| Edward Richins Henefer, Summit, Utah, United States |
| Caroline Edward Tipper |
| Edward Richins & Sarah Beard |
| Edward Richins History Contributed By Thomas, Jay Ernest · May 23, 2013, 9:50 PM · 0 Comments LIFE STORIES OF EDWARD RICHINS, CAROLINE ELLEN TIPPER AND SARAH BEARD (Taken from the book: "Life Stories of Alma Ether Richins and Emeline Hattie Richins; Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper and Sarah Beard; Charles Richins, Louisa Shill, Esther Stowe Ovard and Agnes Mary Willmott. By James Alden Richins, DMT Publishing, North Salt Lake, Utah, 2008. Second Printing 2009.) THREE COURAGEOUS PIONEERS This history is lovingly dedicated to Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper Richins and Sarah Beard Richins, three courageous souls who left their homes in their native England to come to Utah to help build Zion, and to conquer and subdue a new, unproven land. They were pioneers not only on the frontiers of civilization, but also on frontiers of a new religion. They truly represented the new American ideal and the very reason for its settlement; that of religious freedom. To us they bequeathed a glorious heritage. EDWARD AT SHEEPSCOMB1 Edward's birthplace was Sheepscomb in Gloucestershire, England, a land of rolling green hills and fertile lowlands; a land ideally suited for agriculture and animal husbandry. The rainfall was just plentiful enough to keep the grasses luscious and tender most of the year; so for the most part, the principal industry was pasturing and grazing of cattle and sheep. It is known that wheat, barley and other grains were raised on the lowlands and fed to the dairy animals. This is the area that Richard and Priscilla Wager Richins, and their progenitors before them reared their families. They became the parents of eleven children, but only five lived to be married. Edward, the next to youngest child, was born in April 1834. There is a discrepancy with the day of his birth. His obituary and endowment records have the 25th while a write-up in Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah has the16th. According to the Bishops Transcripts of Sheepscomb his christening was on August 24,1834. Priscilla Richins passed away when Edward was eight years old. Six years later his father, Richard, died of intemperance (alcoholism) which was common in those days. The family had lived in humble circumstances. Money was a scarce commodity; so as the boys became old enough, they found employment to help support the family. They received help from relatives. Edward and his older brother John went to live with their Wager relatives. At the time of the 1851 census in England they were living with Esther Wager and her son Jeremiah. Edward received some schooling sometime because the census indicated that he could and write. EDWARD BECOMES A CONVERT In the 1840s Mormon missionaries arrived in Gloucestershire, England, with the message of the restoration. Some of the early converts were Charles Golding Shill and George Shill. After their baptisms they did missionary work in Sheepscomb. They were influential in bringing many into the Church including four of the five living children of Richard and Priscilla Richins. Charles was baptized first on December 29, 1849. Thomas was baptized three days later. Edward was baptized by George Humphries on February 28, 1853. A year later on February 5, 1854, John was baptized. George Thomas, the oldest son, did not join the Church. He was married and had three children before immigrating to Canada in 1856, where he settled at St Catharines, Lincoln County, Ontario. George Thomas never came to Utah, and there was little communication between the brothers in Utah with their brother in Canada. There is a picture included with this history that was taken of Edward and George Thomas after they left England, but we don't know where or when it was taken. Edward and his other three brothers all came to Utah and maintained contact with each other in their new land. Charles came first in 1853, Edward next in 1855. The next year (1856) Thomas came with the first handcart company (Ellsworth), and John with the fourth handcart company of that year (Willie). Those in the Willie and the Martin Handcart Companies had to be rescued from the hunger, cold, and death that faced them on the plains of Wyoming. It is not known if Richard, the father of George Thomas, Thomas, Charles, John, and Edward ever heard the message of the missionaries. He died a year before any of his sons were baptized. LEAVING HOME IN SHEEPSCOMB After his baptism Edward became engaged in Church work. Like most converts his desire was to immigrate to Zion. For the next three years he worked and saved his money until he was ready to make the trip to America. Mormon immigration records2 list Edward as a passenger on the clipper ship, Charles Buck, which set sail from Liverpool on January 17, 1855, with 403 Latter-day Saints on board. They arrived in New Orleans on March 14, 1855. This was the last immigration group sent by the Church to New Orleans. Thereafter ships carrying LDS immigrants disembarked at, Philadelphia, New York, or Boston. From those ports the immigrants went by rail to the water routes that took them to the outfitting places for the journey across the plains. In 1850 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established the Perpetual Emigrating Fund (P.E.F); so immigrants could travel to the Salt Lake Valley on money loaned to them and then pay it back after they arrived in Zion and obtained employment. Edward traveled as a P.E.F. immigrant on ticket #217 which was ordered from Salt Lake City for him by his brother Charles.3 According to a compilation of the general voyage notes for the Charles Buck the emigrants from England who sailed on the Charles Buck first boarded the Helios, which was set to sail on November 23, 1854. One brother wrote in his autobiography that the night after they got on board and had gone to bed a terrible gale came and took the ship, anchor and all to the other side of the river. During the night the wind also took a tug boat that was crossing the river and dashed it into the side of the Helios causing extensive damage and springing a leak in the vessel. Government inspectors went on board and determined that the Helios was not fit for the voyage; so it returned to port, and the passengers disembarked and sought lodging. They remained there nearly two months. A two month wait in Liverpool was difficult for Edward and the other emigrants. They were first told they would set sail in December 1854, but they were disappointed again. Richard Ballantyne, who became the LDS leader on the Charles Buck, wrote a letter about this delay on March 3, 1855, to F. D. Richards, the British Mission President in charge of emigration from England, in which he said: "It is well known to yourself and others, that this company of Saints was much exposed while in Liverpool, and that the general health of the company was somewhat affected thereby. Their long detention had somewhat depressed their spirits, and living in unwholesome places, and on scanty diet, had somewhat impaired their health. When they came on board seasickness prostrated many, through the blessings of the Lord attending the ordinances of the laying on of hands and anointing with oil, together with such medicines as the spirit of wisdom dictated us to administer, the sick were raised to health."5 1 See Hazel Richins, "Life Story Richard Richins & Charlotte Priscilla Wager, for more information on Sheepscomb) 2 "Edward Richins," Mormon Immigration Index - Individual 3 "Emigration Records 1854-1855," Church History Department 4 "Charles Buck - Mormon Immigration index - Personal Accounts 5 "Letter from Richard Ballantyne-March 5, 1855" Charles Buck-Mormon Immigration Index-Personal Accounts 6 "Charles Buck-Mormon Immigration Index - Personal Accounts EDWARD CROSSES THE OCEAN6 With Richard Ballantyne, who was returning from a mission in India as their leader, Edward Richins and 402 other saints set sail for America on the ship, Charles Buck. The company was divided into four wards with a president, two counselors, and two teachers for each ward. They had two meetings on Sundays and in addition testimony meetings on Monday and Thursday evenings. As the ship departed President Ballantyne counseled the brethren on board to keep themselves pure and virtuous and walk as saints of God so the captain and sailors would observe their religion by the way they lived. He asked them to help protect the virtue and well being of the sisters. "He exhorted husbands to be kind to their wives and wives to be subject to their husbands and to assist each other in training up their children in the fear of the Lord that they may prove a blessing to them in time to come." He also admonished the saints against grumbling and warned the women against associating with the sailors, even posting watchmen over them to discourage any improper conduct. On the twelfth day of the voyage a seven year old boy was drowned when he was leaning over the side of the ship and got caught in a rope throwing him overboard. His father standing near-by sounded the alarm, but the rescue boats were lashed down and by the time a boat and crew were lowered down for the rescue the turbulent sea had sent the young boy to a watery grave. Three other children died of diarrhea and were buried at sea. While on board there was one birth and six marriages. There was also the excommunication of two sisters and one brother. "During the voyage Richard Ballantyne .. struggled, to keep peace between the Mormons, and other passengers - particularly a group of Irish Catholics. In doing so, he had to cope with a lustful and abusive second mate and a captain, who was sometimes irascible and hostile to the saints. Yet the most serious problem was food shortage."7 From the general voyage notes we learn that: "The English of this company who had been shipped on board the Helios at Liverpool by President F. D. Richards, had been provided for on an usually comfortable and liberal scale on that ship; but when finally reshipped on the Charles Buck, the excellent provisions furnished by President Richards were withheld from them, and in their stead some raw oatmeal, course biscuit and a little rice and flour were furnished; and even of these articles a sufficient quantity was not shipped, so the passengers after being out six weeks, were placed on short allowance of provisions. This was about two weeks before our arrival in New Orleans. For several days many of the saints had nothing to eat but oatmeal cakes or porridge, and for three days only two quarts of water was served out to each passenger."8 After stating the shortage of food the voyage notes go on to say, "Notwithstanding these unpleasant circumstances, the emigrants manifested an unusual measure of heerfulness and patience. Whatever sickness and debility they suffered was chiefly occasioned through the want of something nutritious and desirable to eat." Elder Ballantyne "did what he could to keep the emigrants busy on the ship. In addition to having each ward take care of cleaning their own area he brought on board canvas from which the sisters made tents and wagon covers. One writer in the company said they made between 40-50 tents. In a letter written at the end of the ocean voyage Elder Ballantyne penned these words, "I would say for the whole company that for the light they have attained they are as good a people as I ever associated with." FROM NEW ORLEANS TO ST. LOUIS AND THEN ONTO ATCHISON9 After arriving in New Orleans on March 14,, 1855, the passengers remained on the ship for two days. One writer said that while they were still on the river men came along their ship in small boats and climbed up on board. Guards were set up to keep the men from going down among the saints. At first it was thought that some of the saints would need to remain in New Orleans because of lack of funds to pay the passage to St Louis of three dollars and fifty cents for each adult passengers, and half that for those under fourteen and over one year. "Through the exertions and preferred help of Elder McGaw, the Church emigration agent in New Orleans, together with the liberal contributions of those saints who had a few shillings to spare, the whole company was taken along." Had they not helped each other many would have had to stay there until they earned enough money for the fares. 7 "A Maritime Encyclopedia of Mormon Migration, 1830-1890." 