Ensign article on the Richards family They Served: The Richards Legacy in the Church
Willard Richards 1804-1854
Willard Richards 1804-1854
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster; born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813. Moved to Chatham, Columbia Co., New York, by Nov. 1820; returned to Richmond, by Nov. 1821. Moved to Nassau, Rensselaer Co., New York, by 6 Apr. 1823. Traveled through New England, giving lectures on scientific subjects for several years, beginning 1827. Practiced medicine at Thomsonian infirmary, beginning 1834, in Boston. Moved to Holliston, Middlesex Co., 1835. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, by Dec. 1836. Baptized into LDS church by Brigham Young, 31 Dec. 1836, in Kirtland. Appointed to serve mission to eastern U.S., 13 Mar. 1837. Served mission to England, 1837–1841. Married Jennetta Richards, 24 Sept. 1838, in Walker Ford, Chaigley, Lancashire, England. Ordained member of Quorum of the Twelve, 14 Apr. 1840, at Preston, Lancashire. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois. Moved to Warsaw, Hancock Co., 31 Aug. 1841; returned to Nauvoo, 1841. Before death of JS, completed personal history of JS up to Aug. 1838. Member of Nauvoo City Council, 1841–1843. Appointed recorder for Nauvoo temple and JS's scribe, 13 Dec. 1841. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Appointed JS's private secretary, Dec. 1842; church historian, ca. Dec. 1842; church recorder, 30 July 1843; Nauvoo city recorder, Aug. 1843; and clerk of municipal court. Participated in plural marriage during JS’s lifetime. With JS in jail in Carthage, Hancock Co., when JS and Hyrum Smith were murdered. Moved to Winter Quarters, unorganized U.S. territory (now in Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), 1846. Migrated to Salt Lake Valley and returned to Winter Quarters, 1847. Appointed second counselor to Brigham Young in church presidency, 27 Dec. 1847, at Council Point (later Council Bluffs), Pottawattamie Co., Iowa. Returned to Salt Lake Valley and appointed secretary and president of legislative council for provisional state of Deseret. Secretary of Utah Territory, postmaster of Salt Lake City, and editor of Deseret News. Died at Salt Lake City 11 Mar 1854.
Buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
Willard's Pioneer Experience:
Willard traveled in Brigham Young’s vanguard company in 1847. He headed up a company in 1848 that included many of his family members. 526 individuals were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Winter Quarters, Nebraska. This company was divided into two sections, Willard Richards section and Amasa Lyman Section. The Lyman section left the outfitting post on 1 July and the Richards section left on 3 July. They arrived in the Valley 10-19 Oct
Willard's Temple Work
Baptized 31 Dec 1836
Endowments (4 May 1842)
(also 10 Jan 1846) In Nauvoo Temple
Sealed to Spouse (27 Jan 1846)
In Nauvoo Temple
Sealed to Parents (6 May 1932)
in Salt Lake Temple
Willard's Nauvoo Land and Records file Click Here
Mary’s father was a tailor from whom Mary learned to make men’s clothes, to make men’s warm winter gloves, and to “fox” men’s trousers, which means to reinforce with leather in places where the article gets the most wear. Later in life she taught these things to the Richards girls.
He traveled in the Willard Richards Company of 1848 leaving 3 Jul and arriving 10-19 Oct. 526 individuals were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Winter Quarters, Nebraska. This company was divided into two sections, Willard Richards section and Amasa Lyman Section. The Lyman section left the outfitting post on 1 July and the Richards section left on 3 July.
Mary Thompson 1827-1905
Mary Thompson was the eldest child and only daughter to John Thompson and his wife Pheobe Robson. She was born October 21, 1827, in Alston, Cumberland, England, near the borders of Scotland, a beautiful country with blue lakes, rivers and waterfalls with high rugged mountains and narrow fertile valleys. Mary’s ancestors had always lived in this very same neighborhood as long as any of them could remember.
“When Dr. Willard Richards, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde and others went to England to open the British mission for the LDS church in 1837, the people were as ripe for this religion as plums about to fall from the tree.” There was dissatisfaction among the members of the Church of England to which the Thompsons belonged. The missionaries fared well in Cumberland county. Among those who joined the church were John and Phoebe Thompson and their two children, Mary and Robert - - the whole family.
