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Malinda Ann Porter

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DUP Pioneer History Collection

A Sketch of the Life of Nancy Aretta Porter Mattice

"A Sketch of the Life of Nancy Aretta Porter Mattice", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 1-4.

In the mid summer of 1848, with our b[e]longings and a scant supply of provisions in an old wagon with one yoke of oxen, father [Chauncy Warriner Porter] started Lydia [Ann Porter] with a three months old baby and 3 of Mothers children, Alma, Malinda, and I across the plains to Salt Lake Valley, father put us in the hands of Captain Andy Cunningham. Alma then 15 years old to drive the team. father kept Sarah to come with him and Priscilla the next year, as he could not sell his property in time to come with us. And by the help of the Lord and kind care of Capt Cunningham we arrived in Salt Lake Valley alive and well


But the incidents from the time we started to the end of the journey, are stamped on the tablets of my mind and will ever remain there.


The first incidents were pushing the flat boat or raft when we crossed the Missouri River. It must have then been early Spring, for I can see the large cake of ice that come floating down the river and the men took poles to push them away so they would not strike the boat[.] <s>the</s> All that intended to make the journey were all gathered at one place to gather I remember father brought us a nice cow so we might have milk. She was fresh and they left the calf, and we had to keep her tied to the wagon at night, but when we got to where there wasn't any feed to get for her, we had to turn her loose with the herd. Then she slipped away and went back home, and we had no milk except what the neighbors give us. I remember we come to deep sand, then every one that could had to walk and the sun beat down so hot, and the cattle suffered for water to drink, after this we come to grass and water, and such great herds of Buffalo, they would paw the dirt and bellow so loud we were afraid they would come and Stampede the teams. The men got their guns and shot at them, some times killing some and, the meat tasted good to us poor pilgrims[.] Then there was the excitement of the Indians and they followed us day after day and wanted to trade for and buy every thing they saw. One old Indian wanted to buy me, he saw mother [Lydia Ann] had more family than any thing else, and thought we could spare him one. He offered 25 head of horses and a big pile of buffalo robes and blankets. Off course mother refused, then he would try to coax me with beads and jewelry but I was so frightened, I cried every time he come near[.] One day I heard the Captain say to mother. Sister Porter, you will have to keep watch over that child the old fellow is so persistent he will take her in spite of us. they went a way from us a couple of days, but they come back with all their families and they followed us along. The next day we come to a nice stream of water with a green grove of Cotton woods on the bank. we thought we would have a nice shady place to noon. But the Indians headed us off. there was many more of them than of our people, but we stoped clost by so the teams could get some green feed.


While we were eating our dinner one of the old Squaws come up to mother, she could talk a little inglish (she said) let me see you baby. Mother said you can see him. then she said Let me take it, and Mother let her take him. She had no more than got hold of him than she turned and ran as fast as she could to the crowd of Indians and such a nois[e] as they did make, and gathered around her. So we could not see her or the baby


and there was quite a nois and excitement in our camp, just then. I was screaming Alma was scolding Mother for her car[e]lessness in letting the Squaw take the baby. Malinda was scolding Alma and some of the wimen were trying to console Mother, and some were chiding her and in the midst of this nois the Capt. got upon his wagon tongue and called for order, and in a minute every thing was quiet, then he said, Let the Souixs [Sioux] listen to the white man, bring that baby back or there will be war right now, the white man will fight for his children[.] then he said in an undertone, every man to his guns, and in a very short time every man was in line


The Indians were in a huddle seeming to council what to do. After a while and it seemed such a long time to us here come the squaw with the baby (saying) Here take it, here take it. I can just see him now, in his little pink apron and his hair flying in the wind and (laughing) we were a thankful family to get our baby back


We then started on again, and the Indians did not bother us any more


Our next hard times were in crossing rivers and climbing mountains, it was like going up a steep trail. they had to take one wagon at a time, and on the sideling places it took all the men to keep it from tipping over, and going down the steep mountains side and in other places[,] they had to hook on two or three teams, to one wagon to get it to the top. so we traveled on untill we could see the great Salt Lake. Now the people did laugh and cry with joy, that we were near our journeys end. One more day in the wagon then we would be with our grandparents.

Transcript for "A Sketch of the Life of Nancy Aretta Porter Mattice," 1-4.

Daughters of Utah Pioneers. DUP Pioneer History Collection.