8 Charles Buck - Mormon Immigration Index-General Voyage Notes 9 Charles Buck - Mormon Immigration Index - Personal Accounts On. the evening of March 17, five to six hundred passengers and their luggage were taken down the gangway of the Charles Buck onto the steamboat Michigan. Passengers from another ship that arrived at about the time increased the number on the steamboat to 1100 making it crowded. The luggage was piled together making it almost impossible for anyone to locate their own luggage. Night came on and they had to sleep the best they could that first night. From the general voyage notes we learn that the captain of the Michigan behaved very badly toward the saints. We also learn that as the boat left the wharf in New Orleans a brother fell overboard and was drowned. Another brother fell overboard and drowned the morning before arriving in St Louis. In addition four children died on the way to St Louis. It took twelve days to go up the Mississippi River from New Orleans to St Louis because of ice and trees on the river that got in the wheel and broke it requiring three days of delay for repairs. When they arrived in St Louis on the evening of March 29th they had to disembark and get their luggage off the wharf in the dark. Some families laid one of the tents made while crossing the ocean over themselves and their luggage for cover that night. An unprecedented rush of people to Kansas and Nebraska at this time increased the rate of fares and created a shortage of transportation; so the brethren had difficulty getting the steamboats for transportation up the Missouri River from St Louis to Atchison, Kansas. They did not all go together but started leaving in smaller groups on March 31st. Some writers said it took their group nine days for that leg of the journey while others said it took them six days, so it probably depended on the boat they were on, or the stops they made. When the immigrants arrived in Atchison there were only three houses in the town. They were put to work building houses, fences and plowing ground. They were in Atchison until July 1st when a company of those traveling as Perpetual Emigrating Fund Immigrants moved out under the direction of Richard Ballantyne. This group arrived in Salt Lake City on September 25, 1855. CROSSING THE PLAINS AND THE MOUNTAINS10 Edward Richins was a P.E.F. traveler; but he did not go with the Richard Ballantyne Wagon Train that arrived in Salt Lake City on September 25, 1855. Instead he went with the independent William H. Hooper Freight Train which did not arrive in the city until November 6, 1855. Edward Richins, age 21 at the time, drove an ox team pulling a freight wagon which required him to walk to the side of the team and not ride. We can assume that there was a need for some more drivers and they sought out single men for that work. If he was paid for the work it probably was credited to his account against the money he had borrowed from the P.E.F. Another immigrant who did the same thing said they started the journey on August 14th and had to leave all but six wagons at Fort Bridger because of heavy snow. When they got to the mouth of Echo Canyon they left the last six wagons there until spring and just drove the oxen over 'Big Mountain' into Salt Lake. . We wish we knew more about Edward's adventures with the Hooper Freight Train. It is interesting that they had to leave the wagons near where Edward later made his home. 10 "William M. Bromley Journals" Crossing the Plains Narratives-Rough Copy Unedited, Church Historical Department EDWARD IN SALT LAKE CITY We do not know where Edward lived in 1855 after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley. We assume he first stayed with his brother Charles and his wife Louisa who were then living in Salt Lake. We do know that according to early Church records.11 Edward was a member of the Salt Lake Fourth Ward sometime during his stay in Salt Lake, but we do not know where he lived in the ward boundaries. When the 1860 Civil Census was taken in June 1860 Charles and Louisa were living in the Fourth Ward at 250 West 700 South. Their son Wellington and daughter Prudence were listed in their household. Edward's name does not appear in their household or anywhere else on the census. For at least five years after arriving in Salt Lake Edward lived there. We wish, we knew what he did during that time. He may have worked on the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple which was being built at that time. He must have used the skills he learned driving an ox team across the plains for some employment, because during these early years in Salt Lake he made trips back along the pioneer trail to assist new immigrants to the valley. Years later when Edward had his own ox team and wagon he made several trips up Echo Canyon to meet and help companies of weary pioneers coming to Utah. We do know that Edward left his home in Salt Lake in 1857 and spent time in Echo Canyon, because his obituary12 states that he was with the militia in Echo Canyon helping keep the United States Army from entering Utah. It does, not say how long he was there. It may have been from the fall through the winter until late spring or summer. This experience may have motivated him to return to Echo three years later to live. MAKING A HOME BETWEEN ECHO AND HENEFER13 Charles moved his family from Salt Lake to Henefer in the fall of 1860. Sometime after that Edward visited his brother and his family and decided to make his own home in the valley between Echo and Henefer along the pioneer trail. In 1861 he selected a spot about 1.5 miles north of Echo near the Weber River with the picturesque "Witch Rocks" nearby. He obtained land where Brigham Young and his followers camped in 1847 on their way to the Salt Lake Valley. Most of his land was rich and fertile with an abundance of water for irrigation purposes. He began to clear the ground and prepare it for planting. It was wearisome labor with a yoke of oxen and hand plow; but in time, enough ground was cleared for a good planting of row crops, potatoes, grain and hay. Edward was an ambitious man and a wise manager, so he was able to make a living. Edward immediately began to build a one room log cabin. It was constructed of hewn logs with a dirt roof. In the fall of 1862 Edward met a beautiful young woman by the name of Caroline Ellen Tipper. She had recently emigrated from England and was living with the William Kimball family at Parley's Park near what is today Park City. Charles probably knew some of Caroline's family in England because they lived in the same shire or county and they were members of the same LDS branch- Caudle Green. When Charles learned that Caroline was at Parley's Park he sent for her and brought her to his home in Henefer. After being there a short time Charles introduced Caroline to Edward. 11 Ronald V. Jackson & David L. Grundvig, "Directory of Individuals Residing in the Salt Lake Wards - 1854-1861" 12 See Appendix A for copy of Edward's obituary 13 Margaret C. Richins, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper, and Sarah Beard," 1971 CAROLINE ELLEN TIPPER IN ENGLAND14 Caroline Ellen Tipper was born February 20, 1846, at Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England. She was the daughter of Harriet Tipper who was born May 2, 1824. Harriet's parents were William and Jane Tipper. In his life story Robert Allen Jones, half-brother to Caroline Ellen, wrote that Harriet was engaged to be married to a man named W. Berry, but the marriage was never solemnized. The baby from that relationship was given the name of Caroline Ellen with her mother's surname. She lived with her mother and grandparents. She was very healthy as a child and as she grew older, she was quite strong and continued to have good health. When Caroline Ellen was about seven years old her mother, Harriet, fell in love with a young man by the name of Robert Jones and after a short courtship they were married on November 18, 1852. On April 12, 1852, before marrying Robert Jones, Harriet was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Charles Shill. Robert had been baptized previously on November 18, 1849. When Caroline was eight years old, she was baptized on May 26, 1854. Caroline began to work away from home when she was twelve or thirteen years old. She went from Birdlip to Cheltenham, a distance of about seven miles where she worked for a shoemaker, Mr. Candles and his family. These people liked Caroline very much, and she worked there so long that they looked upon her as one of their own. During this time she loved to go home to see her mother and stepfather and visited them as often as she could. A baby brother had come to bless their home, and she was very fond of little Robert Allen. As time passed another brother, William, was born. Later a sister, Mary Jane, joined this family making a happy home. During Caroline's teenage years she had been thinking and hoping to go to America and make her home in Utah. When she was about sixteen years old, she began preparations for the trip, hoping her mother and family would be able to come later. It is believed that Caroline's leaving grieved her mother. When the time came for Caroline's departure her mother Harriet, and brother, Robert Allen, accompanied her through the fields as far as the Cheltenham Road. It was a sad parting for them, and many tears were shed. After the parting, Caroline's mother said that she was afraid she would never see her daughter again— and she never did in mortality. CAROLINE ELLEN CROSSES THE OCEAN15 Caroline Ellen did not travel to America with any known relatives, but came with a family who was very good to her and treated her like their own child. In some ways she was a child, because she was only 16 when she boarded the sailing ship, John J, Boyd, which left Liverpool on April 23, 1862. She had ticket # 163 and was listed as Caroline E. Jones 16, spinster, Nettleton, near Birdlip, Gloucester.16 Before the journey began Apostles Charles C. Rich, Amasa M. Lyman, and George Q. Cannon, went aboard the ship and organized the company of 602 Latter-day Saints. They appointed James S. Brown, president, with John Lindsey and Joseph C. Rich as his counselors. The Saints were divided into nine wards with a presiding teacher over each ward. Also traveling in this company was Sarah Beard's oldest brother, Thomas Beard, his wife and three children. They settled in Coalville.17 14 Robert A. Jones, "Life Story of Robert A. Jones" p.2, Copy in possession of J. Alden Richins 15 John J. Boyd-Mormon Immigration Index-Personal Accounts 16 "Emigration Record of British Mission," CR 271/25 #2, 1855-1863, page 111 17 Journal of Thomas Beard, copy in possession of Margaret C. Richins Family The company was very merry to start with. There was singing, laughing, and joking; however by the evening of the first day out while still in the Irish Sea the entire company of emigrants was so seasick that all were prostrate except eight or ten brethren who had to stand guard all night. The second day out a five month old child died and was buried at sea. Before the 39 day journey ended there were seven buried at sea, and all were children except one. Those who died were wrapped in a sheet, sewn in gunny sacks, and then committed to a watery grave after a brief service of a short prayer and a few remarks. One mother traveling alone with children, sons ages 4 and 2, lost both of them in one night. A brother who lost a son said this was his fourth son to die in the past 18 months. Children were also faced with measles and whopping cough during this journey. Administrations of the sick were common on this voyage with many being made well. The journey was a little longer than usual because of head winds. There were some rough seas. On one occasion the winds and the waves were so extensive that waves crashing together sent spray in torrents over the bulwark completely submerging the decks, and giving many of the saints a salt water bath. Joseph C. Rich, a counselor in the presidency said the saints were well disciplined. The presidency paid tribute also to the captain of the ship by presenting him with a memorial of appreciation, but they did not speak well of the captain's mates. On the first Sabbath day after starting the journey the Saints assembled for worship on the quarter-deck at the sound of the bugle. While the second hymn was being sung the third mate, along with some of the sailors rushed through the crowd knocking and pushing some of the saints over, and began singing loudly to interfere with the worship service. President Brown stopped the services and stepped into the cabin to make the captain aware of what the sailors had done. The captain put a stop to their misbehavior immediately but it did not their attitude. They were a problem throughout the entire voyage. Another time the first mate ordered the cooks to throw scalding water on some of the children. Guards had to be set in place to keep the sailors away from the sisters who they wanted to seduce. At the end of the journey the captain apologized for the behavior of his mates. No doubt Caroline witnessed these things making it a worrisome journey for her. FROM NEW YORK TO FLORENCE, NEBRASKA18 The John J. Boyd arrived at the port of New York on June 1, 1862. After leaving the ship the passengers boarded a steamer which took them to Castle Garden for processing through customs. After customs they were put in horse drawn cars and taken to the Hudson River. Their next transportation was by steamboat up the river to Albany. The next day they rode the New York Central Railroad into the country passing Palmyra and on to Niagara. Falls. Their next route took them through Canada and on to Detroit and Chicago by way of the Great Western Railroad. When they reached the Mississippi River they went by steamboat down the Mississippi River to Hannibal, Missouri, and then on the Hannibal and St Joseph Railroad to St. Joseph, Missouri. The last leg of the