Dr. Willard Richards had been ordained an apostle while in England in 1840. Soon after this he was released and it is probable that the Thompsons and Pearts came to America with him.
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| Steamship Cicero |
Mary and her parents and brother traveled on the ship, Rochester, leaving Liverpool 21 Apr 1841 and arriving in New York 20 May 1841. You can read more about her voyage HERE. They took the steamship, Cicero, via Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, to Nauvoo, arriving 1 Jul. In those days of the sailing vessels people making a sea trip were supposed to furnish their own food, cooking utensils, fresh drinking water, etc. At the best the trip from England to America took several weeks. The longer they were out, the poorer the food became, sanitation was bad and the drinking water stank.
By the time the Thompsons reached Nauvoo they were pretty well exhausted and their vitality was greatly depleted. Mary’s father, John Thompson, never very robust, died in 1841.
Mary married Dr. Willard Richards as a plural wife June 27, 1846 at Nauvoo, Illinois. In Salt Lake City Mary and another wife of Willard’s, Susan Bayliss, lived together in a little home near what is now known as Richards Street. Here Mary’s first child, Pheobe Amelia, was born June 9, 1851. Another daughter, Janetta, was born October 22, 1852. This child died young. Mary’s husband, Dr. Willard, passed away March 11, 1854 at Salt Lake City. He was at the time counselor to President Brigham Young. He was the man who was in the jail with the Prophet Joseph Smith at the time of the Prophet’s martyrdom - - the only man unhurt.
On March 6, 1857, Mary T. was married, for time only, to Franklin D. Richards, the son of Willard’s elder brother Phinehas. This marriage was according to the counsel of Brigham Young, for the purpose of “raising a family for Willard.” There were four children by this union: Myron John, born May 22, 1858 at Provo, Utah at the time of the “move”; Wealthy, born March 22, 1861, at Farmington; Mary Alice (Mamie), born July 5, 1863; and Wilford Woodruff, born May 8, 1886, both at Farmington.
Four of the wives of Dr. Willard had married Franklin D. and had moved to Farmington. They lived in four little cottages in a row on a block that faced the west, one block east of the main street. Each of these wives had a modest little cottage, a small acreage of land large enough to have an orchard, a garden and a place to keep a cow or a pig or chickens. Where the “Lagoon” now stands each had five acres of timothy hay, a share in the flour mill and a few hundred dollars worth of stock in the Z. C. M. I. in Salt Lake City. According to Willard B. Richards, it was Franklin D. who finished building the mill and who made the arrangements for leasing it and having the proceeds divided among the wives in Farmington.
Mary T. helped bolster her finances by doing tailoring for the public at which work she was an expert. While she went out to sew her daughter, Phoebe, took care of the younger children. She also chopped wood which she herself often brought down from the mountains. She milked the cow, fed the pig, and cleaned out their stalls. She carried flour down from the mill on her back.
In September 1885 Mary moved to Logan to make her permanent residence so as to be able to do temple work for her dead relatives. On November 5, 1885 she was made a temple officiator, which place she filled until July 21, 1905 due to sickness which preceded her death on September 10, 1905 at her son Myron’s home in Riverside, Utah.
The temple records of those years are not complete. The woman who had charge of the work was called “leading lady.” Part of the time she filled that place. Her name heads the roll of women officiators on January 1, 1893 and continues to head the list; but that is not proof that she was head all that time. But we do know she was leading lady a number of years. She was greatly beloved in that position.
Mary's death certificate. She died of heart failure.
Mary's Temple Work
Baptized 1837
Endowments (21 Jan 1846)
in Nauvoo Temple
Sealed to Spouse (6 Mar 1857)
In Salt Lake Endowment House
Sealed to Parents (1 May 1885)
in Logan Temple
Mary's Nauvoo Land and Records file Click Here
Franklin Dewey Richards 1821-1899
My grandfather was born in Richmond, Massachusetts on April 2, 1821. We haven’t much knowledge of his early childhood, except that he worked on the farm or helped his father at his trade of carpenter when he was not in school. He was the fourth child in a family of nine children. At the early age of ten years he decided to aid his parents by supporting himself, so he walked ten miles to a neighboring town to find work. The next five years of his life were spent in working in various places in Berkshire county. Part of this time, he worked for his two uncles, Willard and Levi, who were in the lumber business.
