Mower Family History Association
First Quarter 2007 Newsletter

Excerpt from a history of Elisha Cragun, who was baptized by Henry Mower:

During the moves from one County to another Elisha encountered two Mormon missionaries, Nathan T. Porter and Wilbur Earl. Their doctrine appealed to Elisha and his wife Mary. Consequently they investigated. A very good friend, Henry Mower, a Methodist Minister, had been converted to the Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ and he also influenced their faith and baptized Elisha 15 Mar. 1843. (1)

JOURNAL ENTRY OF NATHAN T. PORTER
MISSIONARY TO ELISHA CRAGUN

Nathan T. Porter	Henry Mower

Nathan T. Porter was one of the missionaries who helped to convert Elisha Cragun and his family. In his journal is a description of what led to Elisha Cragun having the gospel preached to him and his family (written as it was in his journal) Henry Mower’s daughter Susan Mower, married Simeon Cragun the son of Elisha Cragun.

Nathan was 21 years of age when called on his first mission in October 1841.

"At the semi-annual conference held on the 6th of October 1841, I was called and ordained to the office of an Elder in the Quorum of Seventies, and voluntarily sent forth into the ministry in the company with Elder Henry Mowerry (Mower).

"We took our journey eastward, passed through the state of Illinois preaching by the way until we arrived into the State of Indiana, a distance of near three hundred miles. Now the field which we had selected to labor in lay still 300 miles east, being in the state of Pennsylvania where resided the relatives of Elder Mowerry, whom he desired to visit, and if possible, convince them to the principles of the gospel.

"Feeling anxious to make the journey as soon as possible, we made but a passing in the neighborhoods through which we passed notwithstanding the many earnest requests for us to tarry and continue our meetings. Therefore I began to query in my mind as to whether or no we were doing right in making such great haste to reach any certain point, unless instructed to do, in as much as there were many perishing by the way who were willing and anxious to hear, and that one soul was precious in the sight of the Lord as another. I finally expressed by feeling to my companion and remarked that I had many kindred in the eastern states whom I would like to visit, and if possible be instrumental in bringing them into the church, but as we were on the Lords errand, I felt willing to labor in any part where there was a door open unless instructed otherwise. He replied that there would be Elders passing through so that all would have an opportunity hearing in due time.

"So we continued on until we arrived into the middle part of the State of Indiana. Stopping for the night in a little town called Northfield, we gave out an appointment to hold a meeting that evening which was soon circulated by the good landlord with whom we put up, sending out a boy on horse back with a bell which he rang as he rode through the streets crying at the top of his voice, “Mormon Preachers will preach in the school house tonight at 7 o’clock”.

"The people seemed to come out in mass, manifesting unusual interest, the house being filled to overflowing. We had unusual liberty in setting forth the principles of the gospel which was listened with marked attention. At the close of the meeting many came and shook hands with us saying that they were much pleased in what they had heard, soliciting us to tarry awhile with them as they wished to hear more of our doctrine. I and Elder Mowerry (Mower) replied that we could not stop longer as we were anxious to get on to our field of labor in Pennsylvania.

"So on the morrow we resumed our journey but we had not proceeded but a short distance when the Lord withdrew his spirit from us, leaving us as it were, under a cloud of darkness. A spirit of despair seemed to brood over us, which the way seemed to be entirely hedged up before us. We therefore came to a halt, and returning a little way from the road, we bowed before the Lord in humble prayer asking to know his will concerning us, and inasmuch as our way seemed to be dark before us, that he would guide us whether he would have us to go. We arose and after a little further consultation decided to turn our course to the north, and thus taking through the forest on our left, we preceded on intersecting the state road running from Indianapolis to Michigan City on the north.

