Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Phillips Camp Biographies, Campkin to Curtis

page 9

WILLIAM VAN ORDEN CARBINE A sketch of the life and labors of William Van Orden Carbine, written by him in the eighty-fourth year of his age. I am the son of Edmund Z. Carbine and Adelia Rider Carbine. born February 17, 1835 in Cario, Green County, New York. My father was broken up in his business by giving security for his brother, Francis. Soon after this he joined the Mormons, coming to Nauvoo in 1842 or 1843; my father going by water taking charge of the goods of some of our relatives. The rest of us, including my mother, went as far as Buffalo by a team that belonged to Uncle William Van Orden. Then she and cousin Isaac Haight went by water with his mother who was sick. The rest, my sisters Mary and Julia and myself, went on with Uncle William Van Orden by team. We arrived in Kirtland, Ohio, and went through the temple at that place. After coming to Nauvoo, Father was sick and the Prophet came in and administered to him. Later we moved out about six miles from Nauvoo, between Nauvoo and Carthage, on a place belonging to Uncle William Van Orden. Father taught school at a place called Camp Creek. I was nine years old when the Prophet was martyred. I well remember the ex­citement there was at that time. The people hardly knew what to do. The Prophet was gone and Sidney Rigdon wanted a guardian put in for the church. Brother Thomas Grover, one of the High Council, spoke and told the people not to be in a hurry; the Twelve would be home soon and they would tell the people what to do. The Twelve were all away at that time. When Brigham Young came home and held a meeting, it is claimed the mantle of Joseph fell upon him. It was a manifestation to let the people know who was to lead the church. His looks and ways were like the Prophet. I, as a boy, was quite well acquainted with the Prophet. I was sitting with my mother in the meeting and I thought it was the Prophet and told my mother so in the meeting. There is a good many who have heard my mother tell this. After the Prophet's death, the mob spirit became very bitter. Even before his death it had been bitter and the people were told to move into Nauvoo for pro­tection. They were burning houses and grain all around. The Mormons kept picket guard menon horseback quite a ways out from Nauvoo. The sheriff of Hancock County was quite favorable to the Mormons and liked to see them protected in their rights. One time a large mob got after him on horseback. When they came where Porter Rock­well was in the brush on guard, he said, "Back, shall I shoot?" The sheriff said, "Yes." Porter brought the leader from his horse. The rest ran back as hard as they could go. I expect they thought the brush was full of Mormons. Time passed on until the spring of 1846 when the move came. We did not have a team, but Uncle Hector Haight and his father furnished us a team to move with.