Educational opportunities were meager at that time, but he received a common school training and also attended the Lenox Academy during one term - - working mornings and evenings besides Saturday for his board. While young, he formed studious habits that remained with him through life. It was said that he read every book contained in the local Sunday School library. He, like Abraham Lincoln, read at night by the light of the open fireplace. He would commit whole chapters of scripture to memory.
His parents and grandparents were members of the Congregational Church and as a boy he often attended prayer meeting with them. It was his mother’s desire that Franklin become a preacher.
In the summer of 1836, Brigham Young and his brother arrived in Richmond, Massachusetts from Ohio to preach the new gospel to their relatives. Grandfather’s parents and two uncles - - Levi and Willard - - joined the church at once. But grandfather was rather cautious in receiving the new ideas of religion. It was not until two years later, after two years of careful study and investigation, that he was baptized by his father near their home.
Almost the entire life of F. D. R. was devoted to the church from this time, June 3, 1838, or from the time he was seventeen years of age, his life history is closely interwoven with the history of our own church.
His two uncles and a brother, had already joined the main body of the church in Missouri and so four months after he was baptized, he set out for Far West, Missouri to join his leaders. His cousin, a young lad his own age, joined with him. This journey of 1,300 miles on foot, was quite an undertaking for two boys of 17 years.
He reached Far West on December 8, 1838 to learn that his younger brother George, 15 years old, had been killed by the mob six weeks before the Haun’s Mill massacre. Grandfather walked most of the way to Quincy and worked at any job he could get, sometimes cutting timber, sometimes driving a team for someone. His parents had given him some money to help him on the trip west, so now he saved every penny he could to repay them, often depriving himself of necessities. Of this time he said, “My faith was tried and shaken, but I took to constant prayer and soon all doubt fled.”
In May 1839 he saw the Prophet Joseph for the first time, and the next year he was sent on a mission to Indiana. This marked the beginning of a long period of missionary service. For in the next twenty-five years he went upon nine missions - - two in Indiana, one to New York, one to Michigan, one in Ohio, and four to Europe. All of these nine missions were performed without purse or script and those in the states on foot. On at least two occasions his health failed him on account of overwork and exposure, and he was forced to return home until he was able to travel and preach again. Grandfather learned of his wife’s illness and death of the infant son while he was in New York before sailing for England. It was March 1847 before he received word of the death of his little daughter and the further ill health of his wife.
At this same time he learned of the death of a younger brother who was with the Mormon Battalion and also the death of his second wife, Elizabeth. The sorrow he felt at that time is poured out in his journal, sometimes in the form of prayer, speaking the anguish of his heart over and over again.
He traveled in the Willard Richards Company of 1848 leaving 3 Jul and arriving 10-19 Oct. 526 individuals were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Winter Quarters, Nebraska. This company was divided into two sections, Willard Richards section and Amasa Lyman Section. The Lyman section left the outfitting post on 1 July and the Richards section left on 3 July.
Early in June 1849 grandfather was made an Apostle and a member of the Twelve. In the fall of that year he was called to go to Europe to preside over that mission again.
He accepted the revelation on plurality of wives as taught by the Prophet Joseph and Brigham Young. He was already married to Jane Snyder and had lost a wife, Elizabeth. Between 1840 and 1857 he married five other women, one of them Jane’s sister.
About this time his uncle, Dr. Willard Richards, died. It seems to have been an ancient custom in Israel for the brother of a deceased man to marry his brother’s widow or widows, so President Young counseled grandfather to marry his uncle’s widows. The size of his own family made this seem a heavy responsibility, but as always, he obeyed counsel and married four of Uncle Willard’s wives. One of these women was my grandmother, Mary Thompson. These wives married with the understanding that they provide for themselves which they did with property left by Willard and their own efforts. My grandmother, Mary Thompson, had one daughter, Phebe, by Dr. Willard and two girls and two boys by Franklin D. My father was the youngest of her children.
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| ZCMI |
He was chairman of the committee that drafted a constitution and by-laws for Z. C. M. I. He was made probate judge of Weber County which position he held for many years. He entertained many high officials of the United States government and as the railroad came in, presidents and other officials of the railroad. This was a pleasure to him for he loved culture and the association with educators. He presided over the Ogden Stake but in 1877 the apostles were released from presiding over the stakes and grandfather was made Church Historian.
