The
Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt — Revised and Enhanced Edition
Edited by Scot Facer
Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor
Chapter 4
Revisit Canaan, N.Y. — Interesting meeting — Marriage
— Return to my forest home.
July 4, 1827–April 12, 1828
It was the Fourth of July, 1827. [1] The morning was beautiful and
gay, the sun rose without a cloud over the pine-clad hills
of my native land, where in boyhood I had often toiled and
sported, just as I came within a mile of the farm of my good
old aunt Van Cott, of Canaan, Columbia County, after an absence
of three years.
I
had, during this time, exchanged the features of the bashful
boy for those of the man; and, instead of a laughing, careless
countenance, a forehead of marble and a cheek of rose, stern
care had marked me as her child, and the sun had given a shade
of brown to my features; these, added to a heavy growth of
beard and whiskers, disguised me so far that I could pass
through the neighborhood of people, known and familiar to
me, unnoticed and unknown.
With a quick step, a beating heart, and an intense, indescribable
feeling of joy, sorrow, hope, despondency and happiness, I
approached the door of Mr. Halsey, and knocked; it was opened
by an aged female, a stranger to me; I entered and inquired
for Miss Thankful Halsey — in a moment more she had me by
the hand, with a look of welcome which showed she had not
forgotten me.
I spent the day and evening with her; explained to her all
my losses, my poverty and prospects, and the lone retreat
where I had spent the previous winter; and the preparations
I had made for a future home. I also opened my religious views
to her, and my desire, which I sometimes had, to try and teach
the red man.
“In view of all these things,” said I to her, “If you still
love me and desire to share my fortune you are worthy to be
my wife. If not, we will agree to be friends forever; but
part to meet no more in time.”
“I
have loved you during three years’ absence,” said she, “and
I never can be happy without you.”
I repaired to my aunt’s — found the usual welcome. After visiting
my mother and kindred, for a few days, I saw my old friend,
William S. Herrick, where I had been employed five years before.
He was very anxious to employ me again; and finding I was
willing, he discharged a hand he had already, and gave me
double wages. I remained in his employ till October, [2] and found the same kind reception
as formerly.
On the 9th of September, 1827, [3] Parley P. Pratt and Thankful
Halsey were solemnly united in the bonds of matrimony, by
Elder Palmer, Minister of the Baptist Church, in Canaan, Columbia
County, N.Y.
In October we took leave of our friends in Canaan and took
passage for the West. We hired a conveyance to Albany, and
then took passage for Buffalo on a canal boat; and from there
on board a schooner; passing up Lake Erie we landed in safety
at the mouth of Black River, in Ohio, and within ten miles
of my place. [4] My wife had some money, which
we paid in for the land I had purchased. The following spring
found me 21 years of age, married and settled in a log dwelling,
in the midst of a small clearing made with my own hands, in
the place where I had spent the previous winter in solitude.
[5]
Notes
