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John President PORTER Jr.
John President PORTER Jr. has three baptism dates, 1855 as listed, 29 Sep 1856, and the 4 Nov 1857.
The Life History of John President Porter Jr.
Written by Mildred H. Christensen, great grand daughter-in-law, from material furnished by
Edna P. Christensen and Marie P. Grachan, Grand-daughters, 5 Mar 1957.
John President Porter, Sr. born 28 July, 1818 at Plymouth, Oneida Co., married Nancy
Rich Porter, born 5 May 1821, Switzerland, Indiana, on 5 February 1843 at Lee County,
Iowa.
On 29 March 1844 in Charleston, Lee County, Iowa, their first son was born and given the
name Joseph Rich Porter, their second child, Sanford Colton Porter arrived on 26
December 1845 in Charleston, Lee Co., Iowa. It was in this year, 1845, that John
President Porter Sr., had a branding iron made bearing the initials JPP. The initials were
made of pig iron and the handle was made from iron taken from a whiskey distillery. This
branding iron had been handed down from John P. Porter Sr. to his son John P Jr., who in
turn gave it into the hands of his grandson, who has these same initials in his name,
Joseph President Porter, who has since passed it on to his daughter.
It can be assumed that this branding iron was made while preparations were underway for
the long, long trek across the plains from Iowa to Utah as members of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, For we learn that their next child, whose life we will portray in
this history, was born to them on 4 September 1847 at Sweetwater, Wyoming, while they
were en route to Utah by way of ox team and wagon in company with the Charles Rich
Comp. (Charles C. Rich was Nancy's brother.) This company of pioneers arrived in the
Salt Lake Valley when John P Porter Jr. was but two months old, the 2nd of October, 1847.
The family resided in Salt Lake City, Utah from the time of their arrival until 1850 when they
moved to Centerville.
Nancy Rich Porter passed away when John was but a lad; about 6 years of age. John P
Sr. married Mary Palmer Graves and in 1860 the family moved from Centerville, Ut. to
Porterville, Utah where they engaged in farming and milling. John Sr. became a leader in
building roads, building school houses, canals and served as trustee and a water
commissioner for many years. This pioneer family engaged in building sawmills
throughout the Porterville-Morgan section of the country--one being located at
Hardscrabble Canyon.
And so it was in the communities of Centerville and Porterville, Utah that John Jr. lived his
boyhood days. He was a very obedient and dutiful son, helping his father at all times and
learning all he could about the art of farming--for it was in this field that he later excelled
and became an expert. During his life with his parents he spent many days herding cows
and sheep by the roadside, and doing other odd jobs which fell to boys at that time. While
yet a very young man he had his own business--that of hauling freight from Fort Bridger to
Porterville and on to Salt Lake City.
At the ripe old age of 20 he gave up his blessed state of bachelorhood to enter into
matrimony. The fair lady of his choice was his cousin, Amy Zenora Porter. On the 5th day
of October 1867, their marriage was solemnized in the Endowment House of Salt Lake
City, Utah.
This was not their wedding day alone however; Amy's brother Warner Ahaz Porter was
married to Mary Malad Norwood on the same day--a double wedding we call it in our day
and age.
These two couples drove to Salt Lake City from their homes in Porterville for this big event
via horse and wagon. The trip one way required two full days. So, along with food for
themselves, and their wedding clothing, they had to carry feed for the horses.
Full of vigor of youth and with love for each other John P Porter Jr. and his bride Amy
Zenora Porter returned to Porterville where they made their first home at the "old fort"
located on the west side of East Canyon Creek in the Porterville area.
On the 5th of Dec., 1868 they received their first wee daughter, Lydia Rosella Porter. Two
years later, 24 August 1870, Nancy Rebecca joined forces to make a family of four. On 24
May 1872, Nora Arvina Porter appeared on the scene to make it three girls in a row. The
spell was broken however when on 21 December 1873 their first son arrived, John
Warriner Porter. January 29, 1876 marked the arrival of their second son Edwin President
Porter. A couple of years after his arrival the family moved to a 40 acre farm located on
the hill side east of Porterville. This farm had a two room log cabin on it and this became
the family home.
John P Porter, Jr. was a farmer and a great lover of horses. While engaged in his farming
activities and the trading and breeding of horses, he fell heir to the branding iron which his
father had brought across the plains bearing his initials JPP.
No modern water taps were at their disposal. The chief mode of acquiring water and
transporting it was by the "dip and haul" method. A ditch ran along the west side of the
home and it was from this ditch that they dipped and carried water for culinary use. This
same ditch also supplied irrigation water for the crops.
It wasn't long before John P Jr. discovered that he should have more land so he
homesteaded 80 acres adjoining the farm on the east. The ground was clay and very soft
in the spring time. To supply water for his farm a ditch had to be built. This was begun up
sheep canyon, and followed the foot-hill down the canyon for 4 miles. Everyone who
owned land along this ditch had to have a head-gate and a waste ditch, as the head gate
was raised in the spring and was never touched until fall. When the water wasn't in use it
had to be turned into the waste ditch which went back into the creek.
Their nearest neighbors lived about one mile away from them on another farm.
As was mentioned previous, John excelled in farming and his main crops were wheat,
potatoes, and hay. He ran about 150 head of sheep and always had two or three cows to
supply milk and butter for his family. Being very fond of horses he always maintained three
or four along with oxen. He used the oxen for plowing purposes--never did he use his
horses for this hard work.
