History of Orson Pratt (1811-1881) (1)

History of Orson Pratt (1811–1881) (1)

Child of a poor New York farm laborer. Western Reserve, 1828. Converted to Mormonism by Parley, 1830. Mission to Colesville. Missions to Ohio, eastern states, and New England with Parley and Lyman E. Wight. Taken seriously ill in Jackson county. This sketch is part of the series, "History of Brigham Young," published in the Millennial Star, 1863–1865. It was originally published in the Deseret News in 1858. Much of it was taken directly from his journal (Orson Pratt Journals).
		HISTORY OF ORSON PRATT.
Poor parents	¶	My parents, Jared and Charity Pratt, were numbered among the poor of this world. To procure the comforts of life, they were necessitated to labor for the rich. At times, bright prospects of wealth seemed to open before them; but a succession of misfortunes kept them down in the low vales of poverty. The only occupation followed by my father was the cultivation of the soil.	Millennial Star vol. 27 no. 3 (January 21, 1865), 30–40.
Father a weaver, farm laborer		To this laborious method of procuring a living he was unaccustomed in his youthful days. Being the oldest among eleven children, his father, Obadiah, made him, in early life, a weaver for the family, but hand looms were mostly dispensed with, and steam power substituted to supply clothing for man. Weavers, therefore, were thrown out of employment, and however inexperienced, were obliged to adopt some other business to sustain themselves and families. Under these disadvantageous circumstances, my father, by hard labor for others, earned the scanty means of subsistence.
Sons farm laborers	¶	My brothers, when young, were sent from home to labor at farming in the service of others; after which they looked after their own welfare and education, living sometimes in one place, and then in another, without the advantages of parental instruction at a time when they most needed it.
Christian h ome		While blessed with the privilege of living at home, we were diligently taught in every principle of morality and honesty; for although my parents had no faith in the modern sectarian principles of Christianity, yet they looked upon the history of ancient Christianity, as recorded in the Bible, as something most sacred and worth possessing. These Bible doctrines, they diligently instilled into the minds of their children, so far as they understood them; and often expressed themselves as desirous of belonging to the Church of Christ, if it could be found.
Born 1811 in New York School until 1822	¶	As stated in my genealogy, I was born September 19th 1811, in Hartford, Washington county, New York. When I was about three or four years old, my parents removed from Hartford to New Lebanon, Columbia county, where I was sent to school for several months, each year, until the spring of 1822.	The first installment in the printed series is devoted to Pratt genealogy.
Read Bible Not church members		During this interval I often had many serious impressions in regard to God and a future state. And being very young, my parents instructed me to read the Bible, which I often did, with much interest, asking a great variety of questions, concerning what I found written. It was seldom that I attended any religious meetings, as my parents had not much faith in and were never so unfortunate as to unite themselves with any of the religious sects.
1822 begins farming for neighbors Canaan school		In the spring of 1822, being in my eleventh year, I went to live with a farmer whose name was Justin Jones: this was in the neighborhood of my parents. I continued in this place until the autumn of 1823. The preceding winter, I also went to school. I next engaged to labor at farming, for Mr. Church at Canaan, Four Corners, Columbia county, New York, and continued with him about sevnteen or eighteen months; three or four of which I went to School, and became quite familiar with all the rules in Daball's arithmetic.	Canaan is on New York's eastern border, a few miles west of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
1825 to Long Island Farms, studies math		In the spring of 1825, accompanied my oldest brother to Hurlgate, Long Island, about six miles from New York city. Here I engaged myself for one year to Mr. Greenock, a farmer; three months of which I went to school, and studied arithmetic and book-keeping.
1826 cabinet making in New York Serious illness		In the Spring of 1826, I was recommended by Mr. Greenock to a large cabinet making establishment in New York city, where I intended to remain until of age; but after tarrying a few months, I was taken violently sick and brought very low, so that my [40] recovery for some time, was considered doubtful.
1827 visits brother, Anson		When my strength permitted, I went into the country, to Hurlgate, and tarried with my brother Anson, until the spring of 1827, when I returned to Canaan, about 150 miles north of New York city; and engaged myself to labor for seven months, on a farm for Mr. Noise;
To Lorain county, Ohio with Parley and Nelson		at the expiration of which, I accompanied my brothers Parley and Nelson Pratt to Lorain county, Ohio. We performed the journey by canal boat from Albany to Buffalo, and thence by schooner up Lake Erie. I boarded with Mr. Redington during the winter and went to school.
