Strength of Samson

Strength of Samson
BY ELDER TED E. BREWERTON
FROM APRIL CONFERENCE 1986
Here is a true story that relates a simple experience of a nineteen-year-old who became a remarkable one. He was magnified and had great powers acted through him. There was a young nineteen-year-old admirer of Joseph Smith, Philemon Merrill, who had come with other loyal followers to rescue their prophet from the hands of Sheriffs Reynolds and Wilson. While returning to Nauvoo, the company rested "in a grove of timber." One of the lawyers for the sheriff and the kidnappers boasted of his wrestling powers. He offered a wager that he could throw any man in Illinois. Stephen Markham, a bodyguard of Joseph's and a huge man, also an experienced wrestler, took up the challenge. The boaster threw Stephen, and a taunting shout went up from the Prophet's enemies.
As the taunts continued, Joseph Smith turned to young Philemon Merrill and said: "`Get up and throw that man.'"
The boy was about to refuse, to excuse himself by saying he was not a wrestler, but the look in the Prophet's eyes silenced the tongue. "He arose to his feet filled with the strength of a Samson." Philemon "lifted his arms" and told the lawyer to take his choice of sides.
"The man took the left side with his right hand under," which gave him a decided advantage. Philemon Merrill's friends protested, but young Philemon felt such confidence in the words of the Prophet that it made little difference to him what advantage his antagonist took. As they began to grapple, Joseph instructed him, "`Philemon, when I count three, throw him!'
"On the instant after the word of three from Joseph's lips," Philemon Merrill, "with the strength of a giant, threw the lawyer over his left shoulder, and he fell striking his head upon the earth."
Little wonder it is reported that "awe fell upon the opponents of the Prophet when they saw this, and there were no more challenges to wrestle during the journey" (George Q. Cannon, Life of Joseph Smith the Prophet, Classics in Mormon Literature, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1986, pp. 450-51).

I am looking for good photo's of Philemon Christopher Merrill and Cyrena Dustin family. Photo's of their children would be great. I come through Morgan Henry Merrill and Emma Orrilla Perry.

Here is a history written by Daryl James

FROM 'JAMES/HATCH ONE MINUTE HISTORIES' (1994)
Philemon Christopher Merrill went through the early hardships, persecutions and trials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was born Nov. 12, 1820, at Byron, Genesee County, N.Y., to Samuel Merrill and Phoebe Odell.

At the age of 11 he accompanied his parents to Nauvoo, Ill., arriving in 1837. He was baptized into the Mormon Church in March 1839 and filled a mission to Wisconsin in 1840-41.

On Sept. 20, 1840, he married Cyrena Dustin and went into housekeeping in Nauvoo. Philemon worked on the Temple which the Saints were trying hard to complete. He was closely associated with the Prophet Joseph Smith and tradition says he was one of the Prophet's bodyguards. Philemon helped evacuate Nauvoo when persecutors drove the Saints out, and he was one of the guards to cross the Mississippi River with Church records.
Philemon enlisted as a volunteer in the Mormon Battalion and endured the long march to the Pacific An undated photograph of Philemon C. Merrill, first stake patriarch in Safford, Arizona.

Coast. He left his wife and three children in Iowa to await his return. Once in California, Philemon stayed at headquarters in San Diego until the army discharged him in 1847. He then made his way back to Iowa to rejoin his family; however, Philemon never saw his youngest child again because she had died shortly after his enlistment. In the spring of 1849 the Merrills made ready and crossed the plains to Salt Lake Valley, arriving Oct. 16, 1849.

With the permission of Cyrena, Philemon entered plural marriage April 5, 1851, with Mary Jane Smith. Then in June 1853 Philemon left to fill a mission for the Church to England until 1856. After his return, the Church called him to help settle parts of southern Idaho. The two families moved to Liberty, Idaho, near Bear Lake in 1869 and then to Soda Springs, Idaho. While at Liberty, Philemon married a third woman, Rhoda Sylvia Collett, on Oct. 9, 1873.

In 1877 the Church called Philemon to help settle parts of central and southeastern Arizona. By then his second wife had died, so he took his two remaining families in August 1877 and headed for the San Pedro Valley.
They had a great deal of faith, for the departure was with provisions only enough to last two days. The company made camp about one half mile south of the present town of St. David, Ariz., building a small stone fort of six or eight rooms. Philemon had first seen the area with the Mormon Battalion in 1847. It was here in 1878, while nearly all the settlers were suffering with chills and fever, that Erastus Snow set apart Philemon to preside over the Saints in the area. In 1881 Philemon asked that he be relieved of his responsibilities as Presiding Elder and left St. David in 1890, settling in Safford, Arizona.

He later held the office of Patriarch, being ordained by John Henry Smith. Philemon was a good public speaker and loved to talk about the Prophet Joseph Smith. About 1900 he moved to San Jose, Ariz., and died at his home there Sept. 15, 1904, at the age of 84.

Nora E Allen - Craig - Maxwell, daughter of Albert Phelps Allen

Mary, Dorris and Joshua Craig about 1932.
Dorris with her father Joshua Craig. While living in California Nora and Joshua divorced. Nora moved to Twin Falls Idaho and Joshua moved back to Missouri. Over time Dorris moved to Missouri to live with her father and step-mother Mary. Nora married Henry Arthur Maxwell
6 June 1931 in Twin Falls. She passed away 17 Aug 1975 in Twin Falls.

Allene and Dorris Craig as young girls in about 1917.


Nora E Allen and her daughter Dorris Craig about 1928.

John, Samuel and Joseph Nelson on the front row.

Jane and Mary Nelson on the back row.

These are the adult children of Robert Nelson and Elizabeth Joseph. Mary on the right is Mark's 2nd great grandmother or Grandma Mary's grandmother. Mary Elizabeth Nelson was who Mary Elizabeth Hatch Allen (Grandma Mary) was named after. Mary Elizabeth Nelson married Alvah Alexander Hatch.

Hall Cemetery in Ava, Missouri

Drove four hours from St.Louis to Halls Cemetery near Ava, Missouri just to see headstones. It was awesome to finally complete my search of Frances Myers Allen and Charlotte Smith. It was a little overcast on this day but that added to the beauty of the experience. Only a person interested in family history would be crazy enough to drive four hours one way just to get a few pictures. It was totally worth every minute and a true adventure.

McDonald Family - Iva Dell Mankin Durkee McDonald

George E McDonald husband of Iva Dell Mankin Durkee. Iva passed away 28 Dec 1907. George remarried Elleen M. Giel about 1912.

George and Ellen (2nd wife) McDonald

Georgena and Phyllis M McDonald daughters of Iva Dell Mankin Durkee McDonald.

Harry Thomas McDaniel

Harry Thomas McDaniel was the son of John McDaniel and Elizabeth Nolen. He was born 5 Jun 1862 in Roanoke, Franklin, Virginia. Harry married Estella Nolen 17 Sep 1894 in Roanoke. They had five children, four daughters and one son. Earl Millard, Iris, Doris, Helen Marie and Myrtle Modell. Harry died 31 March 1915 Bokoshe, Le Flore, Oklahoma and was buried on 1 April 1915. Myrtle Modell McDaniel went by Pat. She was the mother of Diane Landis McDaniel.