journey was a 250 mile trip by steamboat up the Missouri River to Florence, Nebraska. They were on the boat three days. The boat was open and without any shelter from the heat and the cold. They slept on the deck and sometimes had to move in the middle of the night. Their food was scraps left from the boat hands' table. One immigrant wrote that the ship's fare was bad, but it was better than nothing. They went hungry most of the 10 days it took them to travel from New York to Florence, Nebraska. In 1862 the Civil War was in process, so those travelers saw soldiers guarding bridges in Missouri because they were close to the Confederate lines. This part of the journey may havebeen very interesting as well as challenging for 16 year old Caroline Ellen as she saw the United States for the first time. 18 John J. Boyd, Mormon Immigration Index-Personal Accounts ON TO THE VALLEY OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE By 1860 nearly sixty thousand Saints had made the journey to the Salt Lake Valley. Up to that time two methods had been used for land transportation. For the first ten years immigrants purchased wagons and oxen in the East for transportation to the West. When gold was discovered in California in 1848 the number of immigrants to California and Oregon increased dramatically. During this same time the number of converts from England and Scandinavia increased rapidly. These conditions not only created a shortage of wagons and animals but greatly increased their cost. Most Saints could not come up with the money needed for the trip. In 1855 the Perpetual Emigrating Fund was established by the Church allowing the Saints to borrow from the fund with the condition that they reimburse the amount borrowed once they were settled in Utah Territory. "From 1855 to 1887 approximately 85,000 converts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to Utah with the help of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund."19 To further make it possible for poorer Saints to immigrate to Utah a plan to use handcarts (as well as animals and wagons) was put practice from 1856 to 1861. In 1861 the cost of obtaining wagons and animals in the east had greatly increased because of a shortage brought on by the Civil War. To cut down on travel expenses Church leaders decided to use wagons and oxen available in the Utah Territory. Men drove the oxen and teams with wagons to the established outfitting sites, picked up the immigrants and took them to the Salt Lake Valley. "The call to supply teams for the Church trains was received early in March by the ward bishops throughout Zion. A team consisted of two or three yoke of oxen. In addition to a teamster for each outfit, an extra man to approximately every four wagons went along on horseback as "herder" and "scout." These men, selected by the bishop were called on "missions." The mission would cover the period required to make the trip to the frontier outfitting post and return, which was usually six months. Compensation for their services came in the form of labor tithing receipts. "Most of those called into the Church train service (and some were called repeatedly) were comparatively new settlers. The growing season ahead held high promise for them and their equipment was needed badly for planting and harvesting. But the call of authority was to go with the Church train, and without question they prepared to obey."20 The wagon train usually left Salt Lake City the last week in April. Extra cattle were driven along with the train to supply meat both ways. Church trains continued throughout the sixties until the arrival of the railroad to Utah in June of 1869. As has been mentioned previously in this history Edward drove an ox team when he first crossed the plains. He had an ox team of his own in Echo and sent his team and a wagon with the Church train in 1865 to help bring some of Caroline's family from the outfitting site of Florence, Nebraska, to Utah. Caroline Ellen traveled by Church train from Florence, Nebraska, to Salt Lake City, but unfortunately we do not know for sure what wagon train she was with because we have not found her name on any of the rosters. She was traveling with a family whose names we do not know; so she may be listed under their name. We do know that those who sailed on the John J. Boyd traveled in the wagon train led by John R. Murdock according to a statement by James S. Brown who was leader of the group on the ship; so we feel confident that she traveled with the Murdock Church train. 19 "Mormon Emigration 1840-1869," p. 250, International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers,1963 20 Gustive O. Larson, Prelude to the Kingdom, pp. 219, 220 21 We do not have a journal account of anyone who traveled with the Murdock Company. We know there were 700 in the company (the largest of the year) and that they arrived in Salt Lake City on September 17, 1862.22 MARRIAGE AND EARLY LIFE OF EDWARD AND CAROLINE23 Caroline must have gone to Kimball's Park soon after she arrived in Salt Lake City. Charles learned of her being there and took her to Henefer and then introduced her to Edward. She and Edward were attracted to each other at their very first meeting, and after a short courtship, they were married on December 25, 1862 at Croydon, Morgan County, Utah, by Charles Shill. Edward was 28 and Caroline Ellen 16 at the of their marriage. They began their married life in Edward's new home. About two years after their marriage, a baby boy came to bless their home. He was born February 6, 1864 and was given the of Albert Edward. They were happy with their little son, but he was not permitted to stay with them very long. He was just a year old when he became very seriously ill and passed away on February 7, 1865. It is thought that he died of pneumonia. He was buried, in Henefer's first cemetery by a small knoll near the Weber River on property later owned by Thomas H. Stephens. This was a trial for Caroline. That same year in November she received the sad news of her mother's death in England bringing more sorrow to her troubled mind. CAROLINE'S FAMILY CROSSES THE PLAINS24 Robert Allen Jones wrote in his life history that his mother, Harriet Tipper Jones, who was also Caroline's mother, was always in delicate health. She contracted consumption (tuberculosis) and died soon after on November 12, 1865, when she was only 41 years old. After she died her husband, Robert Jones, became anxious to immigrate to Utah. He and his children Robert A. (12), William (10), Mary Jane (7), and his sister, Prudence (18), and her beau, Joseph Edgeworth took the train from their home in Nettleton, Gloucestershire, England, to Liverpool where they became passengers on the sailing ship, John Bright. They departed on April 30, 1866, with 747 Saints on board. They met on board the ship William and Charlotte Richins and their daughter Miriam with her young son, Arthur. Less than three months after arriving in Utah Robert and Miriam were married in Croyden. Also on board was a ten year old boy named Brigham Henry Roberts, who later became a general authority. His account of traveling to Zion from England to Utah on the same ship and Church train as the family of Caroline Ellen Jones is fascinating and delightful reading.25 Robert Allen wrote in his life story that they were on the water about five weeks and they had some pleasant weather and some rough weather. He admitted that he didn't remember much about the ocean voyage because he was seasick and hungry nearly all the time. They landed in New York on June 6, 1866, and went through customs at Castle Garden, and from there to Nebraska along the route which Caroline had taken four years earlier. When they arrived at the Wyoming, Nebraska, outfitting place for 1866, some of the Church trains were there to take the immigrants to Utah. One of those trains was Holladay's Train which included a wagon and yoke of oxen belonging to Edward Richins which he had sent to help Caroline's family on the last leg of their journey. John Brown, from Hoytsville drove the team of three oxen which pulled the wagon. Robert Allen said they did not travel in that train because the Henry Chipman Train was ready to go when it was their turn to be assigned to a train. 21 John J. Boyd, 1862, Mormon Immigration Index-Reminiscences and Journal of James Steven Brown 22 "Chronological List of Mormon Pioneer Companies," Deseret News 1977 Church Almanac 23 Margaret C. Richins, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper, and Sarah Beard" 24 Robert A. Jones, "Life Story of Robert A. Jones," pp. 3-5. Copy in possession of J. Alden Richins 25 See Truman G. Madsen, Defender of the Faith - The B. H. Roberts Story, pp. 22-52 Robert Allen said they were at the outfitting place for two or three weeks and that all the time they were there they were half starved. He told of meeting a sister there whom they knew in England. She was waiting for one of the Church trains from Salt Lake to arrive because her son was coming with that train to meet her. When the train arrived she received the sad news that he had been accidentally shot and killed on the way out from Salt Lake. Her husband had died previous to her starting from England and now her sobs were more than even those looking on could endure. There were 375 people with the Chipman wagon train. No exact record is available of the size of the train, but there are figures for the summer's total. One writer said large trains like his would include "at least forty-five teamsters, four or five mounted guards, three hundred oxen, twenty or more horses and mules, and forty wagons."26 (Robert said were 64 wagons in the Chipman Train.) When they arrived at Fort Laramie there was a military garrison there which inspected the company to make sure they had sufficient arms for the travel through hostile country. That was none too soon because not long afterwards Indians stole 90 head of oxen, killed others with poison darts, and drove off many of their horses. Two days later as they were yoking up their cattle some stampeding oxen ran right into their corral. The oxen more than made up for their lost oxen; so they considered it a Godsend. They hadn't traveled more than half a day when they encountered men seeking their lost oxen. When they overtook the other company's wagons they gave up the oxen. They had to trudge along as best they could to make their 25 miles a day until relief wagons arrived from the valley about the time they reached the Green River. CAROLINE'S FAMILY ARRIVES IN ECHO27 Robert Allen, said it was a joy to them when they reached Utah soil. Their first camping spot in Utah was near Cache Cave at the head of Echo Canyon. The next night they camped near the mouth of Echo Canyon where the A. R. Jones Grist Mill was later built. The next morning, September 16,1866, Edward Richins met them and then Thomas H. Stephens met them at the rock store in Echo. Thomas' wife Mary was a sister to Robert and Prudence Jones. The group continued on for another mile and a half to Edward and Caroline's home where she was waiting with open arms and fresh baked bread and homemade butter which they greatly appreciated. They referred to it as a feast. It was a wonderful reunion. Thomas took Prudence with him to Henefer to stay with her sister Mary. The rest of the family stayed with Caroline and Edward in Echo. Robert Allen stayed in Echo for two or three days and then he went to Henefer to his Uncle Thomas and Aunt Mary Stephens where he and Prudence stayed for the winter. EDWARD AND CAROLINE BUILD A NEW LOG HOUSE28 Robert stayed with Edward and his wife and was a great help in harvesting the hay and doing other farm work that fall. It seems that a close friendship had developed between Robert and Miriam Richins during their six-week voyage from England, and they soon found each other after Miriam came to Henefer from Provo where she first stayed for a time with her parents. Then their courtship began. About three months later on December 2, 1866, they were married at Croydon, Utah by Bishop Walker. A dinner party was given in their honor by Charles and Harriet Shill. This was a happy event for them. 26 Truman G. Madsen, Defender of the Faith - The B. H. Roberts Story, pp. 22-52 27 Robert A. Jones, "Life Story of Robert A. Jones," pp. 3-6 28 Robert A. Jones, "Life Story of Robert A. Jones," p. 8. Robert and Miriam, continued living with Edward on the farm. It was about this time in early winter that Edward wanted to build a new log house that would accommodate two families. The logs had been hauled from the canyon by ox team in early fall. Robert was a good workman and was anxious to help get the home built. It was one large room with a door and windows and was joined on to the other house. Each house faced south so that from the outside it looked like one long log house with two front doors. With this addition there was a large room for each of the two families. When it was completed Edward's family lived in the new part and Robert's family lived in the older part. CAROLINE GIVES BIRTH TO HER SECOND SON AND DIES TEN WEEKS LATER29 No doubt Caroline was happy with her new house at this time as she was expecting her second baby. On December 3, 1866, the day after the