His home was a haven of peace and rest for him and his family was a constant joy. His home contained a lovely library with many volumes where he could read and study and do genealogical research work. He was a seeker after knowledge not only religious but in science, art, culture and loved good music. He never missed an opportunity to attend lectures, concerts or to read words of eminent writers.
When he returned from Salt Lake on the night of his 70th birthday, his spacious home and grounds were crowded with people. At this surprise party some very beautiful tributes were paid him. This one, I think, very fitting to him: “I have known Franklin D. Richards intimately for fifty years and during all that time, I have never heard him say an unkind word to anyone, friend or foe.”
Grandfather organized the Ogden Junction Publishing Company. He was president of the company and also editor of the paper for some time.
In the year 1885 grandfather and one of his sons made a trip he had been wanting to make for some time. That was to go back to Nauvoo and Kirtland and his old home in New England. This trip he enjoyed very much. He recorded the memories it recalled in his journal.
On November 15, 1894 he called a meeting in his office in Salt Lake City. At this meeting the Utah Genealogical Society was organized - - grandfather being the founder and first president.
He helped to build the Nauvoo, Logan, St. George, Manti, and Salt Lake temples and did work in all of them. He was a member of the building committee of the Logan temple and participated in the dedication of all of them.
He was made president of the Council of the Twelve when President Snow became president of the Church. All of these important duties drew heavily upon his strength as he was in his 77th year. In May of that year, 1899, he accompanied President Snow and some other authorities to St. George, holding meetings in each town. This trip told severely upon him as it was exceedingly warm there at that time of year, and he was forced to return home before the rest of the party. The last trip he made in the official duty of President of the Twelve was to attend conference in the Bear Lake Stake in August of that year.
That is the last time my father saw his father. His health continued to fail fast after that. He went to California thinking his health might improve there. When it did not, he returned to his home in Ogden where he passed away on the ninth of December 1899. He was buried in the family lot in Ogden cemetery. There stands a marble monument surrounded by an iron fence, enclosing a well kept lawn and beautiful flowers and shrubs.
Franklin's Temple Work
Baptized 3 Jun 1838
Endowments (13 Dec 1845)
in Nauvoo Temple
Sealed to Parents (17 Dec 1884)
in Logan Temple
Franklin's Nauvoo Land and Records file Click Here
Phineas Howe Richards 1788-1874
15 Nov. 1788–25 Nov. 1874. Cabinetmaker, joiner, carpenter, botanic physician; born at Framingham, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Served as sergeant major during War of 1812. Married Wealthy Dewey, 24 Feb. 1818. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1818. Appointed Berkshire Co. coroner, 1825. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, May 1837. Baptized into LDS church by Brigham Young, 13 June 1837, at Kirtland. Ordained a high priest by JS, Joseph Smith Sr., and Sidney Rigdon, 3 Sept. 1837. Began serving on Kirtland high council, 3 Sept. 1837. Began serving mission to eastern states, Nov. 1837. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, 1843. Appointed to Nauvoo City Council, 29 Apr. 1844. Appointed to Nauvoo high council, 23 Nov. 1844. Member of Nauvoo Legion. Arrived in Salt Lake Valley with Willard Richards company, 19 Oct. 1848. Member of Salt Lake high council and of Utah territorial legislature. Served colonizing mission to Sanpete Co., Utah Territory, where he served as a bishop’s counselor. Returned to Salt Lake City, where he died Nov. 25, 1874.
Wives:
Married Wealthy Dewey, 24 Feb 1818, Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts
Married Mary Vail Morse, 8 Feb 1846
Married Martha Allen, 26 Nov 1847, Winter Quarters, Iowa
Married Margaret Phillips, 29 Feb 1848, Winter Quarters, Iowa
Married Emily Northrop, 24 Mar 1852, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Married Ann Emerson, 14 Feb 1856, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Married Jane McBride, 22 Jun 1871, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Married Mary Vail Morse, 8 Feb 1846
Married Martha Allen, 26 Nov 1847, Winter Quarters, Iowa
Married Margaret Phillips, 29 Feb 1848, Winter Quarters, Iowa
Married Emily Northrop, 24 Mar 1852, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Married Ann Emerson, 14 Feb 1856, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Married Jane McBride, 22 Jun 1871, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Phineas' Temple Work
Baptized 13 Jun 1837
Endowments (15 Dec 1845)
In Nauvoo Temple
Sealed to Spouse (22 Jan 1846)
In Nauvoo Temple
Sealed to Parents (6 May 1932)
in Salt Lake Temple
Wealthy Dewey 1786-1853
Wealthy Dewey was born 6 Sep 1786 in Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts to Samuel and Milley McKee Dewey. She married Phineas Howe Richards 24 Feb 1818 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts. Together they had nine children, the first three dying as infants.
