Joseph Smith Porter (1865-1949)
and
Elizabeth Maria Lambert (1874-1940)

I was born in Porterville, Morgan Co., Utah, July 11, 1865, the son of Lyman Wight Porter and Electa Mariah Kilbourn. My mother had eleven children, six boys and five girls.

My father had three wives. Mother was the first, Sarah Emmet was the second, and Elizabeth Bailey was the third.

Father would live a week with each family in turn. Father was very strict in family government. I don't remember ever eating breakfast at home without first kneeling in prayer and asking a blessing on the food. Besides having two or three small farms, we had horses, sheep and cattle.

I was baptized in East Canyon Creek by Alma Porter, July 15, 1877, confirmed the same day by Joseph Porter. The date of my ordination to the office of deacon has been lost. I was ordained a teacher July 15, 1883 by Bishop Joseph R. Porter, ordained a Priest, March 20, 1886, by Ebineezer Crouch. I served in all these offices in the Porterville Ward.

About 1885 father went to Arizona to keep out of the clutches of Deputy U.S. Marshals. My brother, Alva, next older than I and myself were left to manage the affairs at home. We had 40 or 50 head of horses, so Alva and I bought a Perspheron Stallion, paying $225 or $250 for which we gave our note. We decided, therefore, that I should go to Colorado to work for the Utah Colorado Cattle Co. to pay off the note, our cousin Sanford Chipman being range foreman. So in the summer of 1887 I took the train to Whitewater, Colorado, a little town 10 miles south of Grand Junction. From there we went by team 40 miles southwest up on the top of the Uncompoghra range. This had been until several years pervious the reservation of the Uncompoghra Indians. Grass was belly deep to a horse everywhere. Deer in nearly every grove of timber. Mrs. Chipman was our cook, so I was at home, but was entering upon a comparatively new life, in the saddle every day. Our neighbors whose ranch houses were from two to five miles apart, were nearly all well-educated eastern people. The cowboys, while somewhat profane, were a splendid lot of fellows. Here I worked as a cowboy until 1894.

I came home in the fall of 1893 and was called on a mission and being short of means, I asked the Church Authorities to grant me six months in which to get ready, which was granted. I went back to the ranch and worked until November or December, then returned home and was set apart for my mission by Elder Rulon S. Wells Jan. 25, 1895. I left the next evening, Jan 26th, going over the UPRR to Denver. I was assigned to the Southern States mission, Chattanooga, Tennessee was mission headquarters with Elias S. Kimball, President. From thre I was sent to Mobile, Alabama, the headquarters of the South Alabama Conference. I was met at the station by Elders Geddes and Aaron Hardy who took me to their room. There were now four of us and only one bed. We slept two at the foot and two at the head, and had for our meals syrup and bread. I was made companion to Elder Hardy with Mobile County our field of labor.

After 3 or 4 days we went south from Mobile tracting. About a week later 4 inches of snow fell, the most that was ever known to fall there. I labored here in Mobile County with Elder Hardy until May 21st when I was sent to Monroe County to labor with Elder Artemes Millet. I left Mobile about 6 o'clock p.m. on board the steamboat Hette Guill, going up the Alabama River to Hollinger's landing. Arrived there at 11 a.m. the following day and was met there by Elder Chariton Segmiller who took me to Bro. Monroe Hales about 10 miles distant. I labored in this county until July 13th when we went to Bradleyton, Cresham Co. to attend conference held there July 20th to 22nd. At the close of this conference I was given Elder Ira Call as companion and Butler and Monroe Counties as our field of labor. Elder Call was from Bancroft, Idaho. My next companion was Elder Charles Varley of Bountiful, Utah. Our field of labor was Washington Co. My next companion was Wayne H. Redd of Bluff, Utah. Butler Co. was our field of labor. We labored together about seven or eight months. At the next conference which was held in Wilcox Co., Alabama, Elder Frank Andrus of Oxford Idaho was my next companion, a splendid fellow. We were given Geneva Co., to labor in. Our next conference was held at Jamison, Wilcox Co., May 11th and 12th, 1897. Elder John A. Lewis of Lewiston, Idaho was a most pleasant companion. Covington Co. was assigned to us in which to labor. Aug. 24th, 1897 Elder J. Harvey Melville was sent to me as a laborer. He was only 19 years of age and was raised in Fillmore, Millard Co., Utah, son of Judge J. A. Melville. The next conference was at Provo, Monroe Co., Jan 8th to 12th, 1898. This was a wonderful conference. Apostles F. M. Lyman and M. F. Cowley were with us. There is a branch of the church here. A new meetinghouse has just been completed, and they call the branch Provo. At this conference Elder Lot Smith, Jr. of Tremonton, Utah was given me as a traveling companion and Covington and Conecub Counties as our field of labor, also Dale Co. I was released from my mission March 27, 1898 having served 3 years and two months.