Our Pioneer Heritage

Our pioneer heritage, Vol. 13, Page 463-465.

Our Pioneer Heritage.

Porter, Sarah Angeline, Reminiscence, 1-4

Porter, Sarah Angeline, Reminiscence, 1-4.

In the Spring of 1848 our Father married another young woman named Prescilla [Priscilla] Strong.
 In the Summer following there was another company coming to Salt Lake Valley, and Father fixed an old wagon with one yoke of oxen and a scant supply of provisions and bedding and what clothes we had and started Lydia with the children. My brother, Alma, was 14 years old and was to drive the team. Malinda was 12, I, Sarah, was seven, Nancy, five, and Warren [Warriner] four months old. We were put into the hands of the Captain, Andrew Cunningham, and sent to Salt Lake Valley.
Father started us with a good fresh cow, but we could not bring the calf. We kept her tied up as long as we could get food for her; but when we came to where the feed was very poor, we had to turn her in the herd at night and she got out of the herd and went back to her calf and we had to do without milk except what the neighbors gave us.
We soon came into the country of the Indians and buffalo. The buffalo would come in big droves right close to the wagons, and we were afraid they would stampede the teams with their pawing and bellowing. The men got their guns and killed one now and then and the meat tasted very good to the wandering pilgrims.
Then the Indians came and they were more trouble than anything. They wanted to trade for nearly everything they saw, and one old fellow wanted to buy Nancy and they followed us several days trying to get Mother to sell her. He offered her twenty-five head of horses and a pile of buffalo robes as high as his head while he was on his horse, and crowded up to the back of the wagon and put his hand through the hole where the cover was gathered down to throw beads and other trinkets to her. She was so afraid of him she would cry when came near. One day we heard the Captain say to Mother, “Sister Porter, you will have to keep good watch of that child, or the old fellow will take her in spite of us. He is so determined,” And that frightened Nancy so she did not eat nor sleep when he was near.
Then they left for a few days and we thought they would not bother us anymore, but one hot day here they came with their families. We had come to a nice stream of water with green trees but the Indians headed us off. There were so many of them, they occupied all the shade and we had to remain in the hot sun, but we found some green feed for the poor teams.
After we had eaten dinner, one of the squaws came up to Mother and said, “Let me see your baby.” Step-mother, Lydia said, “You can see him.” Then the squaw said, “Let me take it,” and Mother let her take it. She had no sooner got hold of him than she whirled around and ran as fast as she could go to the crowd of Indians and they all hollered and laughed and made such a noise. There was a big noise in our camp, too. I, Sarah, was screaming as loud as my lungs would let me. Step-mother Lydia was crying; Alma was scolding Mother for letting the squaw take the baby and some of the women were sympathizing; others were chiding her for her carelessness and in all the turmoil the Captain got up on his wagon tongue and called order.
In a minute everything was still. Then he took off his hat and spoke in a loud voice and said, “Let the Sioux listen to the white Man! Bring that baby back or there will be war right here. The white man will fight for their children.” Then he said in an under-tone, “Every man to your gun!” and in a minute every man had his gun and was in line.
Then the Captain repeated “Bring that baby back!” And in a short time here came the squaw with baby and running as fast as she did when she took it and hollering. “Here, take it!” The baby was laughing; his white hair flying in the wind. I can see him in my mind just as he was then. He was five months old and was always laughing.
You may be sure we were a thankful family to get the baby and get started on the road again.
The people thought that was a scheme the old Indian had worked up to try again to get Nancy—to take the baby and Mother would give Nancy to get her own, but were not counting on a fight.
But since I came to years of maturity I have concluded it was a quick answer to prayers for a silent prayer went up from that company that everything would come right without serious trouble and it did. There were three times as many Indians as white people in our company. We were not troubled with them any more after that incident.
Our next trouble was crossing rivers and deep sand and going up as well as down steep mountains. There were places where it would take all the men to help with one wagon at a time and a little band on foot men followed along. But we worked and worried along day after day until we got where we could see the big Salt Lake.
There the company all took a part in the program. Some cried, some laughed, and some yelled, and yet some did all three stunts at once and all for joy. I took part when my sister, Malinda, told me we would soon be to Grandma’s. Just one more day in the wagon, then to Grandpa’s house, Nov. 1848.

Malinda Ann Porter

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