When orrin porter rockwell died of a heart attack in 1878, his name was as well known as brigham youngs. In may of 1842, now former governor lilburn boggs was shot by an unknown assailant. Porter rockwell was eight years younger than joseph smith. Nicknamed old port and labeled the destroying angel of mormondom, he was as famous and controversial during his lifetime as wyatt earp and pat garrett. Man of god, son of thunder harold schindler, dale bryner on. Stories of the life of porter rockwell the book is to show how porter wasnt a mad out of control killer but a respectful bodyguard to the prophet. Kimball home at this is the place heritage park to talk about their. He was as famous and controversial during his lifetime as wyatt earp and pat garrett.
Orrin porter rockwell is born in belcher, massachusetts, to orin and sarah witt rockwell. After reading porter rockwells biography by richard lloyd dewey i was of course curious what this book would say about my personal hero orrin porter rockwell. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. While principally a bigraphy of gunfighter orrin porter rockwell, this lackluster book by the author of rockwell. Orrin porter rockwell became affiliated with the new religious movement shortly after the mormons were forced to flee from zion and independence county in missouri. Stories from the life of porter rockwell deseret book.
After reading porter rockwell biography i was of course curious what this book would say about my personal hero orrin porter rockwell. I was hoping that some stories that i had read about porter in other books would be expanded upon in this biography, but maybe it is just the lack of a journal from porter that limits the scope of these stories. That in those days there was mobs and all sorts of people after the prophet. Orrin porter rockwell, man of god, son of thunder by harold schindler.
Cowboys sang songs about him, and newspapers had frequently printed scandalous accounts about the malicious mormon destroying angel. Some of the text is outdated as new information has become available, most. Porter rockwell mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Rockwell is the coauthor of stories from the life of porter rockwell. He would follow a trail at a gallop in his buckboard where others would walk their horses, searching for clues. His parents were orin and sarah rockwell descendants of famous early immigrant to massachusetts colony edmund rice. Get the best deal by comparing prices from over 100,000 booksellers. When porter was four years of age, the rockwell s moved from where porter was born in massachusetts to new york, about 2 miles from downtown palmyra. The video below is a conversation between the coauthors. Rockwell and jerry borrowman, called stories from the life of porter rockwell seeks to separate fact from myth.
New book, dvd focus on lds and old west icon porter rockwell. Best sellers todays deals new releases customer service gift ideas books gift cards electronics home computers sell. When smith was publishing the book of mormon, rockwell would work by picking berries at night and hauling wood into town in. Rockwell was born on june 28, 18 in belchertown, hampshire county, massachusetts to orin and sarah rockwell, neighbors to the smith family rockwell was eight years younger than joseph smith. Schindler 1983, paperback, reprint at the best online prices at ebay. I felt like the author wrote this book from a completely nonbias point of view despite being a member of the mormon church. When smith was publishing the book of mormon, rockwell would work by picking berries at night and hauling wood into town in order to help pay for the publishing. Duaine hiatt, this people magazine the writing is slick and the pace is fast. Orrin porter rockwell was born in hampshire county, massachusetts on june 28, 18. Porter remained in missouri, according to the church, to ensure the safe passage other latter day saints out of the state. John rockwell and jerry borrowman, authors of stories of from the life of porter rockwell, recently sat down in the heber c. Stories from the life of porter rockwell is not a comprehensive biography, nor is it fiction.
Rockwell, who coauthored the new book stories from the life of porter rockwell with jerry borrowman both men signed copies at a. O rrin porter rockwell was a frontiersman, utah pioneer and plainsman, and reputed mormon destroying angel. Some of the text is outdated as new information has become available, most notably the introduction, but overall its a good read. Deputy marshall west of the mississippi and the bodyguard to the mormon prophets joseph smith, as well as brigham young, he created quite the legacy and legend. It is a collection of accounts about porter rockwell that provide insight into his character, his incredible physical stamina and skill, and his devotion to the restored gospel of jesus christ. Stories from the life of porter rockwell kindle edition by john w.