I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for his wonderful blessings and the experience I have passed through. I never had a day's sickness or slept out a night during the three years. I walked 7994 miles, visited 4166 families, revisited 1252 families, tracts distributed 4652, books sold 56 books given away 186, meetings held 412, gospel conversations 2366, gospel letters 42, children blessed 10, baptisms 16.

I remained in Salt Lake an Porterville about a month, then went to Star Valley, Wyo. Where in connection with my brother in law, Ira S. Moffet I owned a hay ranch. The remainder of the summer was spent in various ways such as home mission work, working on the ranch, etc. I made one trip to Salt Lake buying cattle. In November I was called on a three months mission representing the YMMIA. My field of labor was Bingham Co., Idaho. I left Morgan Nov. 21st 1898 and arrived in Idaho Falls the next morning the 22nd, was entertained at the home of Thomas Nixon, President of the Mutual in that ward. I began my labors Nov. 23rd visiting the homes of the members of the church encouraging them to attend and support the MIA and other church organizations.

December 6th, Brother H. J. Henderson arrived. Several days later, Elders James A. Faust and Chris Merkley arrived as fellow missionaries. I spent a very pleasant 3 months in this labor and was released and returned home Feb., 15th 1899. On March 2nd I left Star Valley and came to Salt Lake, March 4th, 1899 and made arrangements with the Utah State Bank for a loan of $1200 with which to buy cattle. I spent the remainder of the month in Salt Lake and Porterville. March 29th I was married in the Salt Lake Temple to Miss Elizabeth Maria Lambert. About May 1st I returned by horseback to Star Valley. July 1st I returned again to Porterville where I met my wife again. July 10th, started again to Star Valley by team accompanied by my wife, my sister Rachael and nephew Marlow Rich Porter.

Joseph and Elizabeth

At the August Stake Conference of Star Valley Stake I was chosen 2nd Assistant Stake Supt. of Mutuals. Orlando Barrus being Stake Supt. We lived in Star Valley about 1 « years in the Fairview Ward. A most enjoyable time was experienced. Working the church, Home Dramatics., etc. Working in the hay in the summer, sleigh riding in the winter were some of the pasttimes indulged in.

In the spring of 1901 my wife's cousin, James Gillespie, a boy of 12 years came to live with us. He had not been baptized. Some time during the summer I baptized him in Crow Creek, a stream running through the ranch. I should have remarked before, I had bought a squatter's right to this ranch from James Dinsdale and by agreement my brother-in-law M. S. Moffett was to file on it under the homestead act, improve and manage it. I to furnish money to stock it. Each to share equally. This I did while working in Colorado. This all was before I went on my mission. In the fall of 1901 we returned to Salt Lake for conference and remained there all winter and worked for the Lambert Paper Co. We lived with my wife's mother. There was a move on foot to settle up Alberta, Canada where Jessie Knight Co. had or was building a sugar factory. We therefore decided to move to Canada. About May 1st, I went back to Star Valley, sold the ranch to Edward W. Croft. This was in 1902. With 4 horses, several cows, wagon and household goods in a box car we arrived in Raymond, Alberta May 18th. What a change. From mountains and small valleys to open prairie with no mountains in sight. Raymond is just being newly settled, therefore, families are arriving every few days and houses are being built on all sides. A building lot had been purchased for us by my wife's brother, Isaac, who had gone there some months earlier. This lot is on 3rd North « block west of Broadway.