marriage of Robert and Miriam, her second son was born. He was a beautiful baby boy, and they gave him the name of Alma Ether. They were especially happy with this baby as their first child, Albert Edward, had died when he was a year old.30 Around Christmastime Edward and Caroline went with their friends by ox teams and sleighs to a dance in Croydon. Everyone had a nice time, but a short time later Caroline developed a bad cold and complications set in. Everything was done for her that could be done to restore her health, but she seemed to gradually get worse until she developed a terrible nervous condition in one of her hands, and especially in her thumb. She couldn't keep it still. At the suggestion of Bishop Charles Richins Caroline and baby Alma were brought to his 'big house' in Henefer where there were more people near by to help care for them. Some thought Caroline had Saint Vitas dance while others thought evil spirits had taken over her body (which was often thought at that time when there was no explanation for an illness). Everyone was excited and upset. All the available priesthood holders (including some from Croydon) were pressed into service both to administer and attend at her bedside. She had to be held constantly to prevent her from biting herself . Robert Allen Jones, her brother who was twelve years old at the time, later wrote the following: "I went to see her once or twice and I shall never forget what a sorrowful look she bestowed on me. She was quiet a little while when I was there but still had to be held. It was said there was the evil spirits in her. It seemed with all the faith they could muster it was of no avail, until one day they made a supreme effort and they finally succeeded in rebuking the evil spirits, but the poor girl was worn out with fatigue. Her tongue was torn all to pieces. I don't think it was more than 24 hours before she died... Dear Girl, I hope her life behind the veil has been an easier one for hers was certainly a tragic taking off. She died February 15, 1867".... "She was buried on February 20, 1867, at the graveyard, Brother Stephens' field. There were 27 teams followed her remains. All sleighs but one, and that was John Phillips with a wagon. There has been a question as to which was her grave, but to me there is no doubt. I went last Summer (1919) and showed Hattie Richins (Alma's wife) which it was and while I don't think I had been on the ground for 35-40 years, I recognized it immediately. "31 Years later Alma expressed a desire to have his mother's body removed to the Henefer Cemetery, but that never took place. In 1989 family and friends of those buried at Henefer's first cemetery erected a monument at Henefer's first cemetery to honor Caroline and others buried there. 29 Robert A. Jones, "Life Story of Robert A. Jones," p. 7. 30 See Appendix B for a copy of Edward and Caroline's family group sheet 31 Robert A. Jones wrote that he got some of this information from an article in the Millennial Star written by his father EDWARD RECEIVES HELP FROM FAMILY AND A NEW WIFE IN CARING FOR BABY ALMA After weeks of intense suffering Caroline passed away at the young age of 21 leaving a two and a half month old son without a mother. She and Edward had only been married for a little over four years. He was much grieved over the loss of his young wife and the anxiety of caring for his small infant son. Louisa and Esther, wives of Charles, took care of baby Alma for a short time. Esther had lost a baby son less than two months before Alma was born so he probably filled the void for her at that time. Robert and Miriam Jones who lived in one room of Edward's home during that time also helped care for him. A couple of months after Caroline's death Charles introduced Sarah Beard to Edward with the suggestion she might be available to assist with housekeeping and caring for his motherless child. Sarah had recently come from England and was living in Coalville. He asked her if she would come to his home and care for his little son. Even though she didn't know him very well she consented to help him. After Sarah had been there a few weeks Edward decided she not only was a good housekeeper, but she would make a very good mother for his baby and a good wife. It was then he realized he was falling in love with her. After a short courtship, they were married June16, 1867, in Croydon, Morgan County, Utah. Three years later on September 5, 1870, they received their endowments and were sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Endowment House. SARAH BEARD'S FAMILY IN ENGLAND32 Sarah Beard was one of those faithful pioneers of England who came to America in 1866. Her parents were Thomas Beard and Ellen Elizabeth Clark. Sarah was born April 30, 1849, at Stone Heads, Whaley Bridge, and Cheshire, England. (The place of her birth was taken from a journal written by her brother Thomas Beard.) Her father was born October 3, 1814 at Cauler, Derbyshire, England. Her mother was born May 28, 1814 at Matlock Herst, Derbyshire, England. They were married May 12, 1836 at Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, England. There were nine children born to them, namely: Thomas Jr., Stephen, John, Aaron, William, Mary Ann, Sarah, Elizabeth and George. Aaron and William both died in infancy. There is no record available of their birth dates. The Beard family home was built of rock and mortar and was surrounded by small trees and shrubbery. This family, like many others, was very poor. About the only employment at that time was coal mining or work at the factory weaving cloth. Thomas worked at the mine whenever it was possible, but with so many men out of work, he could not seem to hold a job for very long. Child labor was practiced at that time; and as each child grew old enough he or she was expected to work whenever work was available. The oldest son, Thomas Jr., says in his journal that in his father's younger years he associated with a group that was wild and liked their ale. They also resented responsibility and wanted to be free. This grieved his mother very much. But Thomas was talented in music (as many of the Beard family were), and he loved it. At an early age he learned to play the fiddle and spent much of his time with it. He had a good voice for singing and everyone enjoyed his comic songs. With his musical ability later on he was often called to the Public Houses to entertain and play at dances for the rest of the miners. As he grew older he could do many kinds of work, but it was all with small pay. His wife, Ellen Elizabeth, went out to work whenever there was an opportunity. She did washing and housework. The proceeds were used to help provide for the family. Many times the children were hungry and a bowl of porridge was a good meal for them. 32 Margaret C. Richins, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper, and Sarah Beard" THE BEARD FAMILY EMBRACE THE GOSPEL33 In their community at this time there were different religious sects, but not many church meetings were held except a Wesleyan Sunday School where the children attended whenever possible. This is where they first learned to read, as there were no other schools being held there. After a few years when the children were more mature the family was visited by two young men known as Mormon missionaries. The message they had was interesting to the family and the Elders asked if they could come back to their home. They were always made welcome. Soon they were holding meetings with the family to explain more fully the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It seems there were no other members of the Church in this area, and their neighbors and associates began to laugh at them and ridicule them for allowing these "Mormonites" (as they called them) to be preaching in their home. The elders continued visiting them until the family was converted and ready for baptism. The parents and oldest son, Thomas Jr., were baptized February 10, 1852. The pond of water for their baptisms was built from a water ditch which watered the family garden. The other children were baptized as they became old enough. The family began having their family prayers and trying to live better. They seemed to be happier after hearing about the true Church and its people in Zion and were hoping that sometime in the future they would be able to immigrate to Utah. After about three years Thomas (the father) began losing interest and became dissatisfied with some of the teachings of the Church. He gradually fell away, joined his old crowd again and apostatized from the Church. This grieved his wife Ellen Elizabeth and the children very much, but they remained faithful members of the Church. From the time the children were small, there was religious training in the home by their mother. The oldest son, Thomas Jr., was a young man then and was very much interested in the principles of the Gospel and studied them. He and his mother attended meetings at New Mils Branch which had about twelve members and was six miles from their home. Meetings were held in the afternoon. Thomas Jr. continued his studying and was soon teaching the Gospel to others, especially the younger members of the family. Thomas Jr. continued preaching and teaching the Gospel in different communities, but there was much opposition to his message. All the while he was preparing to go to America. In 1862 he sailed from England and made his way to Utah. About two years later his two brothers, Stephen and John, came to Utah and were welcomed by Thomas Jr. who had established a home in Coalville, Utah. By this time Ellen Elizabeth's health was failing. She was small in stature but determined and struggled on taking of her children and looking forward to the time when they could join her other children in Utah. Previous to this time she had told her closest friend that the greatest desire she had was to get her feet on the ship with her three children and come to America. Ellen Elizabeth and older family members continued working whenever possible and trying to save pennies toward their journey to America. This was a hopeful dream with the hardships and poverty they had to endure. She told about her employer putting money in various places around the house and leaving it there 'to test her honesty.' But each time she found money and gave it back to her employer. These people respected her very much for her honesty and good qualities. She worked at every opportunity and saved as much money as possible, even though her wages were small. When Sarah reached the age of sixteen, she too was hoping to go to Zion to be with the saints and other members of the family who had come before. It was about a year later when she was ready to make the trip. It seems there were no other members of the family coming at that time. Her mother's plan was to join her in America. 33 Margaret C. Richins, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper, and Sarah Beard" SARAH LEAVES ENGLAND FOR AMERICA34 When Sarah was only seventeen she sailed from Liverpool, England, May 30, 1866, with 450 Latterday Saint immigrants on the ship Arkwright. Elder Justin C. Wixom was in charge of the company of immigrants. He was assisted by Elder Harry Luff and Hyrum P. Folsom. The voyage lasted 36 days during which time there were four births and five deaths. One personal account states that "the captain did not want any burial services held, but the people insisted. The funeral services were held at the front of the ship, and then the officers would rush to the other end and slide the bodies over the side. The bodies were first wrapped in material similar to canvas and had weights tied to them. The sharks followed the ship all the time and the officers were afraid that if they came too near the boat there would be trouble."35 There were some storms during the crossing making the water rough at times. Many were seasick including Sarah. She related that at one time she was lying on the deck, and the captain came along and told her she was lucky the waves hadn't washed her overboard. The ship arrived in New York landing at Castle Garden July 6, 1866, at 6:00 p.m. The company was met by Elders John T. Cane and Thomas B. H, Stenhouse. It was under their direction that these immigrants proceeded westward to Wyoming, Nebraska. From there they went by wagon train to Utah. When Sarah arrived in Utah, she found her way to her brother Thomas' home about 1-1/2 miles north of Coalville where she stayed for some time. After staying with her brother and his wife, she began looking for work as she had always been ambitious. There wasn't much employment other than housework which she did at different homes. It was her willingness to do housework and care of a motherless child that brought Sarah and Edward together as stated previously. