Porter Rockwell

Porter Rockwell (1813-1878)

Porter Rockwell was Joseph Smith's bodyguard, "the Destroying Angel," and a folk hero. Photograph courtesy LDS Church Archives.

Family Background

1813. June 28: Orrin Porter Rockwell was born in Belcher, Massachusetts. By 1830 the Rockwells were living one mile from Joseph Smith's family in Manchester, New York. Porter was baptized shortly after the Church was organized. His 1832 marriage to Luana Beebe ended in separation ten years later, and he married Mary Ann Neff, Christine Olsen, and a Mrs. Davis. He was the father of fourteen children.

Joseph Smith's Bodyguard

1840. Joseph Smith asked Rockwell to be one of his Nauvoo bodyguards. Porter replied, "Your enemies are my enemies, Joseph." The Prophet felt more threat "from some little doughhead of a fool in this city than from all my numerous and inveterate enemies abroad. I am exposed to far greater danger from traitors among ourselves than from enemies without, although my life has been sought for many years by civil and military authorities, priests, and people of Missouri."

"The Destroying Angel"

1842. Rockwell was arrested in Saint Louis and charged with the attempted murder of Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs. Ex-Mormon John C. Bennett claimed, "In the spring of the year Smith offered a reward of five hundred dollars to any man who would secretly assassinate Governor Boggs." After the attempt on Boggs's life, according to Bennett, "Smith said to me, speaking of Boggs, 'The Destroying Angel' had done the work as I predicted, but Rockwell was not the man who shot; the Angel did it.'"

Rockwell never denied shooting Boggs. General Patrick E. Conner reported that Rockwell told him, "I shot through the window and thought I had killed him, but I had only wounded him; I was damned sorry that I had not killed the son of a bitch!" Joseph Smith prophesied, "Orrin Porter Rockwell will get away honorably from the Missourians." Eight months later, Rockwell was released.

When he arrived at the Nauvoo Mansion House on Christmas Day, Joseph prophesied, "Orrin Porter Rockwell, so long as ye shall remain loyal and true to thy faith, [you] need fear no enemy. Cut not thy hair and no bullet or blade can harm thee." Rockwell did not cut his hair until 1855.

1845. Fifteen months after Joseph and Hyrum were murdered, Rockwell was watering his horse on the outskirts of Nauvoo when Sheriff Jacob Bakenstos rode his lathered horse onto the scene. Hot on his trail was a group of Carthage Greys, a paramilitary group responsible for Joseph Smith's security in the Carthage Jail. Bakenstos ordered Rockwell and another man to protect him "in the name of the State of Illinois, County of Hancock." Rockwell took aim at the lead rider's belt buckle and fired. Franklin A. Worrell "jumped four feet in the air and rolled away from his horse dead." He was the first of forty to one hundred men reportedly killed by Orrin Porter Rockwell throughout his life.

Pioneer

1847. A member of the Council of Fifty since 1844, Rockwell was guide and chief hunter for the Brigham Young pioneer company. When camp hunters argued about whether a buffalo could be dropped with a frontal shot to the head, Rockwell deftly maneuvered his mount ahead of a large bull and fired point-blank into the shaggy forehead. "The ball just stirred up a little dust is all. That old bull shook his head like he was brushing off a fly and kept right on coming. I had to move pretty fast to get out of his way."

1849. Elected deputy marshall of Salt Lake City. One year later he was appointed "Deputy Sheriff for Life."

1855. The widow of the Prophet's brother, Don Carlos Smith, had lost her hair from typhoid fever. Rockwell cut his hair to provide her with a wig—and claimed that henceforth he could no longer control his drinking and swearing.

Folk Hero

Porter Rockwell could not read nor write. Like his friend Joseph Smith, he suffered a life-long limp because of a childhood injury. Rockwell's voice was high-pitched, and when he became emotional, it raised to a high falsetto. But to the Eastern Press, he was "The Destroying Angel of Mormondom," "Chief of the Danites," "one of the pleasantest murderers I ever met."

