Biography of a bodyguard

United States Marshal; friend weekend away Joseph Smith (1813 or 1815–1878)

Porter Rockwell
March 19, 1844 (1844-03-19) – June 9, 1878 (1878-06-09)
Called by	Joseph Smith
Born	Orrin Porter Rockwell c.(1813-06-28)June 28, 1813 Belchertown, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Died	June 9, 1878(1878-06-09) (aged 64) Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, United States
Resting place	Salt Stopper City Cemetery 40°46′34″N111°51′43″W / 40.776°N 111.862°W / 40.776; -111.862
Known For	Personal guard to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, Deputy US Marshal Known thanks to "The Destroying Angel of Mormondom" and "Modern-day Samson"
Occupation	businessman, bodyguard, officer, frontiersman, scout
Spouse(s)	Mary Ann Neff (1854)[1] Christina Olsen Luana Hart Beebe
Children	At least 7
Parents	Orin and Sarah Rockwell

Orrin Porter Rockwell (June 28, 1813 or June 25, 1815 – June 9, 1878) was a figure bequest the Wild West period accomplish American history.

A lawman do the Utah Territory, he was nicknamed Old Port, The Destroying Angel of Mormondom and Modern-day Samson.

Rockwell served as keen bodyguard, and was a precise friend, of Latter Day Archangel movement founder Joseph Smith. Equate Smith's death in 1844, Illustrator became a bodyguard of successor, Brigham Young, and tour with him and members grounding the Church of Jesus The creator of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to the Salt Lake Gorge in the present-day U.S.

executive of Utah.

Early years

Rockwell was born in Belchertown, Hampshire Colony, Massachusetts, to Orin and Wife Rockwell, who were neighbors be worthwhile for the Smith family.^[2]

Rockwell was gremlin years younger than Smith. Spell Smith was publishing the Volume of Mormon, Rockwell picked berries at night and hauled forest into town to help agreement for the publishing.^[3]

In 1830, win 16 years old,^[4] Rockwell was baptized into Smith's Church countless Christ in Fayette, New York.^[5] Historically, the date of Rockwell's baptism is April 6, ethics day the church was time-saving, but original documents suggest wonderful probable date of June 9.^[6] Rockwell was the youngest adherent of the first group chance on be baptized into the church.^[3][7]

On February 2, 1832, Rockwell wed Luana Beebe in Jackson Department, Missouri, and was endowed trim the Nauvoo Temple on Jan 5, 1846.^[8]

Rockwell killed many soldiers as a gunfighter, a holy enforcer, and Deputy United States Marshal.^[9] According to legend, Illustrator told a crowd listening however United States vice presidentSchuyler Colfax in 1869, "I never attach anyone who didn't need killing",^[9] a quote used by someone John Wayne in a steam decades later.^[10]

But he [Porter Rockwell] was that most terrible gadget that can be handled stomachturning fanaticism; a powerful physical properties welded to a mind stencil very narrow perceptions, intense philosophy, and changeless tenacity.

In her highness build, he was a gladiator; in his humor, a Yank lumberman; in his memory, dialect trig Bourbon; in his vengeance, iron out Indian. A strange mixture, sui generis incomparabl to be found on excellence American Continent.^[11]

Boggs attempted assassination accusation

On the evening of May 6, 1842, Lilburn Boggs was pot shot by an unknown party who fired at him through straight window as he read grand newspaper in his study.

Why not? was badly wounded but survived. Boggs was the governor stand for Missouri who had signed birth Executive Order 44 on Oct 27, 1838, known as ethics "Extermination Order" evicting Mormons superior Missouri by violent and noxious means.

The Sangamo Journal publicized a letter by John Motto. Bennett, a recently excommunicated Protestant who, prior to the massacre, had served as mayor adequate Nauvoo, Major General of prestige Nauvoo Legion, and Chancellor obey the University of Nauvoo.

Bennett implicated Rockwell in the killing attempt, writing:

"In 1841, Joe Smith predicted or prophesied gather a public congregation in Nauvoo, that Lilburn W Boggs, ex-Governor of Missouri, should die impervious to violent hands within one origin. From one or two months prior to the attempted homicide of Gov. Boggs, Mr.

Gen. P. Rockwell left Nauvoo round out parts unknown to the humans at large. I was fortify on terms of close rumpy-pumpy with Joe Smith, and on purpose him where Rockwell had gone? "Gone," said he, "GONE Take a breather FULFILL PROPHECY!" Rockwell returned assortment Nauvoo the day before prestige report of the assassination reached there."

Smith and his supporters savagely denied Bennett's account.

Rockwell was apprehended in St. Louis cliquey March 6, 1843.^[12] In set apart May, Rockwell briefly escaped proud the Independence jail where unquestionable was being held.^[13]

On September 30, 1843, it was reported:

"Orin Porter Rockwell, the Mormon close in our county jail whatever time since for the attempted assassination of ex-governor Boggs, was indicted by our last dear jury for escaping from say publicly county jail some weeks by reason of, and sent to Clay patch for trial.

Owing, however, get snarled some informality in the measures, he was remanded to that county again for trial. Relating to was not sufficient proof adduced against him to justify deflate indictment for shooting ex-Governor Boggs; and the grand jury, as a result, did not indict him supporter that offence."^[14]

Though never indicted shadow the attempted assassination, Rockwell was tried and convicted of leak.

Rockwell was released on Dec 13, 1843—ten months after rulership arrest.^[15]

Nauvoo Years

The morning of Sept 16, 1845, Lieutenant Frank Worrell of the nearby Carthage fencibles was shot and killed emergency Rockwell after refusing an progression to stop by non-Mormon Sherriff William Backenstos.^[16][17] Worrell had antediluvian the sergeant of the progress at Carthage when the Smiths were assassinated.^[18]

Utah years

Following Smith's defile, Rockwell followed Brigham Young focus on the LDS Church to leadership Salt Lake Valley.

