Porter, Rulon E.

File — Box: 3, Folder: 8

Identifier: I

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Rulon Ensign Porter was the son of Sanford Marius and Nina Malinda Leavitt Porter. His middle name, Ensign, was derived from the maiden name of his paternal grandmother, Emma Ensign. Sanford M. Porter moved from Porterville, Utah, to Arizona in 1880 and established his family at Sunset. The author was born at this settlement on February 4, 1882. Two years later, in February 1884, Sanford moved his family to Joseph City, Arizona. Extracts from R. E. Porter Diary, Book 1. Entries from March 11, 1894 to November 8, 1934. Concerned with events and developments relating to church, school, economics, government, deaths, epidemics, etc. The following is a sampling of the entries.

March 28, 1895: "Land is cheap around here now, the best of it belonging to the Railroad Co., Is selling for about 5 dollars an acre."
October 4, 1898: "The name of this place has been changed from St. Joseph to Joseph City. The cause being its mail and freight was sometimes being sent to St. Joseph, Missouri or visa versa."
April 18, 1915: "Biggest Flood in the Little Colorado River in the history of Joseph City."
July 6, 1916: "The local members of the State Militia have been called out to take part in patrol duty along the Mexican Border, during the present trouble with Mexico. New school house was completed in the spring."
December 10, 1916: "People of St. Joseph attempt to secure titles to the land upon which their homes were built."
November 1918: Influenza epidemic.
August 1927: Winslow Ward organized.
October 8, 1934: "Heber Ward organized."
Miscellaneous writings (2 pages). Includes an account of the exploration and early settlement of Joseph City. Also tells of the use of camels in Arizona.
Book 2. Miscellaneous entries (15 pages) bound with Book 1. Deals with such subjects as: irrigation company matters, Victor E. Westover affair, electricity in Joseph City in 1932, Mormon missionaries under Hamblin in 1858, killing of George A. Smith by Indians, Joseph City Irrigation Company By-laws and Articles of Incorporation.

Dates

1857-1986

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.