Stories about Rockwell's "immortality" and "quick trigger" spice Mormon history. Once he reportedly dodged the rapid fire of several outlaws, then routed them with deadly accuracy. "When the smoke cleared, he shook himself like a great shaggy bear and several pistol balls of various calibers fell from the folds of his ill-fitting homespun coat, thus offering witnesses additional evidence of the fulfillment of Joseph Smith's prophecy protecting Rockwell from harm."

Another time a young gunslinger got the drop on Rockwell. "Say your prayers," he demanded. Rockwell replied, "You wouldn't try and shoot a man without a cap on your pistol, would you?" The instant the man glanced at his gun, he was blown from his saddle by Rockwell, who had a gun hidden in his pocket.

Rockwell was the object of several ballads:

Old Port Rockwell looks like a man,
With a beard on his face and his hair in a braid,
But there's none in the West but Brigham who can
Look in his eyes and not be afraid.
For Port is a devil in a human shape,
Though he calls himself 'Angel,' say vengeance is sweet;
But he's black, bitter death, and there's no escape,
When he wails through the night his dread war cry,
'Wheat! Wheat!'
Somewhere a wife with babes kneels to pray,
For she knows she's a widow and orphans are they.

In his later years Rockwell raised horses in Skull Valley, fought Indians, continued as a lawman, carried mail across the plains, worked as a scout and guide, and established the Hot Springs Brewery Hotel near the present site of the Utah State Penitentiary in Draper, where he also operated a Pony Express station.

Arrest

1877. September 30: The Salt Lake Tribune reported, "Another one of 'our best society', O. P. Rockwell, was jugged yesterday. This man has been one of the chief murderers of the Mormon Church, opening his career of blood in Nauvoo, under the regime of the Prophet. He was indicted a day or two ago by the grand jury of the First District Court, for participation in the horrible atrocious murder of the Aiken party, in 1858, on the Sevier."

After a week in jail he was released on $15,000 bail posted by friends. Trial date was set for October, 1878. Lawyers attempting to prepare his defense met with frustration; his answer to every question they asked him was, "Wheat! Wheat!"

Death

1878. June 8: Rockwell died at the age of sixty-five, before he was brought to trial. He had attended the theater the previous evening with his daughter, and after the performance walked the few blocks to the Colorado Stables, where he often slept to be close to his animals. After a fretful night of chills and nausea he vomited violently and frequently. Recovering, he rose up in his bed and attempted to put on his boots, then fell suddenly back on his bed, dead.

At the time of his death, Rockwell had been a member of the Church longer than any other Mormon. Joseph F. Smith eulogized, "He had his little faults, but Rockwell's life on earth, taken altogether, was one worthy of example, and reflected honor upon the Church. Through all his trials he had never once forgotten his obligations to his brethren and his God." The anti-Mormon Salt Lake Tribune dryly commented that this eulogy was "fitting tribute of one outlaw to the memory of another."

Rockwell's epitaph in the Salt Lake City Cemetery reads, "He was brave & loyal to his faith, true to the prophet Jos. Smith, a promise made him by the prophet thro obedience it was fulfilled."

Sources
Bennett, John C. The History of the Saints: Or an Expose' of Joe Smith and Mormonism. Boston: Leland & Whiting, 1842.
Clayton Family Association. Journal of William Clayton. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1921.
Deseret News, 10 October 1855, 31 August 1935.
History of the Church, 5:305, 6:152.
Ludlow, Fitz Hugh. "Among the Mormons." The Atlantic Monthly April 1864, p. 492.
Salt Lake Tribune, 30 September 1877, 11 June 1878, 13 June 1878, 24 February 1924.
Schindler, Harold. Orrin Porter Rockwell: Man of God, Son of Thunder. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1966.
Wyl, Wilhelm W. Mormon Portraits: Joseph Smith the Prophet, His Family and His Friends. Salt Lake City, 1886.