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN AND AROUND ECHO FROM 1867 TO 186936 Sarah seventeen when she went to work in Edward's home in the early spring of 1867. Edward was nearly twice her age. At that time thirteen year old Robert Allen Jones had moved back to live with his father and stepmother who occupied one of the two rooms in Edward's log cabin each of which had one door leading outside. During that time Robert Allen said that his Father took Edward's farm on shares for two years. They raised a fair crop the first year, but grasshoppers came in the summer and destroyed part of the crop making a shortage of food. It was a tough for them. "Everybody suffered from the ravages of the grasshoppers." The next spring (1868) the young grasshoppers hatched out again and there was very little grain raised the second year. The grasshoppers even ate the leaves off the trees leaving everything barren. Echo was a bustling town in 1868-69 when the railroad was being built through Echo. It provided work for many farmers that helped them survive the grasshopper infestation. Robert Allen (13) was hired by a contractor to help build the railroad grade close to Edward's place. He drove Edward's ox team using his slip grader. He and his father also helped haul timber out of Bishop's Canyon for use as ties on the railroad. Robert Allen drove Edward's oxen and his father drove Edward's team of horses. The grade was finished that fall and around Christmas time the track was laid on the grade. Work continued on the railroad throughout the cold winter. 34 See Arkwright, Mormon Immigration Index - Personal Accounts 35 Autobiography of Ellen Burton Beazer," Arkwright, Mormon Immigration Index - Personal Accounts 36 Robert A. Jones, "Life Story of Robert A. Jones," p.-9 It was an exciting time when the first locomotive came along the tracks, Robert Allen said when the locomotive blew its whistle it nearly scared the life out of them. It scared the horses too. The train track was between the wagon road and Edward's home with not much distance between them. One time when one of the men was driving the team of horses pulling a wagon along the road a train whistle was blown and the team took off running. They ran through the big board gate, over the track, through another gate and on down to the stables before they could be stopped. In the spring of 1869 Robert Jones was determined to attend April General Conference in Salt Lake City. He talked his son Robert Allen, into going with him. They walked to Devil's Gate arriving late at night. To get across the Weber River they crawled on their hands and knees over the 70 foot high railroad bridge that had just been completed. They made it to Salt Lake and attended the first session of General Conference to be held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. The pipes of the great organ were still white or their natural color. After the conference they walked back to Weber Canyon where they caught a train of flat cars going east which they rode to Echo. EDWARD AND SARAH START THEIR MARRIED LIFE TOGETHER37 Of course the most significant event for Edward and Sarah in 1867 was their marriage in Croydon on June 16th. One has to wonder why they went to Croydon to be married instead of having Bishop Charles Richins perform the marriage. Charles got them together, but then Edward and Caroline were married in Croydon, and Robert and Miriam also went there to he married. Charles Shill who was instrumental in teaching the gospel to Charles, Edward, and others of the Richins family in England lived in Croydon and maintained a close friendship with family and friends in Henefer and Echo. Sarah was quoted as saying that Edward had promised to pay her when the crops were harvested in the fall of 1867, but that he was pretty smart to marry her rather than pay her. No doubt she preferred being a wife over that of housekeeper. She now had an added reason for taking care of the house as well as baby, Alma. With everything going on in both sides of the house she was busy. Miriam, next door, took in laundry from the railroad workers, and James and Elizabeth Ure (Robert's sister) came to live with them so James could work on the railroad. In September, 1867, Miriam gave birth to Alfred Jones, their first child. Sarah would have helped them as well as caring for her own side of the house. Robert Allen said that at this time Alma had become quite a chunk of a kid and that his sister, nine year old Jane, minded him most of the time for Sarah. By the next summer in 1868, Sarah was expecting a baby of her own. She was happy about this and enjoyed making preparations for its arrival. She was happy too, because of the good news they had received from England that her mother and the three children were on their way to America. Ellen Elizabeth, her mother, was hoping to be here with Sarah when her baby was born. 37 Robert A. Jones, "Life Story of Robert A. Jones," p.-9 SARAH'S FAMILY LEAVES ENGLAND FOR UTAH Ellen Elizabeth Beard (54) and her three children Mary Ann (22), Elizabeth (16), and George (12) left Liverpool, England, June 20, 1868 with a company of 876 Saints on the sailing ship Emerald Isle. According to the Millennial Star, "No other company was known to have so mistreated by the ships' officers and crew, making it necessary for presiding elder Hans Jensen Hals to protest and remind the captain of the contractual and legal rights of the emigrants. On one occasion a mate attacked a woman passenger. When a Mormon came to her rescue and chastised the mate, the crew threatened violence until the master restored order. Not only were the Saints treated harshly, but bad drinking water caused much sickness. Measles broke out among the children causing 37 deaths on shipboard. In addition 38 were taken ashore ill. It felt that the drinking water contributed to the high death rate, and the Saints—rightly or wrongly—placed much of the blame for their troubles on Captain Gillespie".38 The company arrived in New York on August 14, 1868, after a difficult voyage of nine weeks. One immigrant said, "I never think on the deadly Emerald Isle but with the greatest disgust and hatred,"39 There was rejoicing upon arrival at New York. Debarking with the Beard family were their friends the Vernon family and the Barber family. From there the company traveled by rail and steamboat to Benton, Wyoming via Niagara, Detroit, Chicago, and Omaha. From Benton they traveled for three weeks by ox train making it to Utah in late September of 1868. When the Beard family arrived in Echo they were met by Sarah and Edward who had been anxiously awaiting their arrival for weeks. Joy was mixed with sadness when they learned that Ellen Elizabeth was not with the children. Ellen was one of the thirty seven who died while crossing the ocean. She had taken very ill on the ship twelve days after leaving England and passed away on August 2, 1868, twelve days before the ship reached New York. A short service was held for her on the ship and then her body was wrapped in a heavy canvas and strapped to a board the length of her body, A heavy weight was fastened to one end of the board so it would sink quickly down into deep water thus avoiding the sharks. This was a sad experience for her children. Now Sarah grieved with them. Writing about this experience later in life George said, The saddest, most dreary, longest day of my life was when I was left alone with my two young sisters aboard the ship in the middle of the sea, after my mother had been buried with the other 36 unfortunates; and to add to the horrors of the situation, I remember the ship was followed for days and days by a shoal of monster man eating sharks. Only 12 years of age and the creaking, the splitting of timbers, the sea washing over the deck, and the cries and groans of the dying, the sobs and moans for loved ones who had passed away, still remains."40 Ellen Elizabeth Beard gave her life after many hardships and much perseverance to come to Zion. Her greatest desire was to live the Gospel and be with her family in Utah, The younger children lived with the older ones already in Coalville and Echo until they were old enough to care for themselves. Their father, Thomas, who had remained in England, came to America about three years later. 38 Conway B. Sonne, Saints on the Seas,"A Maritime History of Mormon Migration 1839-1890," p,66. 39 "Reminiscences and Journal of Hans Jorgenson," Emerald Isle-Mormon Immigration Index 40 Autobiography of George Beard, Copy in possession of Margaret C. Richins Family SARAH GIVES BIRTH TO HER FIRST CHILD AND THEN ELEVEN MORE41 Sarah was kept busy during the summer of 1868 with housework and sewing little clothes for the expected baby. It was October 7, 1868, when a precious baby girl was born to Edward and Sarah Richins. At that time doctors were scarce and had to travel on horseback to care for the sick. Many women acting as 'midwives' or practical nurses assisted in childbirth in the absence of a doctor. It was one of these good neighbor women who helped when the baby was born. When she was just a few days old a name, Sarah Ellen, was chosen for her to honor both her mother and grand-mother. She by the name Ellen throughout her life. Ellen grew to be a strong, healthy, child and kept herself very busy. When she was about 1-1/2 years old, she climbed onto a chair and from there onto the table where there was a can of liquid lye which was used to soften water for washing clothes. The baby drank the lye and it burned her mouth, tongue and stomach so badly that it took a long time to heal. She was given olive oil and cream for about three months before she was healed from the acid burns. Some time after this when she could walk to the railroad tracks she was found sitting on the track. When her mother saw her she could hear a train coming. She did some fast running to get her off the track. When Ellen was two years old another baby came to bless their home. This was a welcome little boy. They gave him the name of Heber. As the years passed by a baby was born to Sarah and Edward about every two years until there were twelve children. Each one was welcomed and loved. After Heber the children were Moroni, Lovenia, Nephi, Ebenezer, Joseph, Willard and Wilford (twins), Jared, George and Florence.42 All raised families of their own except the twins who died in early childhood-- one from hot water burns and the other from an illness. Sarah endured many hardships and hard work until her family was grown. Edward and Sarah taught their children to work, but that is not all. They taught them the truths of the gospel from the scriptures. They gave six of their boys: Alma, Moroni, Nephi, Ebenezer, and Joseph, and Jared, names from the Holy Scriptures. There must have been a lot of love in the family because the brothers and sisters remained close throughout their lives. The writer remembers his father, Norman Richins, telling him how the children of Edward enjoyed visiting each other and had family outings together. Norman spoke highly of his uncles and aunts and liked to visit them. He visited his Aunt Florence in Salt Lake on many occasions including at Christmas time. The last family gathering of the Edward, Caroline and Sarah family was at the old homestead in 1948 just prior to when Ebenezer died. All of the children who lived and had families were there except for Lovenia who died in 1923. A NEW ADOBE BRICK HOME IS BUILT43 As the family increased in number, the parents realized the need for a larger house. So the log house was replaced with a nice adobe red brick home. Adobe bricks were made of mud and a binder such as sand or straw. The mud was packed in 4 by 5 by 12 wooden frames and set out to dry and cure. 44 This probably didn't change the summer sleeping habits of the boys. Ellen said the boys always slept out at night in the summer time in the loft over the cattle shed which was made of large willows covered by straw. The straw made good beds and the distance from the house allowed them to make a lot of noise and have fun pulling tricks on each other. 