In 1835 Phineas’ cousin, Brigham Young, visited, bringing a new religion. Wealthy watched in horror as her husband, children, and in-laws one by one embraced the gospel. Her son, George, decided to be with the Saints and headed to Missouri. He was living in Haun’s Mill when a mob came trying to exterminate the Mormons. He was killed in the attack. Wealthy decided to investigate what it was that her son was willing to die for. She was eventually baptized 8 Jan 1843 by Brigham Young in Nauvoo.
She faced expulsion from Nauvoo just a few years later and crossed the dreary Iowa plains with family, grieving as children and daughters-in-law died along the way, including a three year old granddaughter named after her.
When the call was made for men to fight in the Mormon Battalion, her son, Joseph, was asked by his uncle, Willard, to go. He was too young to enlist so he joined as a drummer, even though he didn’t have adequate supplies. For several nights it rained as he slept on the ground without a tent. He became very sick and went with the sick detachment to Pueblo, Colorado. He died there and was buried on the banks of a river.
When they finally made it to Salt Lake, she might have thought that times would get better, but her sons were often traveling, usually on missions for the church. On a mission to Europe one of her sons became extremely ill and Wealthy wondered if the Lord were going to take all of her sons, having lost four already.
Wealthy and Phineas embraced the doctrine of plural marriage and Phineas married six other women.
After a long, full life full of many trials and hardships, Wealthy passed away on 18 Oct 1853 in Salt Lake City at the age of 67. She was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Children of Wealthy and Phineas:
Abraham Richards was born on 9 Dec 1818 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts. He died on 9 Dec 1818 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts.
Moses Richards was born on 7 Sep 1819 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts. He died on 7 Sep 1819 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts.
Betsey Richards was born on 13 Jun 1820 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts. She died on 13 Jun 1820 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts.
Franklin Dewey Richards was born on 2 Apr 1821 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts. He died on 9 Dec 1899 in Ogden, Weber, Utah. He was buried on 12 Dec 1899 in Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah.
George Spencer Richards was born on 8 Jan 1823 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts. He died on 30 Oct 1838 in Haun's Mill, Missouri.
Samuel Whitney Richards was born on 9 Aug 1824 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts. He died on 26 Nov 1909 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. He was buried on 28 Nov 1909 in Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
Maria Wealthy Richards was born on 17 Jun 1827 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts. She died on 13 Jan 1909 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. She was buried on 17 Jan 1909 in Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
Joseph William Richards was born on 25 May 1829 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts. He died on 19 Nov 1846 in Pueblo, CO
Henry Phineas Richards was born on 30 Nov 1831 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts. He died on 29 Oct 1912 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. He was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
Wealthy's Temple Work
Baptized 8 Jan 1843
Endowments (15 Dec 1845)
In Nauvoo Temple
Sealed to Spouse (22 Jan 1846)
In Nauvoo Temple
Sealed to Parents (28 Jun 1932)
in Salt Lake Temple
John Thompson 1804-1841
John THOMPSON was born 27 Nov 1804 in Alston, Cumberland, England, United Kingdom to Robert and Mary Law Thompson. Alston is near the borders of Scotland, a beautiful country with blue lakes, rivers and waterfalls with high rugged mountains and narrow fertile valleys. John’s ancestors had always lived in this very same neighborhood as long as any of them could remember.
John was a tailor and a farmer.
“When Dr. Willard Richards, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde and others went to England to open the British mission for the LDS church in 1837, the people were as ripe for this religion as plums about to fall from the tree.” There was dissatisfaction among the members of the Church of England to which the Thompsons belonged. The missionaries fared well in Cumberland county. Among those who joined the church were John and Phoebe Thompson and their two children, Mary and Robert - - the whole family.