	A Book of Mormons Richard S. Van Wagoner and Steven C. Walker Copyright 1982, Signature Books Salt Lake City, Utah Contents


	Family Background 1813. June 28: Orrin Porter Rockwell was born in Belcher, Massachusetts. By 1830 the Rockwells were living one mile from Joseph Smith's family in Manchester, New York. Porter was baptized shortly after the Church was organized. His 1832 marriage to Luana Beebe ended in separation ten years later, and he married Mary Ann Neff, Christine Olsen, and a Mrs. Davis. He was the father of fourteen children. Joseph Smith's Bodyguard 1840. Joseph Smith asked Rockwell to be one of his Nauvoo bodyguards. Porter replied, "Your enemies are my enemies, Joseph." The Prophet felt more threat "from some little doughhead of a fool in this city than from all my numerous and inveterate enemies abroad. I am exposed to far greater danger from traitors among ourselves than from enemies without, although my life has been sought for many years by civil and military authorities, priests, and people of Missouri." "The Destroying Angel" 1842. Rockwell was arrested in Saint Louis and charged with the attempted murder of Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs. Ex-Mormon John C. Bennett claimed, "In the spring of the year Smith offered a reward of five hundred dollars to any man who would secretly assassinate Governor Boggs." After the attempt on Boggs's life, according to Bennett, "Smith said to me, speaking of Boggs, 'The Destroying Angel' had done the work as I predicted, but Rockwell was not the man who shot; the Angel did it.'" Rockwell never denied shooting Boggs. General Patrick E. Conner reported that Rockwell told him, "I shot through the window and thought I had killed him, but I had only wounded him; I was damned sorry that I had not killed the son of a bitch!" Joseph Smith prophesied, "Orrin Porter Rockwell will get away honorably from the Missourians." Eight months later, Rockwell was released. When he arrived at the Nauvoo Mansion House on Christmas Day, Joseph prophesied, "Orrin Porter Rockwell, so long as ye shall remain loyal and true to thy faith, [you] need fear no enemy. Cut not thy hair and no bullet or blade can harm thee." Rockwell did not cut his hair until 1855. 1845. Fifteen months after Joseph and Hyrum were murdered, Rockwell was watering his horse on the outskirts of Nauvoo when Sheriff Jacob Bakenstos rode his lathered horse onto the scene. Hot on his trail was a group of Carthage Greys, a paramilitary group responsible for Joseph Smith's security in the Carthage Jail. Bakenstos ordered Rockwell and another man to protect him "in the name of the State of Illinois, County of Hancock." Rockwell took aim at the lead rider's belt buckle and fired. Franklin A. Worrell "jumped four feet in the air and rolled away from his horse dead." He was the first of forty to one hundred men reportedly killed by Orrin Porter Rockwell throughout his life. Pioneer 1847. A member of the Council of Fifty since 1844, Rockwell was guide and chief hunter for the Brigham Young pioneer company. When camp hunters argued about whether a buffalo could be dropped with a frontal shot to the head, Rockwell deftly maneuvered his mount ahead of a large bull and fired point-blank into the shaggy forehead. "The ball just stirred up a little dust is all. That old bull shook his head like he was brushing off a fly and kept right on coming. I had to move pretty fast to get out of his way." 1849. Elected deputy marshall of Salt Lake City. One year later he was appointed "Deputy Sheriff for Life." 1855. The widow of the Prophet's brother, Don Carlos Smith, had lost her hair from typhoid fever. Rockwell cut his hair to provide her with a wig—and claimed that henceforth he could no longer control his drinking and swearing. Folk Hero Porter Rockwell could not read nor write. Like his friend Joseph Smith, he suffered a life-long limp because of a childhood injury. Rockwell's voice was high-pitched, and when he became emotional, it raised to a high falsetto. But to the Eastern Press, he was "The Destroying Angel of Mormondom," "Chief of the Danites," "one of the pleasantest murderers I ever