absalom porter dowdle

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Children:

Sarah Catherine (1846-1936)*

Martha Jane (1847-1915)

Absalom Porter (1849-1849)

Mary Elizabeth (1852-1896)

William Porter (1859-1885)

Robert Thomas (1860-1922)

Louisa Ann (1864-1954)

John Henry (1868-1939) 

* Spent winter of 1846-47 in Pueblo

Absalom Porter Dowdle (1819 to 1897) was one of the many missionaries that served in the Southern Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 1844 to 1846 timeframe. After joining the Church, Absalom's father kicked him out of his home and Absalom began his service as a Missionary in Mississippi and Alabama. He was one of the missionaries that converted and baptized the John Holladay family. He married Sarah Catherine Holladay. He and Sarah migrated west in 1846 as part of the Mississippi Saints group that wintered in Pueblo, CO, where Absalom served as the presiding elder for the Church. Absalom's autobiography provides many details of his difficult and often tragic life as he sought to serve the Lord, helping settle multiple areas in Utah, and later serving as a mission leader in Australia.

https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/4bd7e829-80dd-4098-b5d9-d2443e7b4cdb/0/24

     Dowdle, Absalom Porter, president of the Australasian Mission from 1856 to 1857, was born Jun 1, 1819, in Franklin County Alabama, a son of Robert Dowdle and Sarah Ann Robinson. He married Sarah Ann Holladay and came West with the so-called Mississippi Company in 1846, and spent the winter at Pueblo, on the Arkansas river. He was appointed by Elder Wm. Crosby Nov. 17, 1846, to preside over the Saints at Fort Pueblo.

     Bro. Dowdle and family and the other families of the Pueblo Company, following in the wake of the Utah Pioneers in 1847, arrived in Great Salt Lake Valley July 29, 1847, with Capt. James Brown's detachment of the Mormon Battalion, which had also wintered at Pueblo. Elder Dowdle was called to fill a mission to Australia, arriving at Sydney April 1, 1852. When Pres. Augustus Farnham saled from Sydney May 28, 1856, he left Absalom P. Dowdle in charge of the Australasian Mission. Elder Dowdle presided until Jun 27, 1857, when he sailed on the ship "Lucas," homeward bound.

"Utah, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89PC-74YG?view=explore : Jul 14, 2025), image 313 of 831; . Image Group Number: 100836191