The family increased when Lillian Aretta was born on 1 April, 1878 followed by
Arteamissia on 27 April 1880. Then came Edson Abinida on 23 May, 1882. Baby
Caddie Rich blessed this home with her arrival on 9 March, 1884. The family experienced
it's first tragedy when little Caddie died at the age of 14 months, 1 May 1885. She was laid
to rest in the Porterville Cemetery.
January 9, 1886 brought the arrival of Amy Belle, followed by Royal Ernest on December
25, 1887, Erastus Snow 1 December, 1889, and Mary Grace, 10 November, 1892, all
born in Porterville.
No modern hospitals and quick medical service awaited the mother of these 13 children.
A sister Brough acted as mid-wife at the birth of Amy's children. The closest doctor lived in
Morgan and was only called once to render his service to Amy in child birth. The one time
occurred when the 13th child was born. Amy became ill prior to delivery and her eldest son
John Warriner was instructed to hitch the horses to the buggy and go For the doctor. When
he arrived in Morgan he had to awaken the doctor and then drive him to Porterville. His
services were indeed needed for Amy had had a most difficult time with this birth and was
quite ill but soon recovered.
With 12 children to provide for, John P and Amy had no idle moments on their hands. Amy
was an excellent mother and fulfilled her domestic duties with many long hours of hard
work. Money was very scarce in those days and their clothing was all hand made by
mother Amy-this included everything they wore from overalls to underwear, dresses to
coats. With meals to prepare for 14 people, laundry and ironing for the same amount, one
can just imagine that this little home was just like a "bee hive," yet, with her duties as a
mother and housewife, Amy availed herself of the opportunity of pursuing fine arts for she
excelled in hand-work, crochet, knitting, etc. She was also a scholar of the Book of
Mormon.
As was the custom of the day their fire wood they hauled from the canyon and their coal
they hauled from Coalville.
Plowing, sowing, harvesting, and attending to livestock kept John P Jr. and his boys on the
job. At one time he and his sons raised 600 bushel of potatoes to the acre on this 40 acre
farm. They raised all their food, chiefly wheat, meat and potatoes. They had no fresh fruit
on their place but they would haul potatoes to Riverdale and trade them for fresh fruit.
Next to his wife and children we might assume that his greatest admiration was for horses.
It seems that whenever one was seen, so was the other. He had a high class stallion that
he used for breeding purposes. He enjoyed riding horseback and participating in most
any activity where horses were involved. At one time a herd of horses became snow
bound at the head of Red Rock, located south-east of Porterville. John P. and Stanford
Chipman took their saddle horses and took turns with their horses making a trail in order
that these stranded horses could got out of the snow. He couldn't stand to see them suffer
and die in the snow.
John enjoyed hunting deer and other wild life for food for the family. Deer hunting was very
good at the time but he only killed enough for their use--never wasted. Their children
attended school in Porterville when winter had set in. When the snow became too deep
John P. would tie two logs together and hitch to a horse on which one of the boys would
ride and drag the logs behind to make a path for the girls to walk to school; when the job
was completed the boy would head the horse for home, he would go on to school and the
horse would return home where John P would care for it.
When occasion permitted they attended church in Porterville. However due to the distance
they had to go they participated very little in church activities. John P held the office of an
elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood and was thoroughly converted to the law of tithing. In
those days tithing was paid in kind so when he produced his tenth load of hay, or his tenth
bushel of potatoes, etc.. he took it to the tithing yard located at the old fort.
When any member of the family became ill with scarlet fever, chicken pox, small pox, or
other diseases, the mid wife was called if help was needed. They had their home
remedies--catnip, yarrow, wild cherry bark, and Indian root.
When John Warriner was 8 years old he contracted scarlet fever. For treatment he was
wrapped in sheets which had been dipped in cold water--this procedure was carried out
until the fever broke.
John P suffered a great deal with lumbago in his back, but outside of this ailment there was
very little sickness in this family.
Their evening's entertainment consisted of frequent dances held in the school houses. A
fiddler played for the dance. When the new Morgan Hall was built the one man fiddler was
replaced by several fiddlers making it more like an orchestra.
In October of 1894, John P and Amy moved from Porterville to Bountiful. Two months later,
on 11 Dec. 1894 their 14th child was born. She was given the name of Kathleen. They
were deeply grieved on 12 April, 1897 when baby Kathleen passed away. She was
buried in Centerville.
Their third great sadness came to them in the year 1899 when their next to oldest child,
Nancy Rebecca passed away on 9 May, 1899 at the age of 29. She was also buried in
Centerville.
Out of a family of 14 children, only three passed him in death.
John President Porter, Jr. was a most devoted husband and father. His wife Amy lost her
eye sight in the last years of life and her husband was extremely kind and devoted to her
during her affliction. He was ever present to attend to her desires and needs and give her
the tender care she needed. Never did he leave her side unless it was absolutely
necessary.
In the year 1917 this couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary while residing in the
five points area in Bountiful. Family and friends were invited to drop in and greet this
happy couple.
Amy Zenora Porter was blessed with a most precious talent For expressing herself and
thoughts in the form of poetry. On the occasion of their Golden Wedding she composed
the following poem.
The GOLDEN WEDDING OF MR. AND MRS. JOHN PRESIDENT PORTER. 1867-1917
Fifty years we have been married
Does it seem so long ago,
Since we knelt beside the alter
While our cheeks with pride did glow.
There we vowed to love and honor
Through the remaining years of life;
We have kept the solemn promise
Through fifty years of married life.
To fourteen children we were parents,
'Tis the number that was given,
Eleven of them dwell among us--
All the rest have gone to heaven.
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