41 Margaret C. Richins, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper, and Sarah Beard," 42 See Appendix C for Edward and Sarah's Family Group Sheet 43 Margaret C. Richins, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper, and Sarah Beard" 44 David Hampshire, Martha S. Bradley, and Allen Roberts, A History of Summit County, p. 170 With a large family there weren't the conveniences they needed—especially at meal time or when company came. A niece of Sarah's tells of going with her mother and father and other children to visit at the Edward Richins home and stayed overnight. At breakfast time the grownups ate at one table and the children at another. On the children's table there was a pan of thick mush with a hole made in the center of the mush and filled with syrup, honey or molasses. Each child filled his spoon with mush and dipped it into the molasses or whatever, and then put it in his/her mouth. They ate it and enjoyed it. Their drinking water came from a well which was pumped by hand. It was a short distance from the house. Water for other purposes was carried from a small stream. After a few short years the home was surrounded with beautiful flowers of all kinds, a large vegetable garden, a potato patch, grain fields and alfalfa fields. There were also apple, pear and plum trees, and currant and gooseberry bushes. Edward's specialty was potatoes. He was known to grow some of the best potatoes in the state. He grew many beautiful prize-winning potatoes. He and his neighbor, Joseph A. A. Bunot shipped potatoes by railroad cars to other states. FARM GROUND, FARMING AND LIVESTOCK45 Edward had a large acreage of farm ground in the Echo valley. A picture with this history shows the well cultivated ground and beautiful crops in the fall of the year. The picture was taken years after Edward moved into the valley. He and his boys worked hard clearing trees and brush off the ground. They had few farm tools or machinery. Wooden plows pulled by oxen at first, and then by horses were used to turn over the ground. Planting was done by hand. Grain and grass hay was cut with a scythe. Edward was considered to be an expert in using it, and he used it to cut the grass around the house and yard as there were no hand mowers available at that time. Edward used good judgment in cultivating and taking care of his ground. Each year there was a better harvest. Edward had a lot of farm and range ground in the Henefer Valley as well as Echo.46 When he obtained this ground and how he obtained it is not known today, but we do know he had it before he went on a mission in 1889, because he ask Alexander Calderwood who had married his oldest daughter, Ellen, to lease his farm in Henefer and take care of it while he was away. They and their first baby, Margaret, moved into an old house built of logs and small poles nailed close together for the roof. On the poles there was straw and then dirt, which didn't keep out the rain. Three or four years later they built a new log house out of telephone poles which had been discarded by the railroad. It had wooden shingles on the roof which kept the rain out. There was a large kitchen and two large bedrooms. They had a coal burning stove and coal oil lamps for light. Alex and Ellen Calderwood had six children when they left the farm in Henefer in the year 1900 and moved to the Calderwood farm in Coalville. This farm and range ground in Henefer became the property of Alma Richins, Edward's oldest son. He may have purchased it from his father soon after Alex and his sister, Ellen, moved to Coalville, because the very next year (1901) Edward sold his Echo farm to his son, Nephi, and moved to Coalville. In 1915 when Alma's oldest living son, Hillman and Elsie were married their first home was the log house 'over the meadow' where Alex and Ellen lived.47 45 Margaret C. Richins, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper, and Sarah Beard" 46 See front or back cover of the book, Fannie J. Richins & Maxine R. Wright, Henefer Our Valley Home Year after year the farm acreage expanded, and the herds increased in number. There were horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens. At one time there were fourteen cows to be milked by hand night and morning. When Ellen was about fourteen years old she helped with the milking during the summer months while the boys were helping their father. Edward was a very conservative yet ambitious farmer. He took good care of his farm animals and taught his boys to do the same. The stables and corrals for the livestock were a short distance away just west of the house on a lower level. The family raised their own meat. The pork meat was salt cured in the winter and kept over until summer for table use. Grain grown on the farm was taken to a mill and ground into flour. Sarah made very good bread from it making about twelve or fourteen loves at a baking. As the farm produced better crops and the boys grew older they were trained to handle the farm work. hey were always cautioned to do their work well and their father repeated to them "anything that is worth doing is worth doing well." Alma said he worked hard on his father's farm. Each one of them had their work to do and it had to be done by the time their father got home. Alma told his sons years later, "You know if I had scattered hay around the yard for the cattle the way you boys do my father would have given me a good licking." 48 Edward had sheep in addition to cattle, and he had range ground for his sheep. Much of that ground was on the hills east and west of Echo. It was from Edward that some of his sons got started in the sheep business. Margaret said that Alma got started in the sheep business early in his married life when his father gave him pet lambs to feed on a bottle and then keep for himself. Alma told of a time when he was rounding up cattle on their range east of Echo as a young man and his horse got his front foot caught in the reins when he got off to have lunch. The horse jerked its head and started pulling backwards and fell over a 100 foot ledge killing the horse and ripping the saddle to pieces.49 HOUSEWORK AND HOMEMAKING50 Sarah was small in stature, but she learned to do things she hadn't done in England. Her work included more than caring for small children and cooking. One of the great tasks each day was taking care of the milk and making butter from the cream. The butter was sold to the store in exchange for groceries for the house. A short distance from the house on the edge of a bank was a large milk cellar. It was made by excavating the soil from the edge of the bank to make a square room. The walls were squared and made smooth enough so they could be covered with "whitewash." This was made of white lime and water and applied with a large brush. A granary was built over the cellar making the ceiling for the cellar which was also white. In the milk cellar were long tables with rows of pans with milk. After the cream would rise on the milk, it was skimmed off and made into butter. A large churn which stood on four legs was in the cellar also. On the work table were large, round wooden butter bowls, paddles and molds for the butter. Each mold weighed one pound. The butter was often put in barrels of salt brine until wintertime, and then it was taken out and molded into one pound pieces which were round with a fancy design on top of the butter. It was then sold to stores or rural customers or sometimes shipped to Evanston, Wyoming, after being packed in crisp fresh watercress. 47 J. Alden Richins, Life Stories of Alma Ether Richins and Emeline Hattie Richins 48 J. Alden Richins, Life Stories of Alma Ether Richins and Emeline Hattie Richins 49 J. Alden Richins, Life Stories of Alma Ether Richins and Emeline Hattie Richins 50 Margaret C. Richins, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper, and Sarah Beard" Sarah made her own soap to do the loads of washing that always needed to be done. She had a big, black, round kettle that she used for soap. It had a handle that went over the top, and it held about four gallons. The soap was made from the grease or fat of the animals they killed for food. Then it was mixed with the right amount of water and several cans of lye and boiled until it was a white creamy consistency. The cooking of the soap was done out in the yard away from the house. A good hot fire was made in a round shallow hole in the ground which had three rocks in it, and the kettle of soap was cooked over it. Clothes washed with homemade soap were usually pretty and white. VARIOUS FAMILY EXPERIENCES51 The family had a nice vegetable garden that was not far from the house and quite often animals would help themselves to the vegetables. One morning Edward looked out to check the garden and was surprised to see a bear digging up carrots and eating them. Everyone was frightened, but no one more than Edward. He hurried and got his gun and as quickly as possible climbed upon the roof of the house forgetting about the rest of the family. The bear got away! In the summertime there were many rattlesnakes along the rocky foothills. One night a snake got into the house. Sarah heard a strange noise and woke Edward. He knew it was a snake, so they kept as quiet as possible until he killed it. The snake was very close to a bed that had been made on the floor. Each summer the children were reminded to watch carefully for snakes. Ellen was bitten by one when she was about nine years old. She was walking along the railroad track with her brother Heber. They had no shoes on their feet. Suddenly Ellen felt a sting on her heel. When she looked at her heel the blood was spurting out from a snake bite. They saw the snake nearby. A doctor was called, and he said to cut the bite open with a knife, pour ammonia into it, and give her whiskey until she is dizzy. She became very ill, and her leg was a dark color to her hip. She was sick for about two weeks after the bite, but the whiskey seemed to kill the snake poisoning. Ellen gave Alma credit for saving her life on another occasion. As children they were playing near the banks of the Weber River when the water was raging over its banks. Ellen fell in and was washed downstream. Alma ran for help while she clung to a tree, and found a young man Phillip Paskett, who was working for Edward. He ran and rescued Ellen from the river. When they were older Alma and Ellen where walking along the tracks toward Henefer when they came to a railroad water tank at the mouth of tank canyon. It was elevated high above the ground with a ladder leading to the top. Alma was curious to know how it worked, so he climbed the ladder and pulled a chain which let a big pipe down. The water came gushing out all over. They ran off into the trees and hid so no one would see them, and then they returned home.52 It was during their lifetime on the farm that some men were living in plural marriage (having more than one wife). At that time it was being practiced unlawfully. Some of the men who were trying to escape the officers brought their 'other wives' and asked Edward and Sarah if they could care for them a few days. They consented to let them come, and sometimes they had to stay in the milk cellar until the officers had gone so they wouldn't be seen. Ellen was old enough at that time to be doing most of the housework and cooking. She wasn't happy about them coming there and creating extra work for her. 51 Margaret C. Richins, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper, and Sarah Beard" 52 J. Alden Richins, Life Stories of Alma Ether Richins and Emeline Hattie Richins For some time after the twins were born Sarah's health wasn't very good, and there was always sewing and mending and patches to put on their britches. She needed help and occasionally asked Laura Bull to come and stay a few days to catch up on the sewing for the family, and maybe make a nice dress for her. She always kept herself clean and liked nice clothes. Edward's cousin, Eva Richins remembers that Sarah always was neat and clean and reminded her of those cute dolls they put on their beds. She says Sarah liked nice clothes- especially if she and Edward were going to a dance. She loved to dance, and Edward enjoyed it too. Very often they would get the horses and wagon or the sleigh in the winter and take some of their friends to a dance at Croydon or Echo where they had a real nice time. They always had something good to eat and would sing their way home as Sarah loved to sing. She enjoyed a clean yard with a beautiful flower garden near the house. At one end of the vegetable garden there were currant and gooseberry bushes; and when the fruit was ripe, Sarah would sit for hours under a large parasol picking fruit. Then she walked to Echo to sell it. Sometimes she went with Edward to Coalville, and they sold part of the fruit and exchanged the rest for groceries. They often made trips to Coalville in their wagon pulled by a team of horses. Eva Richins, a neighbor and cousin, told of going to this family's home when a young girl and Sarah would be doing the baby's and family's wash on a wash board. Eva felt sorry for Sarah because she had to work so hard. She also said she went to the garden and watched her pick currants or gooseberries for the family to use or to sell. Sarah saved every penny she could for clothes and other items for the family as there wasn't much cash around from the farm. As the years passed by improvements were made. The wagon was replaced with a nice buggy to ride in, and when the boys were old enough they had nice horses to ride to see their girl friends. They also made improvements in their home. CHURCH AND EDUCATION Schooling was limited for Edward and Sarah's children. The town of Echo was a railroad center and most people living there in the 1860s and 1870s were Protestants. They built a church but did not allow Mormons to use it for church or school. Jane Asper, who was well educated, was concerned about underprivileged children in Echo. She started a small school in one of the rooms of her home known as the Asper House. Among her first students were Alma, Ellen, Heber and Moroni. Ellen said she had only three months of schooling.53 When the children were young there was no LDS Church in Echo. The family went to Henefer to attend church, and usually walked along the tracks because that was a little shorter and easier walking than along the wagon road. They not only went to Henefer for church meetings, but also went there for social activities, and to visit family and friends. Edward and Sarah were both active in the Church. After a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established in Echo she was called to be a counselor in the Echo Ward Relief Society. She enjoyed this calling very much and attended her meetings as often as possible. She always carried her little black hymn book