed pondering over his situation, wandering where he could find some one to keep house, cook and make a home for he and the boys. A voice said to him "Go to Bishop Carter's home and get his daughter, Jane." Meditating upon this impression, he decided to do just that. Shortly after ward he mounted his horse and rode up to Bishop Carter's. "If Jane meets me at the front gate she will accept my proposal- he was thus impressed, knew it in his heart. This happened, he told her his story, his circumstances and also his impressions. Their courtship was of short duration, six weeks to be exact; he always said when joked about it. "What God does, he does well." They were married November 10th, 1882. Father was in his forties, and Mother wan nearly nineteen. She made a home for Father and his boys, yes a home for all the children whenever they choose to come. She loved his children as she loved her own. A "Happy Home Sweet Home" was their's (or ours). Father loved to dance when able, he used to call for the quadrille. The French Four, Upper-Heel, Scotch Heel, were some of his favorite dances. Many of these old tunes they so much enjoyed are lost to us today. Father's life was full and rich with spiritual gifts and blessings. I have seen the sick instantly healed through his administrations. These have made a lasting impression upon my life. One I will relate for benefit of his children and Grandchildren who read this history. He was a strict observer of the Fast Day, in those days the Fast Day began Saturday evening at sunset till Sunday evening after 4:00 meeting. This particular Sunday he ask all to fast which we did. Horace was the baby, Mother was unrsing him, in trying to fast and feed him from her breast, she became very ill, with one of her terrific sick headaches, The pain was so severe she ask Father to administer to her, he did so, and after telling the Lord that she had been faithful in keeping one of his Commandments in observing the Fast, he saidthis "Jane, in the name of the Lord and through His power delegated to me, I make you whole. I rebuke the pain with in your body." When he took his hands from her head she was completely well, arose from her chair and prepared the Sunday evening meal in perfect health. Also I have seen him administer to my Sister Mercy, she was immediately healed. Father was deeply religious from childhood. So far as I remember he lived every principle of the Gospel, his advice and judgement were sound. His life and his example were without question. He passed away October 27th, 1903 after a weeks illness of pneumonia, leaving a large family of nine children. Effie, the oldest sister of the second family had just been married three weeks, baby sister Martha was but five months. Father knew he was going to leave us, when Mother was at his bed side with Martha in her arms, tears would stream down his face, he'd say "God bless you my baby" Sunshine", he always called her "Sunshine", He and Mother both had many premonitions that he was going to leave us, which caused many tears and anxious hours. He accomplished more in 69 years he lived than any one I know. He was Father of nineteen children. Seven sons twelve daughters. To his sacred memory I dedicate the following poem. Noble Father and Sire of nine, Your memory I cherish, your life was divine You taught us and led us to have faith in God. Undaunting, unwavering along lifes road, It's been years since you left us, but Our memory still clings to the heights you attained Through your service to man. How well I remember my childhood and you, Your loving kindness, your patience too, You scarcely ever scolded, seldom did whip, Our childish pranks you stood like a brick. "Tut-Tut" was the word we often would hear When we could do wrong and you were quite near. If I could but recall some things you said to me, Perhaps I could be better, and a little clearer see, I could vizulize the future between eternity and me. Only today in your book I was reading Some of those blessings kind and good, You pronounced on some ones head In the calling in which you stood. You magnified that calling, in honor did your part As a Patriarch and Father many blessings thus were wrought. Some have lived to their fulfillment much joy and peace attained. It has been an armor bearer, an anchor for their faith. Since the years are quickly passing, On wings of time they fly. We will try to do your bidding, From that home on high. I hope I shall be worthy on the Resurrection Day To be called with all the family, Almost numberless are they. May our family chain be welded With no missing links I pray, In that day of glad rejoicing In that glorious day of days. Lovingly by your Daughter WEALTHA PORTER HEINER