1828 works in Chagrin (Willoughby) Farms east of Painesville		In the spring of 1828, I started east in search of employment, came to the village of Chagrin, now called Willoughby, Ohio, where I labored a few months at a hotel; the most of my time being occupied at farming. I also labored a few months at farming for Mr. Norris, a few miles east of Painesville.
To Connecticut, then New York		In the autumn of this year, I performed a lengthy journey to the State of Connecticut, where I labored a short time; and then took a steam boat for New York city, and thence to Long Island, with my brother Anson.
1828 to Canaan		In the spring of 1829, I again, returned to Canaan, and commenced farming for Mr. Haight. The following winter I spent four months at a boarding school or academy, during which I made myself thoroughly acquainted with geography, grammar, and surveying.
1830 near old homestead		In the spring of 1830, I engaged myself to Mr. Joshua Lord, with whom I tarried and labored on a farm, until the following October. This was in Canaan only one or two miles from the old homestead of my grandfather, Obadiah Pratt.
1829 begins to seek the Lord	¶	From the age of ten to nineteen I saw much of the world, and was tossed about without any permanent abiding place; but through the grace of God, I was kept from many of the evils to which young people are exposed. The early impressions of morality and religion, instilled into my mind by my parents, always remained with me, and I often felt a great anxiety to be prepared for a future state; but never commenced, not real earnest, to seek after the Lord, until the autumn of 1829.	Millennial Star vol. 27 no. 4 (January 28, 1865), 30–40.
Prays		I then began to pray very fervently, repenting of every sin. In the silent shades of night, while others were slumbering upon their pillows, I often retired to some secret place in the lonely fields or solitary wilderness, and bowed before the Lord, and prayed for hours with a broken heart and contrite spirit—this was my comfort and delight.
Wants heavenly manifestation		The greatest desire of my heart was for the Lord to manifest His will concerning me.
September 1830 Parley preaches Mormonism		I continued to pray in this fervent manner until September, 1830, at which time two Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, came into the neighborhood, one of which was my brother Parley. They held several meetings which I attended.
Baptized 1830	¶	Being convinced of the divine authenticity of the doctrines they taught, I was baptized September 19, 1830. This was my birthday, being nineteen years old. I was the only person in the country who received and obeyed the message. Shortly after my baptism the Elders left.
To Fayette, visits Joseph	¶	In October 1830, I travelled westward over two hundred miles to see Joseph Smith, the Prophet. I found him in Fayette, Seneca county, N.Y., residing at the house of Mr. Whitmer. I soon became intimately acquainted with this good man, and also with the witnesses of the Book of Mormon.
Called on mission in November		By my request, on the 4th of Nov., the Prophet inquired of the Lord for me, and received the revelation published in the Doctrine and Covenants, sec. [34].	D&C 34
Confirmed, ordained an elder in December		On the 1st day of December, 1830, I was confirmed, and in accordance with the word of the Lord I was ordained an Elder under the hands of the Prophet.
To Colesville		My first mission was to Colesville, Broome county, N. Y.,where I commenced to open my mouth in public meetings, and teach the things of God as the Holy Ghost gave me utterance.
Return with Hyrum		The same month I returned from Colesville to Fayette, accompanied by Hyrum Smith.
To Kirtland		On the 2nd of January 1831, I attended a Conference on the 2nd of January, and in a few weeks Elder Samuel H. Smith and myself started on foot for Kirtland, Ohio, a distance of several hundred miles, to which Joseph, the Prophet, had Joseph previously moved.	No minutes were taken, but D&C 38 was received. FWR, 5. D&C 38:18–22 promises a land of milk and honey, and riches, ruled by none by the Lord—which Jackson county citizens cited as problems in 1834. ¶ History of Joseph
1831 missions		During the spring of 1831, I traveled on a short mission of about one month with Lyman Wight (h) (swh), going about one hundred miles west of Kirtland, preaching the Gospel wherever we were led by the Spirit of Truth. After which I united in the ministry with my bro Parley, and preached some in Rome and also in Thompson, [56] where the Saints from Colesville were temporally located. In the latter place I tarried some five or six weeks, and labored with my hands.