with her to church meetings. It had her name, Sarah Richins, printed in gold on the front cover. It is still in the possession of the Margaret Richins family. On September 17, 1877 Sarah received her patriarchal blessing.54 53 Irma R. McInnis and Myrla R. Sanders, "Life Stories of Heber, Charles Richins and Mary Ruth Ralph Richins From the day of his baptism, Edward was actively engaged in church work. He held many positions of responsibility and served the Lord with diligence. Edward was ordained an Elder in 1867 by Charles Richins, his brother. He was ordained a Seventy in 1886 by Josiah Rhead. On April 8, 1889, two days prior to leaving on his mission he received his patriarchal blessing.55 After his return home from his mission, he was made the Presiding Elder of the Echo Branch. Later he was set apart as Bishop of the Echo Ward in 1894 by George Q, Cannon and served for about four years. After moving to Coalville Edward served on the Stake High Council when Moses W. Taylor was Stake President. Their son, Moroni, was called to go on a mission to the Southern States in 1903. Several members of the family studied music. Ellen learned to play the accordion. At the age of eighteen she met a fine young Scotch lad by the name of Alexander Calderwood who had come from Coalville with a thrashing machine to thresh out the grain that had grown on the farm. After two or three days work there Alex and Ellen were quite well acquainted and soon their friendship had blossomed into love. They were married the following year on March 17, 1887, at the Logan Temple. A wedding reception was held at the Richins' home in their honor. EDWARD SERVES A MISSION TO ENGLAND56 In the spring of 1889 Edward received a call to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to his native land, England. Sarah was ready and willing to do everything possible so her husband could go and do the Lord's work. He began making arrangements with Sarah to supervise, and for the older boys to do the farm work and keep things going while he was away. This was a responsibility for the mother to keep things operating successfully, and of course, her first responsibility was to her family of seven children at home. The older boys left at home to do the farm work were: Heber (20), Moroni (18), Nephi (12) and Ebenezer (11). Only one girl, Lovenia (14), was home to help with the house work and to help with the smaller children: Jared (5) and George (3). Edward, wanted to see his first grandchild born before leaving on his mission, but he ended up leaving on April 10, 1889, two days before Margaret, daughter of Alex and Ellen Calderwood was born. The Calderwoods were living at the Edward Richins home when Margaret was born, but soon after moved to Edward's farm house in Henefer. The oldest son, Alma, married Hattie Richins five weeks after Edward left for England and moved to the 'big house' in Henefer to live. 54 See Appendix D for a copy of Sarah's Patriarchal Blessing. 55 See Appendix E for a copy of Edward's Patriarchal Blessing. 56 Margaret C. Richins, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper, and Sarah Beard" Edward arrived in Liverpool, England, about a month after leaving home. He wrote letters to the family at home quite often. The following is a letter from Edward Richins to his daughter, Ellen, and her husband, Alex: LOWESTOFT SUFFOLK NOV. 4, 1889 Dear Son and Daughter: I now take the present opportunity of answering your kind and welcome letter of Oct. 13, and was very glad to hear from you, and hear you was all well. And as for myself I am feeling pretty well at present. Thank God for it. I am glad to hear that the boys have got the potatoes all up and I hope that they got them up before the frosty weather set in so that they have not any of them spoiled. I see by your letter that you have had some snow already on the mountains. And I should not be surprised if you should get a very hard winter this time. Well I hope that you will not be troubled for the want of water next year like you have been this. I see by your letter that you did think to send me the name of your baby this time. I am very glad to hear that she is doing so well that she is and I hope that she will continue to do well and live and grow to see the stock does not break in and destroy any of the feed. And if the boys should haul any of it up to the house see that it is all cleaned up and not anything is wasted whatever you do, for I can tell you that it is a great deal different to what it was when I was here before, for the Elders have to keep themselves or starve and it costs us from 8 to 10 schillings per week for house rent, coal and lights and grub. And that does not say anything about clothing. Now you may think that is a good deal, and so it is, but nevertheless it is so and we cannot help ourselves. I think that I told you before that the Saints was very poor, that is the most of them, that they have not got enough for themselves. They would help the Elders more than they do if they had it to do with, but they have not got it to do with. And so they cannot help them very little and that is the reason I want you to see that everything is well taken care of. You will see by this what it is costing me to live. I see by Sarah's letter that they have not sold all the beeves yet and also you say you have been to Park City to try and sell them but could not find a market for them. Now I hope that they will be able to sell them before long. I see by your letter that beef is not fetching much but I hope that they will be able to sell them without much trouble and not to feed them this winter. I see by your letter that Alex Salmon is not much better which I am sorry to hear. I do hope that he will get over it all safe again by the blessings of God. Please give my kind love to him and to Grandfather Salmon and to your mother, Willie, Mary, Robert and all your family and to Joseph Richins and wife and to William and wife. Please remember me to all my folks and do not forget to write again before long, from your loving father . Edward Richins C/o Charles Colby No. 28 Factory Street Lowestoft, Suffolk, England (The original, letter is in the possession, of the Margaret C, Richins Family)57 Sarah found it difficult to answer his letters, for as a child in England she was under-privileged in education and had very little schooling. However, through her faith and prayers she was able to correspond with him. The following is from a diary she kept and tells of her perseverance in learning to write to her husband: My Husband, Edward Richins went on a mission to England Apr. the 10-1889 and when he left I could not write a word I felt bad to think I could not do my own writing so in the beginning of September I prayed to the Lord to teach me how to write. I got the spelling book and I looked at each letter until I could make a word, and the first letter I wrote was half sheet of paper and it took me most of three days to write it, and there was nine of a family at home and I had a great deal of work to do and I had all the business to attend to for there was only Venia and I to see to the skimming of milk from ten cows and to do the sewing and knitting and I wrote 12 letters from the last of September till the first of Jan. I sent a letter to my husband today Jan. the 4. I sent a letter to my husband today Jan. the 13 with 10 pages. I have sent my husband two Deseret Newspapers since the first of Dec. every week. Jan. the 20 I wrote a letter to my husband and sent it off and it was 8 pages and also two newspapers. Jan. the 22 I wrote a letter to my sister Mary Ann today. Jan the 26 I finished writing a letter to my husband today and it was 8 pages and I shall send it tomorrow and I shall also send two newspapers. Feb the 7 I sent a letter to my husband today and also two papers. Feb the 10 I sent a letter today with 4 pages and two papers. Feb. the 17 I sent a letter to my husband and also two papers. Feb. the 24 I wrote a letter to my husband today and sent him two newspapers. I received a letter from my husband today Feb. the 27 and he feels good in the work of the gospel and he feels determined to do his part in preaching the gospel if the people will only listen to him, but they say they don't want any religion for they say they only need to believe in Jesus and they are saved. We had a steer die today Mar. the 14. We have had ten head of stock die this winter. The winter has been a very hard one and there is so many dying off. I sent a letter to my husband March the 13 with 14 pages and I received two from my husband on Monday the 10 and he has been very sick but he is feeling a little better. March the 17 I sent a letter to my husband today. Mar. the 26 I sent a letter to my husband today and I had the Bishop and his wife up yesterday to see me and I enjoyed their visit very much and also Uncle Stephen Beards the same day. We had a two year old setter killed on the track last night. I went down to brother George Thackeray's farm today and I also went and saw sister Blackwell and she is very sick with dropsy and heart disease and I am afraid she won't live long. March the 30 we had two more cows die today and this makes 15 this winter and this is a big trial for me with my husband being away on a mission but the scripture says that the Lord will have a tried people so I think it is all in the program for I feel to say like Job the Lord giveth and the Lord take away and blessed be the name of the Lord for his mercy endureth forever. March the 31 Mrs, Blackwell died today. (The original copy is in the possession of May R. Pace Family)58 After Edward had been in England for about a month he met some of his relatives and visited with them. They were happy to see each other. When he had been there nine months he caught cold, but soon got over it. Later he developed stomach trouble and after that his health was poor for the remainder of his mission. The family was greatly blessed while he was away, but they were happy when he returned. 57 See Appendix F for original written copy of Edward's letter MARRIAGE OF CHILDREN59 As mentioned previously Ellen married Alexander Calderwood in 1887 before Edward left on his mission. Alma married Emeline Hattie Richins on May 16, 1889, five weeks after Edward left. Then in the years 1898 and 1899 Sarah had an epidemic of marriages to prepare for. Moroni married Laura Bull April 13, 1898; Lovenia was married to Alexander Steele September 3, 1898; and Nephi married Sarah Ann Danks August 17, 1899. Heber was thirty years old before he found the right girl to marry and it was Mary Ruth Ralph, commonly known as Minnie. Their marriage took place December 22,1899 in less than two years. Minnie had several younger sisters. After about two years Ebenezer fell in love with Lilly, and they were married June 17, 1903. When Jared was old enough to think of getting married, he decided there wasn't any girl that he liked as well as Ethel, so they were married June 15, 1905. Later on George, the youngest Richins boy, courted a few girls and then met Myrtle, the youngest of the Ralph girls. He soon decided that she was the nicest girl of any, so they were married on April 3, 1907. With the marriage of George and Myrtle, four of the Richins boys had married four of the Ralph girls, and they all lived happily ever after. Florence, the baby of the family, was married to Walter Wilson on November 25, 1908. EDWARD AND SARAH MOVE TO COALVILLE60 About the 1901 when Edward was sixty-seven he and Sarah decided to retire from farm work. They sold their farm in Echo to their son, Nephi, bought a home in Coalville and moved there with their two youngest children, George and Florence. Edward owned a horse and buggy with just one seat in it. He called his horse 'soldier' or 'old soldier.' He was very proud of his horse. They really enjoyed their buggy rides to visit relatives and friends. There was a barnyard by their home in Coalville that he used to take care of his horse. The horse and buggy was also used by Edward to travel to the wards in the stake where he was assigned to speak as a member of the Summit Stake High Council. Their home had nice furniture, rugs, etc., and Sarah was very fond of nice flowers. She always had many beautiful house plants in her home. She also had a variety of beautiful dishes, and for a short time she kept a surplus of nice dishes such as vases, plates, and figurines or wall ornaments, to sell. She also sold artificial flowers, and orange blossoms were something special then for corsages. George and Florence continued on with their music. Very often they would join their other brothers to make an orchestra and play for dances. 