"We now felt much relieved in spirit so that Elder Mowerry (Mower) began to conclude that his family were sick, or something had occurred, which required his return home as we were bordering in that direction. After traveling a short distance, we came to a cross road running east and west. We took it to the west which turned our faces homeward. Feeling no check in our feelings, continued on and soon meet a stranger of whom we made inquiry as to the people in that section with regard to religion. He mentioned several denominations which frequently held meetings in his neighborhood. We informed him that we were Latter Day Saint ministers and would like to hold a meeting in the neighborhood for the evening, it being near sundown. Whereupon he informed us that four ministers calling themselves Latter Day Saints, came into the neighborhood and held several meetings, and had passed on but a few days since, leaving the people in a state of great excitement, being anxious to hear further, but they could not prevail on them to stay longer. He said their ministers could do nothing with them.

"He informed us that there was a family by the name of Snodgrass in the neighborhood who had once belonged to the Mormons, so called, but had left them during their persecution in Missouri. He directed us to his residence. As we approached his house we were met by members of the family. They having recognized us by our mode of traveling as being Mormon Elders. We were hailed with gladness as they were anxious to have some of the Elders come into the neighborhood, who would stop and labor in that section. We now learned more fully as to those minister referred to by our informant, whose names are as follows: Joseph Straton, David Fulmer, Jame Flanigan and Elisha Sheets.

"These Elders, like ourselves, were pressing on to a certain point, while their labors were needed and loudly called for in the sections they were passing through. But the Lord stopped us in the way and thus we were turned to this field of labor which soon opened out to the distance of sixty miles in length. We labored in this section until the first of March, 1842, having organized three branches, numbering in all sixty members. Thus the lord blessed our labors in the ministry. Having learned that my Elder brother Chauncy Warriner was holding meetings in Montgomery County on the Wabash River, some sixty or eighty miles distance, I set out to pay him a visit before Elder Mowerry (Mower) should leave, taking with me one of our converts as a companion. He had relatives in that section who he desired to visit in the hope of convincing them of the truth of the gospel.

"Upon my arrival I learned that my brother had returned home to Nauvoo leaving his fellow laborer, Elder Wilber J. Earl, with whom I made arrangements to travel and continue our labors together and as he had need to remain a short time, we arrange for him to join me at the branches where I had been laboring. And so I returned with my new convert who was somewhat cast down in his feelings by the cold reception he had received from his relatives as soon as they learned that he had joined the Latter Day Saints or Mormons, as they were called. I consoled him by referring to the saying of the Savior that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country and among his kin folks. Upon our arrival I informed Elder Mowerry (Mower) of my visit and my arrangement with Elder Earl. He therefore tarried until his (Elder Earl’s) arrival, after which he departed on his return home.

"We continued our labors in the branches until sometime in May, 1842, having held three public discussions with different ministers, or rather two as one. A Lutheran minister withdrew his attack in the presence of a large concourse of people who had gathered at the place appointed. He had consulted with the leading minister of his church residing in Kentucky, who came by his request to visit him, and on seeing the proposition, told him that he had no advantage of his antagonist and therefore would be defeated. We took leave of the saints and departed into the State of Ohio, Elder Earl having a brother living in the northwest part of the state whom he desired to visit.

"We therefore made for that point, holding meetings by the way. We arrived sometime in July 1842. We stayed here about six weeks holding meetings in the different neighborhoods around about in that section, after which we returned to the branches and found them in good health and spirits.

"Soon after our arrival we were visited by several Elders who had been laboring a short distance to the north of us on the Wabash. They raised up a branch of the church in that section. Their names are as follows: Alvin T. Tibitts, Ezra Strong, Moses Martin and James McGavin. We were much pleased to meet them and learn of their success.

"About the fifteenth of the following October, we in company with several families of the saints, set out on our return home to Nauvoo, arriving the first of November 1842, having been absent thirteen months. I saw that much improvement had been made in the city and surrounding country during my absence. The basement of the Temple was in progress of erection, also the Nauvoo House. Found my folks all well and pleased to be associated with them again."

Nathan T. Porter – LDS Mormon missionary to Elisha Cragun – website at http://aaronandrebeccaporter.homestead.com/index.html
Photo of Henry Mower found at www.Mowerfamily.org