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Orrin Porter Rockwell Porter’s log cabin was moved from Tooele, Utah to Eureka, Utah Below Porter’s Corrals, Photo’s courtesy of Paul Brizzee |
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Porter Rockwell
A true story about Porter Rockwell, his love for horses in Salt Lake.
[The following is a transcription of a letter to my father from E.J. Wood president of the Alberta Stake, Cardston, Canada upon my fathers return from a visit there in 1938.] Transcribed by C. Paul Brizzee, son of Charles Brizzee (sic)
Cardston, Alberta Nov. 21, 1938 Charles Brizzee (sic) Esq., Rexburg, Idaho.
Dear Brother Brizzee:
I have your letter of Nov. 17..asking for any information or incidents I may remember in the life of Porter Rockwell, also of your safe arrival home after you visit to our Temple. We appreciated your company very much and the very fine spirited lot of young people in your caravan.
By my age 72 past, you will know that I was but a young man when Porter Rockwell was along in years, but boys as you know are generally fond of horses, and they admire very much a man who is good with horses—one who knows how to handle bronks (sic) and to drive them and have the horse learn to mind the man who handles them—Well. Porter Rockwell was just that kind of man. He used to use a livery barn in the old Sells Lumber yard on 1st . South Street and between west Temple and first west. He had a two wheel cart with very long shafts and would have long lines and hitch the horse close to the end of the shafts and he would sit over the wheels of the cart and the horse would then be hitched about 12 or 15 feet away from the driver, so that the horse could kick all he wanted to and never touch the driver, and if he wanted to swerve around and lie down, he couldn’t hurt the driver nor the cart: old Bro, Rockwell would sit in the cart and wait for the horse to get on his feet again and start out. I remember seeing him go thru the streets of Salt Lake as fast as the horse could run, and he never seemed to have any trouble in managing the wildest horses. I have seen him in the coral (sic) with wild horses and he would pick out one certain horse and in an hour or so, he would have the horse come right up to him and he would put a rope around the horses neck and the horse would follow him any where. He was a familiar figure on the streets and was always pointed out as the man who saved the life of Prophet Joseph Smith on many occasions, and because of this, as a boy with other young people I used to think him a highly favored man.
Kindly remember me to others of your Company who came on us at the Temple with you.
Sincerely Your Brother,
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