58 See Appendix G for original written copy of Sarah's diary entry 59 See Appendix H for Family Group Picture Sheet 60 Margaret C. Richins, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper, and Sarah Beard" EDWARD AND SARAH MOVE TO SALT LAKE After living in Coalville several years, Edward and Sarah had a desire to move to the city to spend their declining years. Their daughter, Lovenia "Vinnie" Steele, and family were living in Salt. Lake City. They bought a home in the neighborhood of their daughter. It was located at 1002 South 800 East. (The home was purchased and lived in by their oldest son, Alma, and his family after Sarah and Edward died.) The house was red brick and the lot had a nice fence around it. Sarah was very happy with their new home, especially the rose garden. The furniture and other household articles were also very nice. The place was large enough that they could keep their horse and buggy as Edward was so attached to his horse "soldier." May Richins Pace, daughter of Jared, told about riding around Salt Lake City in Edward's buggy pulled by 'old soldier' when she was a young girl. Edward and Sarah enjoyed the later years of their life and had good health until about 1912 when Sarah's health began to fail. She continued to get worse in spite of everything that was done for her. Her daughter, Ellen, spent much of her time with her mother until she passed away on March 9, 1913 at her home of lower bowel problems. Her funeral service was held at Henefer, and her burial was in the Henefer City Cemetery. The year following Sarah's death, Edward married her sister, Elizabeth Beard Stones. It was about a year later on November 15, 1915, that Edward died of heart failure at the age of 80.61 A brief funeral service was held at his home in Salt Lake and then his body was taken to Henefer where a complete service was conducted in the Henefer Ward Chapel. Edward was buried in the Henefer City Cemetery next to his wife Sarah. A large, beautiful white headstone marks the graves of Edward and Sarah and even though Caroline Ellen is not buried there her name is listed as one of Edward's wives. We do not know if Edward erected the headstone after Sarah died or if his children erected it after he died. THE LEGACY OF EDWARD, CAROLINE, AND SARAH Edward received write-ups in two Church publications. One of those was the LDS Biographical Encyclopedia which is a compilation of biographical sketches of prominent men and women in the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints. The sketch given in that publication states: "RICHINS, Edward, presiding Elder of the Echo Ward, Summit Stake, Utah, from 1894 to 1900, was born April 25, 1835, in Sheepscomb, Gloucestershire, England, a son of Richard Richins and Priscilla Wager. He joined the Church in 1852, came to Utah in 1855, filled a mission to Great Britain in 1889-1890, and became, presiding Elder of the Echo Branch in 1894. He died Nov. 15,1915."62 61 See Appendix for obituaries of Edward and Priscilla Wager. THE SECOND WRITE-UP ON EDWARD WAS IN PIONEERS AND PROMINENT MEN OF UTAH. IT IS AS FOLLOWS: "RICHINS, EDWARD (son of Richard Richins and Priscilla Wager of Gloucestershire, Eng.) Born April 16, 1835, Sheepscombe, Eng. Came to Utah Nov. 7, 1855, William H. Hooper Company. Married Caroline Ellen Tipper Dec. 25, 1862, Henefer, Utah (daughter of Harriet Tipper of Nettleton, Gloucestershire, Eng.). She was born Feb. 20, 1846. Their children: Albert Edward, b.1863, died; Alma Ether b. Dec 3, 1867, m. Hattie Richins. "Married____, she was born April 30, 1849. Their children: Sarah Ellen b. Oct 6, 1869, m. Alexander Calderwood; Heber Charles b. Dec 25, 1871, m. Ruth Ralph; Moroni b. April 2, 1873, m. Laura Bull; Carolina Lavenia b. Nov. 12, 1874, m. Alexander Steele; Nephi b. Sept. 25, 1896, m. Sarahann Banks; Ebenezer b. Apr. 9, 1878,m. Lilly Ralph; Joseph Elijah b. Feb 28, 1880, m. Eva Richins; Willard Richard and Wilford Thomas (twins) b. Nov. 25, 1882, both died the same day; Jared b. Apr 6, 1894, m. Ethel Ralph; George Edward b. April 4, 1886, m. Myrtle Ralph; Florence Precilla b. July 16, 1891, m. Walter B. Wilson; Families reside Echo. "High Priest: missionary to England 1889-90; bishop of Echo Ward four years. Veteran of Echo Canyon Campaign, selectman at Coalville, Utah. Farmer and stock raiser."63 Even though there are some mistakes in the write-ups they are evidence that Edward was very successful as one of the early settlers of Summit County. The earliest tax assessment available for Summit County is 1878. It reveals that Edward and his brother Charles had two of the highest tax assessments in the county. At that time Charles had 140 acres of ground, 100 cattle, 6 horses, 5 swine and 2 vehicles. Edward's assessment was for 120 acres of ground, 37 cattle, 6 horses and 2 vehicles.64 Edward was a Church and community leader. He was a veteran of the Echo Canyon Campaign (Utah War of 1867) and a member of the Garret Militia in the Indian Wars. (This information was obtained from unpublished biographical sketches. We do not know where or when he was involved with the Garret Militia.) Most important of all Edward and his wives left a large posterity of honest, good living children to honor and praise their names. On July 1, 1971, the posterity of Edward Richins numbered 681. We do not have a count for 2008 when this history is written. MEMORIES OF EDWARD AND SARAH BY GRAND-CHILDREN ETNA STEELE STEWART - GRAND-DAUGHTER My Grandmother and Grandfather Richins moved to Salt Lake about 1909 or 1910. They lived at 1002 S. 8th East. They had a six room house. On the main floor was a parlor, a dining room, a kitchen and pantry, a bedroom and a bath. Upstairs were two bedrooms. Grandma had beautiful furniture and took a great deal of pride in her home. The parlor had a fireplace, a velvet rug, (white with gold designs), a three piece set consisting of two chairs and a settee. These were upholstered in white and gold brocade; some small tables and a rug made from a bear hide which Uncle George had killed when he was sixteen years old. This rug was in front of the fireplace. There were beautiful pictures and ornaments, and to me it was a very beautiful room. No one ever entered this room except on special occasions. I was allowed to go in and dust it about once every two weeks. 62 LDS Biographical Encyclopedia Vol. IV, p. 633 63 Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, p. 1132 64 "Summit County Tax Assessments - 1878" There was a large dining room with a large bay window which Grandma had built in to accommodate her flowers and plants. It had three or four shelves like steps, so she could put a great many flower pots in this area. It was furnished with a table, dining chairs, a large china cupboard, a red plush couch that could be made into a bed, and an Edison phonograph with a lot of records. It had a horn. Grandpa loved this phonograph and he would sit by the hour and listen to the records as this was a wonderful invention at this time. The bedroom was furnished with a beautiful birds-eye maple bedroom set. The kitchen was large, and had a table and chairs and old fashioned cook stove, called a range, with a hot water reservoir on the end. In front of the range were two rocking chairs, a little one for Grandma and a bigger one for Grandpa. This is where they would sit and spend their evenings, many times Grandpa reading to Grandma. Grandma had a very beautiful yard. It was completely fenced with a low cement retaining wall across the front, and on lop of this was a black iron fence. It is still there as it was when Grandma was alive. Grandma took a great deal of pride in her yard and her beautiful flowers. She did most of the gardening herself, as she said that Grandpa didn't do it right. She always had such beautiful flowers, and one year she won second place in a city-wide contest for the most beautiful garden. During the summer when Grandma was busy in the garden, I would help her take care of her house. She would let me dust her beautiful things, as she knew I would be real careful, and she told me many interesting stories about her china pieces and how the plants grew, and how to fertilize them, and care for them. The only thing that I can remember that she brought from England was a tin Tea Caddy, which she said was over 100 years old. I remember my Grandmother was a very stern, religious person. She always wore black or navy blue dresses for her best clothes, and calico dresses to work in. They were made with a high neck, long sleeves, and skirts to her ankles. She would have thought it immodest to dress any other way. She was very devout in her religion, and I am sure she would have felt that she had sinned if she had drunk tea or coffee or enjoyed herself on the Sabbath Day. Of course, in those days everyone lived differently than we do now. She never forgot for a minute of her life that her church must be obeyed in all things. When she came across the plains, she was 17 years old, so she walked most of the way. These people had sacrificed so much for their church that it became their whole life. I missed her very much when she died. I was about 11 years old, but the close association with her was very dear to me. Although she was very stern, she loved children very much, even though she felt that they should be seen and not heard, which the custom was in those days. SARAH MARGARET C. RICHINS - GRAND=DAUGHTER A visit to my Grandmother Sarah's house was something special for me in my childhood days. She was always good to me from the day of my birth. You see, I was born in her home and received loving care from her as well as being given her name. Later when I was four or five years old and went with my mother to visit Grandmother's home, two of my uncles, who were about sixteen or eighteen years old, seemed to enjoy teasing me and tell me that they would give me a dime if I would give them a kiss. Then, of course, they would "pucker up" or make an ugly face; and they didn't always get the kiss and I didn't get the dime, as much as I would have liked it. But I was always ready to go back to Grandmother's. I loved to be with her and have some of her freshly-baked bread and homemade cheese or a piece of her gooseberry pie. Grandmother had an English tea canister with two compartments. One was for black tea, and the other was for green tea. It had been in the Beard Family since 1776, and Grandma brought it to Utah in 1866. After I was born, she gave it to my mother and said it was to be mine. I am proud to count it among my most treasured possessions. To me she was a wonderful grandmother. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS HISTORY WAS WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY J. ALDEN RICHINS, GREAT-GRANDSON OF EDWARD AND CAROLINE ELLEN. APPRECIATION IS EXPRESSED TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH THIS PUBLICATION. A SPECIAL THANKS IS GIVEN TO MARGARET C. RICHINS, GRAND-DAUGHTER OF EDWARD AND SARAH, WHO FIRST WROTE THE "LIFE STORIES OF EDWARD RICHINS, CAROLINE ELLEN TIPPER AND SARAH BEARD." IT WAS PRINTED BY THE RICHINS SURNAME ORGANIZATION IN JULY, 1971. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HAS BECOME AVAILABLE DURING THE PAST 37 YEARS WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THIS 2008 EDITION OF THEIR HISTORY. SOURCES USED FOR THIS HISTORY Unpublished Family Histories- (These are in possession of the Richins Surname Organization- 185 South 800 East, Centerville, Utah, 801-296- 1794) "Autobiography of George Beard" Hazel Richins, "Life Story Richard Richins and Charlotte Priscilla Wager," 1999 Irma R, McInnis and Myrla R. Sanders, "Life Stories of Heber Charles Richins and Mary Ruth Ralph," 1981 Margaret C. Calderwood, "Life Stories of Edward Richins, Caroline Ellen Tipper and Sarah Beard," 1971 J. Alden Richins, "Life Story of Charles Richins, Louisa Shill, Esther Stowe Ovard, and Agnes Mary Willmott," 2007 "Journal of Thomas Beard" Robert A. Jones, "Life Story of Robert A. Jones" 1920 PUBLISHED BOOKS Conway B. Sonne, Ships, Saints, and Mariners, A Maritime Encyclopedia of Mormon Migration-1830-1890, University of Utah Press, SLC, Utah, 1987 Deseret News 1977 Church Almanac, Deseret News Publishing, SLC, Utah David Hampshire, Martha Sontag Bradley, Allen Roberts, A History of Summit County, Utah Historical Society, 1998 Fannie J. Richins and Maxine R. Wright, Henefer Our Valley Home, Utah Printing Company, SLC, Utah 1958 Gustive O. Larsen, Prelude to the Kingdom, Marshall Jones Company, Francestown, New Hampshire, 1947 J. Alden Richins, Life Stories of Alma Ether Richins and Emeline Hattie Richins,1993 Mormon Immigration 1840-1869, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1994 Truman G. Madsen, Defender of the Faith-The B. H. Roberts Story, Bookcraft, SLC, 1980 CHURCH SOURCES Family Search — Mormon Immigration Index, LDS Church Web site and/or CD. Rom Edward Richins, Individual Charles Buck, Personal Accounts Caroline E. Jones, Individual John J. Boyd, Personal Accounts Robert Jones, Individual John Bright, Personal Accounts Sarah Beard, Individual Arkwright, Personal Accounts Ellen Beard, Individual Emerald Isle, Personal Accounts "Emigration Record of British Mission," Church History Library "Emigration Records 1854-1855," Church Historical Library Ronald V. Jackson and David L. Grundvig, "Directory of Individuals Residing in the Salt Lake Wards-1854-1861," Salt Lake Family History Library "Summit County Tax Assessment-1878," Salt Lake Family History Library "William H, Bromley Journals," Crossing the Plains Narratives, Church History Library |
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| PARENTS: Richard Richins 1800-1848 Charlotte Priscilla Wager 1799-1842 M: 28 October 1817 Painswick, Gloucestershire, England |
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