Marshall is also a history of the mormons from the early days of the sect almost. Also available as a study of the origins of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in the states of new york and pennsylvania, 18161831. Religion and gunfireit worked for the boondock saints, but one man, porter rockwell, made this combination a reality during the 1800s. Rockwell, who coauthored the new book stories from the life of porter rockwell with jerry borrowman both men signed copies at a promotional event in lehi on wednesday said he remembers listening to a news report a few years ago about the dedication of a porter rockwell statue at a business park near point of the mountain. Im sure some day there will be an amazing film, too, but this aint it. Juni 18 in belchertown, hampshire county, massachusetts. Smith may be the only other person in church history about whom there are more contradictions and questions than porter rockwell. Rumors gain new momentum when recently excommunicated member john c.
Orrin porter rockwell circa 1866, photograph by edward martin church. Our marketplace offers millions of titles from sellers worldwide. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. When an attempt was made on the life of lilburn boggs, local law enforcement expected rockwells involvement. This controversial and colorful figure was characterized in newspapers and journals of his day as a notorious gunman and religious zealot. Orrin porter rockwell was born june 28, 18 in belchertown, hampshire county, massachusetts to orrin and sarah rockwell, neighbors to the smith family. In 1849 porter rockwell was appointed deputy marshall of great salt lake city, and he was a peace officer in utah until his death. I had no prior knowledge of who porter rockwell was before reading this book other than he was the prophets body guard. If you have a mormon grandpa, go camping with him and hell spin a good porter rockwell yarn or two.
Stories from the life of porter rockwell by john w. Porter rockwells association and lifelong friendship with the prophet jospeh smith began as neighbors when rockwell was a child. The crime was quickly pinned on porter rockwell as revenge for the executive order a few years before. It skips over parts of stories about porter and retells mostly church history stories with some references to. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. An ardent mormon, rockwell resorted to violent means to.
The porter rockwell experience can be many things to many people. When smith was publishing the book of mormon, rockwell would. Porter rockwell was baptized into church of christ in fayette, western new. Porter rockwell film flawed but fascinating meridian. Porter rockwell wanted poster latter day saint art.
The son of thunder, porter rockwell, became a hero of mine when i read the book stories from the life of porter rockwell and then his biography. But to many, rockwell was a guardian angel, and it could be easily said he saved far more lives than he took. Juni 1878 in salt lake city, utah war ein us amerikanischer. However, what is known of porter rockwells life speaks for itself portraying the man as a legend from our history. I enjoyed learning more about the history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and about this unforgettable character in the beginnings of the pioneer history of the church. It always bothered me that he played such a unique role in church history but that he is virtually never mentioned. Porter rockwell film flawed but fascinating by jonathan decker june 8, 2010 much like the man it reveals, covenant communications new documentary stories from the life of porter rockwell emerges with glaring imperfections but ultimately redeemed by. Porter rockwell the destroying angel 1 orrin porter rockwell by lawrence cummins listening to the prophet joseph smith tell the story of the angel and the hidden plates, young porter rockwell s adventurous nature was stirred. When pursuing lawbreakers, porter was relentless, and his endurance was legendary. A lawman in the utah territory, he was nicknamed old port and the destroying angel of mormondom. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. A biography by richard lloyd dewey was a very good book. The smiths and rockwells, frontier neighbors in manchester, new york, often visited each other. As one of the premier rare book sites on the internet, alibris has thousands of rare books, first editions, and signed books available.
When porter was four years of age, the rockwells moved from where porter was born in massachusetts to new york, about 2 miles from downtown palmyra. Orrin porter rockwell was a figure of the wild west period of american history as well as a mormon and a law man in the utah territory. The unexpected by rosalind chester,tyra chester,victoria chester. However, after reading this book porter rockwell became a hero of mine. Trial of porter rockwell borrowmanrockwell seagull book. Cabin that porter rockwell built,he was one of brighan youngs,so called avenging angels. Read online or download the porter rockwell chronicles, vol.
Bennett implicates the prophet joseph smith and porter rockwell in the crime. A biography has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. It is a good read, but leaves you wanting for more about porter rockwell. Orrin porter rockwell was a figure of the wild west period of american history. A colorful personality baptized in 1830, rockwell was charged by missourians with assault with intent to kill exgovernor lilburn w.
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