met." Stories about Rockwell's "immortality" and "quick trigger" spice Mormon history. Once he reportedly dodged the rapid fire of several outlaws, then routed them with deadly accuracy. "When the smoke cleared, he shook himself like a great shaggy bear and several pistol balls of various calibers fell from the folds of his ill-fitting homespun coat, thus offering witnesses additional evidence of the fulfillment of Joseph Smith's prophecy protecting Rockwell from harm." Another time a young gunslinger got the drop on Rockwell. "Say your prayers," he demanded. Rockwell replied, "You wouldn't try and shoot a man without a cap on your pistol, would you?" The instant the man glanced at his gun, he was blown from his saddle by Rockwell, who had a gun hidden in his pocket. Rockwell was the object of several ballads: Old Port Rockwell looks like a man, With a beard on his face and his hair in a braid, But there's none in the West but Brigham who can Look in his eyes and not be afraid. For Port is a devil in a human shape, Though he calls himself 'Angel,' say vengeance is sweet; But he's black, bitter death, and there's no escape, When he wails through the night his dread war cry, 'Wheat! Wheat!' Somewhere a wife with babes kneels to pray, For she knows she's a widow and orphans are they. In his later years Rockwell raised horses in Skull Valley, fought Indians, continued as a lawman, carried mail across the plains, worked as a scout and guide, and established the Hot Springs Brewery Hotel near the present site of the Utah State Penitentiary in Draper, where he also operated a Pony Express station. Arrest 1877. September 30: The Salt Lake Tribune reported, "Another one of 'our best society', O. P. Rockwell, was jugged yesterday. This man has been one of the chief murderers of the Mormon Church, opening his career of blood in Nauvoo, under the regime of the Prophet. He was indicted a day or two ago by the grand jury of the First District Court, for participation in the horrible atrocious murder of the Aiken party, in 1858, on the Sevier." After a week in jail he was released on $15,000 bail posted by friends. Trial date was set for October, 1878. Lawyers attempting to prepare his defense met with frustration; his answer to every question they asked him was, "Wheat! Wheat!" Death 1878. June 8: Rockwell died at the age of sixty-five, before he was brought to trial. He had attended the theater the previous evening with his daughter, and after the performance walked the few blocks to the Colorado Stables, where he often slept to be close to his animals. After a fretful night of chills and nausea he vomited violently and frequently. Recovering, he rose up in his bed and attempted to put on his boots, then fell suddenly back on his bed, dead. At the time of his death, Rockwell had been a member of the Church longer than any other Mormon. Joseph F. Smith eulogized, "He had his little faults, but Rockwell's life on earth, taken altogether, was one worthy of example, and reflected honor upon the Church. Through all his trials he had never once forgotten his obligations to his brethren and his God." The anti-Mormon Salt Lake Tribune dryly commented that this eulogy was "fitting tribute of one outlaw to the memory of another." Rockwell's epitaph in the Salt Lake City Cemetery reads, "He was brave & loyal to his faith, true to the prophet Jos. Smith, a promise made him by the prophet thro obedience it was fulfilled." Sources Bennett, John C. The History of the Saints: Or an Expose' of Joe Smith and Mormonism. Boston: Leland & Whiting, 1842. Clayton Family Association. Journal of William Clayton. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1921. Deseret News, 10 October 1855, 31 August 1935. History of the Church, 5:305, 6:152. Ludlow, Fitz Hugh. "Among the Mormons." The Atlantic Monthly April 1864, p. 492. Salt Lake Tribune, 30 September 1877, 11 June 1878, 13 June 1878, 24 February 1924. Schindler, Harold. Orrin Porter Rockwell: Man of God, Son of Thunder. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1966. Wyl, Wilhelm W. Mormon Portraits: Joseph Smith the Prophet, His Family and His Friends. Salt Lake City, 1886.