Porter Rockwell’s Dog

Porter Rockwell lived a long life, much longer than any one dog could live. He may have had many dogs but one specifically is mentioned a few times in various accounts.

This dog was by his side certainly during his tenure running the “Mormon Tavern” in Sacramento California during the late 1840s and early 1850s.

One such account is from John Fitzgerald of Holladay Utah who recalls his uncle William B Ennis telling stories about Rockwell’s dog. This account is also shared in Harold Shindler’s “Orrin Porter Rockwell: Man of God, Son of Thunder.”

“A small white animal that rode behind Rockwell on his horse, occasionally placing his paws on Rockwell’s shoulder to look forward, but more often perched on the horse’s rump.” “Uncle Willard also spoke of the dog having been trained to lick Rockwell’s face rather than barking to sound the alarm after dark while Rockwell was sleeping.

Perhaps referring to a different dog, Lehi UT historian A.B. Anderson recalled that Porter was an early settler of Lehi and often visited here where his son Orrin made his home (the son is buried in the Lehi cemetery).  Anderson wrote that the elder Rockwell “often came to Lehi riding his thoroughbred saddle horse with his dog trotting behind him.  When he bought a steak for his homeward trip he also bought one for his dog.