John and Phoebe Robson Thompson, along with their two children, Mary and Robert, traveled on the ship, Rochester, leaving Liverpool 21 Apr 1841 and arriving in New York 20 May 1841. There were 130 members traveling on this ship, under the direction of Brigham Young, and including six other apostles. You can read more about their voyage HERE.
In those days of the sailing vessels people making a sea trip were supposed to furnish their own food, cooking utensils, fresh drinking water, etc. At the best the trip from England to America took several weeks. The longer they were out, the poorer the food became, sanitation was bad and the drinking water stank.
They took the steamship, Cicero, via Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, to Nauvoo, arriving 1 Jul.
By the time the Thompsons reached Nauvoo, they were pretty well exhausted and their vitality was greatly depleted. John Thompson, never very robust, died in Nauvoo in 1841.
John's Temple Work
Baptized 1837
Endowments (30 May 1879)
Sealed to Spouse (27 Jan 1846)
In Nauvoo Temple
Sealed to Parents (9 Sep 1954)
in Salt Lake Temple
Phoebe Robson 1804-1841
Phoebe Robson was born 30 Aug 1804 in Whitehall, Alston, Cumberland, England to John and Nancy Liddle Robson. Alston is near the borders of Scotland, a beautiful country with blue lakes, rivers and waterfalls with high rugged mountains and narrow fertile valleys.
Phoebe married John Thompson 27 Jan 1827 in Alston, Cumberland, England.
“When Dr. Willard Richards, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde and others went to England to open the British mission for the LDS church in 1837, the people were as ripe for this religion as plums about to fall from the tree.” There was dissatisfaction among the members of the Church of England to which the Thompsons belonged. The missionaries fared well in Cumberland county. Among those who joined the church were John and Phoebe Thompson and their two children, Mary and Robert - - the whole family.
John and Phoebe Robson Thompson, along with their two children, Mary and Robert, traveled on the ship, Rochester, leaving Liverpool 21 Apr 1841 and arriving in New York 20 May 1841. There were 130 members traveling on this ship, under the direction of Brigham Young, and including six other apostles. You can read more about their voyage HERE.
In those days of the sailing vessels people making a sea trip were supposed to furnish their own food, cooking utensils, fresh drinking water, etc. At the best the trip from England to America took several weeks. The longer they were out, the poorer the food became, sanitation was bad and the drinking water stank.
They took the steamship, Cicero, via Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, to Nauvoo, arriving 1 Jul.
By the time the Thompsons reached Nauvoo, they were pretty well exhausted and their vitality was greatly depleted. John Thompson, never very robust, died in Nauvoo in 1841.
On 6 May 1842 Phoebe married Jacob Peart in Nauvoo, a widower whose wife, Elizabeth, had also died the year before. In Nov 1843 Phoebe stood as proxy for Elizabeth as she was sealed to Jacob Peart officiated by Hyrum Smith, one of the first sealings of a man to a deceased wife.
Phoebe’s husband was asked to be part of the 1847 Brigham Young Company but was in Missouri trying to earn enough money to get provisions for the journey. He got back to Winter Quarters three days too late to join them, so he sold or gave away all his provisions and went back to Missouri to earn the money for the next year’s journey. They were able to travel the next year in Brigham Young’s Company and made it to Salt Lake without any major incidents.
The couple settled in Salt Lake and lived there until Phoebe died in 1868. Phoebe had a total of five children, only two of which survived her. She was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Children:
Mary THOMPSON b: 21 Oct 1827 in Hudgell, Alstonmoore, Cumberland, England, United Kingdom d:1905
Robert THOMPSON b: 14 Feb 1829 in Alstonmoore, Cumberland, England d: 1862
George Alma Peart b: 1843 in Nauvoo d: 1923
Elizabeth Peart b: 1846 in Nauvoo d: prob 1846/7 at Winter Quarters
Louisa Peart b: 1848 d: 1851 in Salt Lake
Phoebe's Temple Work
Baptized 1837
Endowments (21 Jan 1846)
In Nauvoo Temple
Sealed to Spouse (27 Jan 1846)
In Nauvoo Temple
Sealed to Parents (2 Dec 1902)
in Logan Temple
Phoebe's Nauvoo Land and Records file Click Here
For Richards and Randall histories, titled To the Family of Emily R. Richards, Click Here
For Richards and Randall histories, titled To the Family of Emily R. Richards, Click Here
Wilford Woodruff Richards 1866-1912
Wilford Woodruff Richards, son of Franklin Dewey Richards and Mary Thompson Richards, was born May 8, 1866 in Farmington, Davis County, Utah. In those days a certain degree of poverty (compared with present day living) was the common lot of the greater part of the people. It was hard for the family to get along.