		In June a revelation was given commanding many Elders to travel two by two from Ohio to the western boundaries of Missouri, among whom my brother Parley and myself were called by name and commanded to travel together. On our way we held about fifty meetings, and baptized five in Peru, Delaware county, Ohio, and six in Vermillion county, Illinois.	D&C 52:26
Jackson county Illness		About the end of August I arrived in Jackson county, Missouri; the next day I was taken with the chills and fever, which confined me to my bed a few weeks.
October to Ohio		About the 1st of October, though still weak and feeble, I started on foot for Ohio, in company with Asa Dodds, preaching by the way, as commanded of the Lord through the Prophet.
December reaches Kirtland		Brother Dodds stopped in Indiana, but I continued my journey, although suffering much from the ague. Towards the close of the year I arrived in Hiram, Portage county, Ohio, where the Prophet then resided.
1832 Kirtland excommunications	¶	About the 1st of January 1832, I went to Kirtland, attended many meetings, visited disorderly members with Elder Cahoon, called Church meetings, and excommunicated several.
Ohio mission Joseph president of High Priesthood		I then returned to Hiram, united in the ministry with Elder Lyman E. Johnson (h), and started for Lorain county, Ohio, where we preached in the regions around until the general Conference held at Amherst, Lorain county, on the 25th of January. At this Conference the Prophet Joseph was acknowledged President of the High Priesthood, and hands laid on him by Elder Sidney Rigdon, who sealed upon his head the blessings which he had formerly received. I was appointed to preside over the Elders, and was set apart and ordained by Sidney Rigdon.	No minutes of this conference have been found.
Mission to Eastern States		At this Conference, by the request of the Priesthood, the Prophet inquired of the Lord, a revelation was given and written in the presence of the whole assembly, appointing many of the Elders to missions, among whom Elder Lyman E. Johnson and myself were named and appointed on a mission to the Eastern States. (See Doc. and Cov., sec. [75].)	¶ 1832 Chronology
	¶	The next day after Conference we left Amherst and in a few days found ourselves in Hiram.
High Priesthood	¶	February 2, 1832.—On this day, by the counsel of the Prophet, I was ordained a High Priest under the hands of Sidney Rigdon.
Mission with Lyman E. Johnson New York	¶	Feb. 3rd [1832]—Elder L. E. Johnson (h) and myself started on our eastern mission, travelling, as usual, on foot, without purse or scrip, and carrying our change of clothing in our hands. We travelled in an easterly direction through Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York city, to Hurlgate, on Long Island; preached thirty times in towns and villages on the way, where they previously had never heard the Gospel.	Exchange partners ¶ Orson Pratt (h2)
Baptize brother, Anson		In the town of Blakesley, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, we baptized four, and ordained one of them, namely, Asbury Secor, a Priest. At Hurlgate, near the last of March, I baptized and confirmed my oldest brother, Anson Pratt.
Canaan, New York		From this place we travelled north, visited Canaan, Columbia county, New York; saw my parents.
Bath, New Hampshire		We then travelled north-east through the southern part of Vermont into New Hampshire, proceeded to the eastern shore of the Connecticut river to Bath, preaching wherever we were led by the Spirit; while journeying from Long Island to Bath held five meetings.	Bath, New Hampshire is 30 miles south of St. Johnsbury, Vermont.
Baptize 15		We tarried twenty-six days in the regions round about Bath, held twenty-one meetings and baptized fifteen, among whom were Orson Johnson, Hazen Aldrich, Amasa Lyman (h), John Duncan and Daniel S. Miles.
Vermont baptisms, healings	¶	May 14. [1832]—We travelled north, and came to the town of Charleston, in Vermont; tarried ten days; preached seven times in this region, baptized fourteen, among whom were Winslow Farr, William Snow and Zerubbabel Snow. In those parts the Lord wrought by our hands many miracles of healing.	West Charleston is about 10 miles from the Canadian border.
Troy, Jay, Vermont		May 25. [1832]—We went about thirty miles northwest to the town of Troy; tarried nineteen days; held sixteen meetings in those regions; baptized eighteen in the town of Jay, and then started back to Charleston.	Jay, Vermont is five miles from Canadian border.
Arrives in Kirtland.		June 15. [1832]—Arrived among our brethren.
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