Mormon Pioneers, Porters, Binghams, and Craguns Included People Of Great Faith



Some Pushed and Pulled Handcarts

Pioneer John R Young quotes in his journal, "We outlived the trying scenes. We felt contented and happy. The songs of Zion resounded from wagon to wagon, from tent to tent, the sound reveberated through the woods, and its echo was returned from the distant hills; peace, harmony, and contentment reigned in the habitations of the saints.

The God of Israel is with us, and as we journey, as did Abraham of old, to a distant land, we feel that, like him, we are doing the will of our Heavenly Father and relying upon His word and promises and hope, and that the great Jehova is our God.

J R Porter, traveling in the Charles C Rich Company spent the winter before their trek across the plains at Winter Quarters, (now Florence Nebraska) on the west bank of the Missouri River. Even here education was important and a school was formed to teach the chidren. Great grandfather J R was too young to attend yet, but no doubt he found amusement in wathci such tings as the thousand of head of cattle taht were driven across the river. Good swimmers would climbe upon the backs of some of the strongest oxen andslapping them on the sides fo the tfaces wuld guide them into the current.  Soon a string of animals would reach the other shore.

J R's mother Nancy, was not in good health. When they left Winter Quarters to cross the plains she was pregnant. With two children under 3 years old, traveling in a coverd wagon was very difficult, however, most of the Porter clan and the Rich clan were in the same company, paternal and maternal grandparents. the stron among them would help bear the trials of the weak.

Along the trail the children saw many animals, but the most exciting were the buffalo.



Sometimes thousands of the huge animals stampeded and would run madly across the plains, leaving the air full of dust clouds. The wagons had to stop; and there was always the danger that the herd would run right across their camps. Sometimes they would come so close to the wagon trains that it was difficult to keep the cattle and horses of the camp from mixing with the buffalo.

Continuing postings from Joseph Rich Porter Descendants and Ancestors by Bertha Cragun

Who Took My Mother & Aunt To Electa Elizabeth Porter?

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Nancy and Thomas Salinas

Not long before my grandmother, Nancy Athena Porter died her two children were taken to live with their grandmother: Electa Elizabeth Porter. She was only 44 years old.

The daughters were Bertha and Gloria.

Nancy and her husband Thomas Salinas were living in Burley, Idaho. Thomas was unable to give proper care to the girls. He spent much of his time running sheep crews in Montana and other places.

I know that one of Nancy's siblings came from Porterville, Utah to Burley not long before our grandmother passed away to live with Electa.

I am trying to determine which of her siblings this was. I am hoping that someday this article is found by a relative that might have buried somewhere in one of their family histories some details of this event. 

I know it must have been heart wrenching to all: Thomas, Nancy, Bertha, Gloria, and Nancy's brother or sister. I believe it was one of her brothers, and perhaps his wife that brought the girls back to Porterville. Gloria, who later married David Huff was only 4 years old and Bertha was a young teen of fourteen. Bertha later married Royal Cragun, Electa died in 1942, Bertha was married to Royal and Gloria came to live with them. 

So I ask, if you are a descendant or relative of Nancy's brothers or sisters: Marlow Rich Porter  (1877-1964),   Nellie Electa Porter  (1879-1881),  May Porter  (1882-1882), Bertha Mariah Porter  (1883-1965, Nathaniel Victor Porter  (1888-1959),   Joseph Irvin Porter  (1894-1974), or  Mary Viola Porter  (1897-1993) please be aware of my request and perhaps you might help me put more pieces of my grandmothers life's story together.

I have also been searching for a journal of either Nancy Athena Porter or her mother Electa. I have been told that these journals do exist but I cannot locate them.

PS: If you come across any information on my grandmothers life I would appreciate you letting me know. Thanks

Joseph Rich Porter: Part 1

By Bertha Cragun: Granddaughter: deceased: From her records

Joseph Rich Porter came to the valley of Porterville as a young man of eighteen.  Within a year he became the first school teacher.  He shared this responsibility with a young woman, Anna Wood for two years, then she moved away.  He was the only teacher many of the children from the Canyon Creek district ever had.  The area encompassed from East Canyon to Richville.

He was one of those early pioneers who exerted influence on the people of Porterville and helped shape their destiny for many years. He tried to instill in his students a desire to do their best, a love of community, country, and church, and a belief in themselves.

He served the people of East Porterville as their Bishop for twenty years, and throughout life filled many church related positions.  He was active in the political arena all his adult life. He served as selectman (a Presidential appointment) in the Territory of Utah, County commissioner after Utah became a State, Probate Judge, and Superintendent of Schools. He was elected a member of the State House of Representatives for three different terms, and a chaplain of that body for two years.

He helped organize a debating society, a drama group, and was a trustee of the ZCMI in Morgan. In addition to all this, he farmed 50 acres of fertile land.

His first wife died soon after the birth of their first child, a daughter. Six years later he married Electa Elizabeth Porter. They had eight children.

He was often called J.R. Joseph Rich was born 29 March 1844 in Charleston, Lee County, Iowa. Just two months before J.R.'s birth, Joseph Smith, the spiritual leader-prophet of his family and of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had been murdered and the entire L.D.S. community was in chaos and distress.

John President Porter and Nancy Rich Porter, his parents were now placed in the ambivalent situation of extreme sadness at the martyrdom of their prophet and the anticipated joy of the arrival of their first child.

Their prophet had been named Joseph and Nancy's father was Joseph Rich. A fitting name for their new son was Joseph Rich Porter.

For this family, as with all the Latter Day Saints, the next two years were filled with turmoil, tremendous sadness, and preparations to go westward to some unknown destination. Yet, too, there were times of infinite spiritual uplift and happiness, brotherly affection and the togetherness that only trouble and persecution will bring about.

In September 1845 the Saints were scattered and persecuted. Many homes were burned and their occupants driven out into the winter cold. 

When the Sheriff took a determined stand in favor of the Saints he was arrested and charged with the murder of a mobber. Violence against the "Mormons" was permitted to go unchecked.  Governor Ford had promised and pledged his word that the murderers of the Prophet and his brother, Patriarch, Hyrum Smith, would be brought to justice. The citizens of Warsaw, Illinois, where the murders took place, informed the Governor in no uncertain terms that they would not support him. They were to have their own kind of mock court. Similar stand in opposition to the trial of the murders, but expelling the "Mormons" from the state. Governor Ford, by his subsequent actions, acknowledged his inability to handle the situation with fairness and impartiality.

For about a year the people of Nauvoo had been crossing the river into Iowa to escape the persecutions going on in Illinois. Those who could find room took these exiles into their homes, as did some of the Porters, but most of the people camped at a place called Sugar Creek. The weather was inclement and extremely cold, people were without proper shelter, with only wagons or tents to protect them from the elements.

J.R. was three years old when he, his parents, brother Sanford, and most of this extended family began their journey westward.

To be continued