Wilford was baptized by Thomas S. Smith, July 25, 1875 and confirmed by Thomas Grover.
When just a boy, probably eleven years of age, he went with his older brother, Myron J. Richards, who was homesteading a farm on the Bear River in a town called Plymouth, now Fielding, Box Elder County. He spent his summers there and went to school in Farmington in the winters.
On May 4, 1884 he was ordained a teacher in the Plymouth ward by Garrett Wolverton. December 12, 1884 by Richard R. Davis he was ordained a seventy in the 52nd quorum and the same day filled an appointment to the Washikee Indians. During the winter of 1882 and 1883 he attended the Brigham Young Academy at Provo, now the Brigham Young University.
On March 28, 1888 he married Emily Randall of Centerville in the Logan temple. The ceremony was performed by Marriner W. Merrill.
He was called on a mission to the Southern States and left home December 28 in company with George A. Smith, also of Farmington, arriving in Chattanooga, Tennessee, January 2, 1892.
Brother John P. Cardon who still lives in Logan (1944) and was one of his traveling companions said, “Brother Richards was very well liked. He did not tear down the people’s faith, but by his kindness made friends and taught the gospel.”
Living in Farmington was pleasant with many friends. Wilford was on the stake board of the Y. M. M. I. A. He was a justice of the peace. In 1896 was a delegate to the republican state convention. In the autumn of 1898, his brother-in-law, E. B. Clark, made him a proposition to go to Georgetown, Idaho to take care of the Clark ranch there. He accepted and left early in the fall. The family went by train arriving there the morning of December 1. The family now consisted of father, mother and five children.
On June 23 the same year, Brother W. W. Richards was ordained a high priest and made bishop of the Georgetown Ward in the Bear Lake Stake by apostle George Teasdale with Alma Hayes and Charles R. Clark as counselors. He did a good job as bishop and was well liked.
He was also appointed postmaster. Was sent as a delegate to the republican state convention at Coeur d’Alene. In November 1902, he was elected a county commissioner in Bear Lake County and in November 1904, was elected as representative to the house in legislature of the state of Idaho and served the usual time in 1905 in the capital at Boise. William L. Rich was senator and they roomed together in Boise.
In June of 1906, he was set apart as second counselor to Joseph R. Shepherd in the stake presidency of the Bear Lake Stake of Zion. The stake at that time included all of what is now Montpelier stake as well as the Bear Lake Stake. William L Rich was the first counselor. They traveled by team from Laketown on the north and Geneva and Raymond on the east, also to Cokeville in Wyoming. The three men labored vigilantly for the welfare of the people and were fast friends. Counselor Richards was ever loyal to President Shepherd and the work.
On the 18th of August all the stake presidency visited Laketown. The weather turned cool and frosty. He returned about ten o’clock saying he had never been out in the winter when he suffered more with cold. He may have been beginning with his sickness and that was what made him so terribly cold. The next day, Monday, he went over to the farm and was sick in bed all the week and alone. His son, Wilford, had been going over, but stayed at home that week to take teacher’s examinations.
Father Richards remained at the farm in order to get the seed grain which was coming into Pegram on Friday. He drove the team to Pegram, but someone else got them ready for him and loaded the grain. Saturday he drove his team home after Gustavo Weileman had harnessed and hitched them to the wagon; but he had to stop at Indian Creek and lie down on the ground and rest before he could go on home.
He could hardly get into the house but was determined that he had to go to a meeting if Pres. Shepherd were home; and while trying to phone to find out fainted and fell to the floor. When Pres. Rich to whom he was talking called back to ask what was the matter, daughter Mary answered and said, “Papa fainted.” He had just become conscious and said, “Oh, Mary, who do you tell such things?”
He had not been as strong as some folks and often had what was called legrippe, about like the influenza. Especially when away from home, he would get sick and said, “I am ashamed not to be able to go away from home without being sick.” He had also had trouble with varicose veins, acquired through jumping down from platforms and steps while working at the creamery. At one time he went in the L. D. S. Hospital and had them operated on. It seemed to hurt his pride to be sick.