I at once started building a home. First I built a lumber stable where I stored the furniture and lived while building the home. Isaac had also arranged for the purchase of 80 acres of land situated 2 miles north of town, ten acres being planted to wheat. June 15th, 1902 I was received a member of the Raymond ward and appointed Sunday School teacher.

Our home was not quite finished when my wife arrived from Salt Lake, July 18th, 1902, nevertheless, we moved in and lived in one part of the house while I finished the other part. We had lovely neighbors. Water for culinary purposes was supplied from a town flowing well by a water wagon going from house to house. This season was a very rainy one. We had a splendid garden. We, Isaac Lambert, Arch Pettit and I, dug a well on our lots conjointly, 40 feet deep. The boys boarded with us for some time. At the next quarterly conference 16 Sep 1902 I was chosen 2nd Ass't Stake Superintendent of Sunday School, Lafyett Holbrook, Supt. and David Rishton, 1st Ass't. Mrs. Porter was also chosen 2nd Counselor to Jennie B. Knight in the Stake YWMIA. This is Taylor Stake, comprised of five wards at this time, Raymond, McGrath, Sterling, Tabor and Barnwell.

My wheat yielded 25 bushels per acre. I worked in the sugar factory during the fall. The first two years crops were good, then followed several years of drought, and dry farming was a failure. I raised the first strawberries in that part of the country. At Christmas time Mrs. Porter went to Salt Lake. Her health was not good.

On Nov. 11, 1904 I went to Lethbridge and filed on a homestead 160 acres, about 35 miles north east of Raymond and 5 miles from Tabor. In 1909 having proved up on our land we moved there. A number of families had moved here from Raymond. About this time, 1910, this District was organized into a Ward, named Barnwell...and I went set apart as 2nd counselor to Bishop William Johnson.

In Feb. 1905 while in Salt Lake she went to the LDS Hospital and underwent 5 operations. Up to this time we had no children and the doctors said she could never have any. Her Patriarchal Blessing however, said she would live to see her sons and daughters grow up faithful men and women. Sometime during the summer she returned, her health improved.

On January 31st a beautiful little girl was born to us. The snow was 18 inches deep and the weather 55 degrees below zero. My wife's mother and sister were with us. Some time later they returned to Salt Lake. Our baby's health is perfect, as is also our joy and happiness after waiting 8 years for her. We acknowledge her as the fulfillment of the promise of the Lord through His servant the Patriarch. We named her Faith May.

About August 1909 she went to Salt Lake again in company with her brother Charles John and wife. On Dec. 1909 she gave birth to a boy, this her own birthday also. March 1st, 1910 I returned to Canada. My wife and children coming several months later, crops are good this season. Father had his eyes operated on for cateracts and had remarked to Dr. Osgood who performed the operation that if he could see again, he would name his first grandson born, Osgood. So we named our boy Osgood Lambert.


Elizabeth and Martha (Dot) 1912
On Feb. 5, 1912 a daughter Martha Electa was born in Salt Lake City and on March 31, 1914 a son Lyman Karl was born in Salt Lake City.

We lived on a homestead in Fillmore, Utah. Lived in Nephi for awhile, went in the grocery business with my half brother Morey Porter. Came to Salt Lake City in 1918 to live in grandmother Lambert's home at 1057 So. 2nd West and take a job at Lambert Paper Co. Lived in the 30th Ward and raised all the children to maturity and saw each one married...

Joseph Smith Porter moved to his daughter (Dot's) Martha Electa Holt's home at 435 K. Street and resided in the East Ensign Ward until the time of his death. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed 135 pounds with grey eyes and sandy hair. He died at 4 a.m. Friday, 13 May 1949. He was a retired employee of Zellerback Paper Company. He was a High Priest, an active temple worker, and had served as a member of the bishopric at Lethbridge, Canada. He was buried in the Salt Lake Wasatch Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Monday, 15 May 1949.