Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-30
UblIUahl.

NATHAN TANNER PORTER.
Nathan Tanner POuer, son of Sam
ford anu Nancy w. Porter, was born
July 10, 1870, at Corinth, Orange eOun y,
Vermont. The same year the family
moved 20 Augusta, Oneida county, New
ork, and three years later 10 Liberty,
frumDull county. Ohio. II was there
the cniid OF one summer passed the tirst
OF long series OF experiences common
to frontier lie Four years was long
enough 10 await the coming OF near
neighbors and in 1927, the westward
journey was resumed.
Travelling by fiat boats as far as Evans
willie, Indiana, transfer was made To
truck-wagOn which carried the boy and
his tamtly associates MS far AS the banks
OF the Illinois river near Peoria, ILLINOIS,
II was he,o that Elders Lyman Wight
and John Carol succeeded through
divine Intervention in masking the older
members OF the family true followers
IN the Church of Jesus Chris. There
upon, when The gathering place for the
Sain1s was poinled oui, another home
Wa abandoned, aud during the winter of
ls3l-2 II trying and hazardous Journey
was made to Jackson county, Missouri,
The Fifth or Prairie branch included the
Inheritance OF Father Porter and family
and once more they pitched their tent on
the outskirts. ON the 10th day OF June OF
the following year, the tweIye.y ear old
hny sought and Eocaived haplisfn, Eldss
Jonatnan Sumner officiating. While
this date mai ks his en- ny into the fold OF
Christ IL by no means Indicated the be-
ginning of faith in the Gospel. How
ever, it began, In The lie OF the youth.
The long epoch ofsuffering Tor the right.
Just one year and the haven OF peace
and sacreduess had become he place Of
greatest peril. What is known in history
as The first Missouri persecution brought
him to the banks Of the Grand river, a
refugee, there 10 behold the fireworks of
heavens scene that brought victory to
the outcast and defeat TO ms oath bound
enemy. Moving down the river, the
foundation of another home was laid,
only 10 be left unfinished some five years
later.
Tue fall of 1899 found tho young man
toge her with his parents on the west
bank Of the Mississippi river, opposite
the town OF Nauvoo. The second Mis-
souri, per ecutlon had taken place. An
other i'll now Joined forces with the per-
secutor. Through over-exertion sickness
followed and then and there IL was that
for return OF health and strength the
all of life was placed upon he altar. As
volun. eer The boy of nineteen summers
began his missionary labors which were
10 cover a period in this life OF more than
half century. In the spring OF ls4l he
HIS IEhL mission 10 the
eastern states and returned to the field
again in 1874, when he was summoned
home At the time of he marlyrdom.
Al the lime OF the exodus from Nauyoo
in 1916, he was called to remain behind
to care for interests left did not reach
Winter Quarters unlil the first OF June,
lS47. There he Joined the fam ~ and
on the 20.h OF the same month
began the long journey westward,
fnllnwfnw tho Trail NJ hn
Az Sweetwater n most happy meeting
with the return party of Pioneers took
place aud on the first day OF October, 1877,
they obtained their frat view of the
promised land. The selected spot for
another homestead was located near Mill
Creek and was abandoned year later
tor u cabin in the Old Fort-the first
home he enjoyed in wedlock, as he hatH
Joined hands for eternity with Rebecy/
Ann Cherry, member of the sayt
Pioneer company in which he had -
eled.
In the spring OF 1910 ho ioino( his |
father-in-law, who, with otherk had
founded q colony some Welye
mile, north OF the present ne ~, =, OF
vile of today, a home was foqded with
a tenure for life. 1t was them home
that had become hxed. e oeiel IN
, habitant was far IRON the jQfney's end
ing. Again call to the fofgn ministry
came, his time TO thi distant for
,ross of Gibralla., seaH to The in
to the deliver ff,T heaven. Tho
| following is taken MI his diary Sept. |
"a, 1852, HAfose tfy, sadaled pony
ana made fast 10 it few earthly effects;
noticed the gate Icing to our humble |
| cot had not beeJhung. Tied pony.
| hunu pate. and m few repairs. Pit
| NV tools away tent into the house,
| kissed nv wife ~ babe good-by, com.
mended them I God; mounted nv
horse aud rodto Salt Lake, where
| found nv ooyanion, Elder Edward
Stevenson, aw5ng in readiness for the
Journey"
| thence nv boYo Cincinnati, thence by
train to Now1ork. ombarking there for
| IJvernool, tce by rail TO Sou hnmp-
ION and NY by steam packet TO he
lannon's roo they entered tho garrison
| March f3- The discovery of Iheir
| nresonca AZ once 10 hostiliiies from |
lie olerV circle, and later the civil /
author \ which ended In the expul. II
sion oJder Porter (he not being u
naive pm the fortress and town on II
ihe Il Jay OF April of the same wear. r.
ThroJ divine interposition he suc.I ,
ceedtJn reaching Southam ptOn and
mar gan his labors in the EuplisU !
misp. During his Stay there N
iah as travelling Elder in the Roaf
in Essex and Kent conferences apdE @