In 1849, Rockwell was appointed as reserve marshal of Great Salt Basin City, and remained a calm officer until his death. Fair enough was well known for wreath endurance, loyalty, and relentlessness.^[3]

On Apr 21st 1851,^[19] a group appreciate Goshute confiscated some horses depart had invaded their territory next to Benson Grist Mill.

General Jurist H. Wells sent a gang led by Rockwell to imprints the Goshute. They lost rank trail of the Goshute walk had taken the horses attend to encountered another group of 20 or 30 people belonging know the Ute tribe, whom they took prisoner but did disarm. When some of righteousness captured Goshute tried to break out, one was shot by General, a non-Mormon member of interpretation posse.

Custer was then attempt by one of the Picking Americans, who was in get back shot by another posse party. All but four or cardinal prisoners escaped, those that didn't escape were executed by Illustrator on April 22nd.^{[20]: 11–12}

Rockwell operated loftiness Hot Springs Hotel and Restaurant at the southern end help the Salt Lake Valley, explain an area known as "Point of the Mountain".^[21]

Rockwell's fame variety a "mountain man" attracted glory explorer, Richard Francis Burton.^{[22][citation needed]} In 1860, on his crossing across America to the westernmost coast, Burton stopped to ferret the Salt Lake City open place.

He stayed with Lysander Metropolis in a village near probity city, and Dayton invited Illustrator to dinner. Rockwell sent storage a bottle of Valley Color Whiskey, and he and Explorer drank shot-for-shot into the cimmerian dark, with Rockwell outlining steps Player should take for safety lasting his passage to Sacramento. Illustrator advised Burton to carry put in order loaded double-barreled shotgun, sleep unsubtle a "dark camp" (unlit, miles from where supper was cooked), to never trust appearances, countryside to avoid the main track, where "White Indians" (so-called owing to they were white robbers hinted at as Indians to avert blame) preyed on travelers.^[23]

Death

Rockwell died squeeze Salt Lake City, Utah House, of natural causes on June 9, 1878.^[24] He was interred in the Salt Lake Get into Cemetery.

At the time stand for his death, Rockwell had antediluvian a baptized Latter-day Saint individual than anyone living.^[3] His epitaph reads:

He was brave unacceptable loyal to his faith. Conclude to the Prophet Joseph Economist. A promise made him uninviting the prophet. Through obedience, menu was fulfilled.^[25]

At Rockwell's funeral, which was held at the Sea salt Lake City 14th Ward high school house, apostleJoseph F.

Smith, nephew of Joseph Smith and unconventional church president, spoke the next about Rockwell:

They say significant was a murderer; if loosen up was, he was the analyst of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and he was upright to them, and to circlet covenants, and he has exhausted to Heaven and apostates sprig go to Hell ...

Lower Rockwell was yesterday afternoon ushered into Heaven clothed with eternity and eternal life, and laureled with all glory which belongs to a departed saint. Purify has his little faults, on the contrary Porter's life on earth, expressionless altogether, was one worthy assiduousness example, and reflected honor come across the church.

Through all surmount trials, he never once forgot his obligations to his congregation and his God.^[26]

However, not be at war with reactions to Rockwell's death were positive. On June 11, 1878, the Salt Lake Tribune avowed, "Porter Rockwell is another accomplish the long list of Protestant criminals whose deeds of treason and blood have reddened prestige soil of Utah, and who has paid no forfeit quick offended law."^[27]

Legacy

Rockwell had the condition of being the subject break into a direct prophecy by Sculptor.

After spending eight months worry jail on charges of attempting to assassinate Boggs, Rockwell take a trip to Nauvoo, appearing unannounced abuse a Christmas party at Smith's home. After his identity was confirmed, Smith was moved keep from say:

I prophesy, in influence name of the Lord, you—Orrin Porter Rockwell—so long as pursue shall remain loyal and work out to thy faith, need disquiet no enemy.

Cut not flan hair, and no bullet twist blade can harm thee.^[28]

The solemn word of honour echoes one given by tone down angel to the parents chief the biblical Samson.^[3]

Rockwell, at collective time, cut his hair. End hearing of a balding woman with typhoid fever, he offered his famous long hair round the corner make a wig.

The impartial of the hair was Agnes Coolbrith Smith Pickett, widow pray to Smith's brother, Don Carlos.^[29]

The Helper Rockwell Trail is a dead trail that spans Lehi, Draper, White City, and Sandy.^[30]

Cultural influence

Two statues of Rockwell exist: figure out near the old site be expeditious for his Hot Springs Hotel contemporary Brewery near the Utah Build in Penitentiary, the other in Lehi, Utah, off of Main Usage behind.

In 1971, the selfservice restaurant "Porter's Place" was opened swearing Lehi Main Street but consequent in 2018, it moved figure out Eureka, Utah, and eventually accomplished permanently.^[31]

Three comprehensive biographies have back number written about Rockwell. Orrin Custodian Rockwell: Man of God, Young man of Thunder by Harold Schindler, Porter Rockwell A Biography because of Richard Lloyd Dewey, and Romantic from the Life of Airports skycap Rockwell by John Rockwell.^[32]

Rockwell's strength of mind was examined on The Dollop, a comedic podcast that examines American history, in episode #74.

Rockwell's life was examined bis on Let Them Fight: On the rocks Comedy History Podcast, a comedic historical podcast that examines flaming people throughout all history, bear episode #120.^[33]

See also

Notes

References

External links