My Native Land--Farewell

Nathaniel Hunt Greer was a cowboy, frontiersman, family man, devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--and a poet. After joining the Church with his family in 1854, he felt called to join the Saints who were gathering to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. This was a great sacrifice for Nathaniel because he loved his home in Texas. He wrote the following poem the year before they left. In it he writes of his sadness at leaving his beloved Texas and his devotion to His Savior Jesus Christ. Nathaniel ultimately gave his life in his service to his God and Church.

The Greer family left Milan County, Texas, on March 15, 1855, in the Seth M. Blair and Edward Stevenson Company of Emigrating Saints. This company arrived at Mormon Grove on June 2, 1855. After some reorganizing, they left Mormon Grove on June 15th. An outbreak of cholera soon struck the company. Nathaniel succumbed to the disease about ten days out and died on June 24, 1855, in Nemaha County, Kansas. His mortal remains were laid to rest on a hill about half of a mile east of Grasshopper Creek. He not only lost his own life but that of his son John Irvin and six of his grandchildren.

Remember our devoted pioneer ancestor Nathaniel Hunt Greer on this Pioneer Day.

My Native Land--Farewell

I go in the name of Christ to bear

In lands and isles unknown

And when my pilgrim's feet shall tread

On lands where darkness dwell

Where light and truth have long since fled

My Native Land--farewell.

I go an erring child of dust

Ten thousand foes among

Yet on his mighty arm I trust

That makes the feeble strong.

My sun my shield, forever nigh

He will my fears dispel

This hope supports me when I sigh

My Native Land--farewell.

I go devoted to his cause

And to his will respond

His presence will supply the loss

Of all I leave behind.

His presence cheers the sinking heart

And lights the darkest cell

To exiled pilgrims grace impart

My Native Land--farewell

I go because my master calls

He has made my duty plain

No danger can the heart appall

When Jesus stoops to reign.

And now the vessel's side we've gained

The sails their bosoms swell

Thy beauties in the distance fade

My Native Land--farewell.

Nathaniel Hunt Greer

19 February 1854