This night after coming home he was burning up with fever and couldn’t take enough water to quench his thirst. He would not consent to having a doctor till his wife finally told him she thought he had the typhoid fever. And that is what Dr. J. W. Hayward pronounced it to be when he came.
All was done for him that could be done but he passed away about five o’clock p.m., September 6, 1912.
He was just a young man a few months over 46 years of age, leaving a family of twelve children, one of which was not born for nearly two months after his death. He was mourned by many relatives and friends besides the family who had to part with a dear loving husband and father.
His funeral services were held in the stake tabernacle which was filled with friends and members of the stake. He was buried in the Paris cemetery. On June 3, 1943 his remains were removed to the Farmington cemetery to rest with his family gone before.
Wilford's Temple Work
Baptized 7 Jan 1874
Endowments (28 Mar 1888)
In LoganTemple
Sealed to Spouse (28 Mar 1888)
In Logan Temple
Sealed to Parents (BIC)
Emily Randall 1869-1962
Emily Randall Richards, born April 8, 1869 at Centerville, Utah, is the daughter of Alfred and Margaret Harley Randall who joined the Latter-day Saint Church in early days and arrived in Salt Lake City in September 1848. Emily was reared in Centerville by loving parents and educated in the common schools of that day with one year of advanced studies in Farmington.
On March 28, 1888, she was married to Wilford W. Richards, son of Franklin D. and Mary Thompson Richards. The couple made their home in Farmington. The summer of 1889 and 1890 were spent on a farm at what is now Garland, Utah, which at that time was an open country; and the first summer she was the only woman there.
From December 1891 to December 1893 her husband filled a mission for the church in the state of Virginia, leaving her with two small children and little means. The great depression, or panic of 1893 and 1894 was on.
In the autumn of 1898 the family moved to Georgetown, Idaho to work on the farm of Ezra T. Clark and sons. They expected to stay two or three years, but never returned to Farmington. The husband was made bishop of Georgetown ward in June 1901, which position he held until June 1906 when he was made second counselor to President Joseph R. Shepherd in the Bear Lake Stake Presidency.
The family then moved to Paris, Idaho in September of the same year.
On the sixth of September 1912, Wilford W. Richards was called to the Great Beyond leaving his wife and family of twelve children, one of which was not born until October 31, nearly two months after the father’s death.
The children - - four sons and eight daughters - - are all living at this date, December 1944. All are married, in the temple, keeping the word of wisdom and trying to live the best they can under their various circumstances.
The family remained in Paris until September 1922 when on account of schools and the temple, the mother and remaining unmarried children moved to Logan, Utah, where the mother and two sons now live.
Besides rearing her family, Emily always worked in the organizations of the church. The positions she held are as follows: - - In Centerville, secretary in Primary Association and three years, secretary of Sunday School.
In Farmington, counselor in Primary and Relief Society ward teacher, five years first counselor in Y. L. M. I. A.
In Georgetown, President of Y. L. M. I. A. from June 1899 until a few months before moving to Paris.
In Paris, President of Relief Society from November 4, 1909 until June 14, 1914 when made first counselor to Eliza B. Cook in the Bear Lake Stake Relief Society which position was held until the move to Logan, and class leader in Sunday School and member of Stake Genealogy committee.
At Logan, Relief Society ward teacher and class leader in Social Service Department. On September 27, 1924 set apart as an officiator in the Logan temple where she has served continuously, except for nine months spent in New Hampshire, and is still serving.
A long and intimate history has been written which all who wish may read. Click Here
Emily's Temple Work
Baptized 29 Jul 1877
Endowments (28 Mar 1888)
In LoganTemple
Sealed to Spouse (28 Mar 1888)
In Logan Temple
Sealed to Parents (BIC)
Children of Wilford W. and Emily R. Richards
1. Laura, born March 31, 1890 at Farmington, Utah
Married Leslie E. Pugmire
2. Wilford W., born June 5, 1891 at Farmington, Utah
Married Elfie Stucki
3. Clyde Randall, born October 17, 1894 at Farmington, Utah
Married Myrtle Rich
4. Mary, born March 30, 1896 at Farmington, Utah
Married Leon Harold Tingey
5. Melvin Ross, born January 5, 1898 at Farmington, Utah
Married Algie J. Barlow
6. Ruth, born March 15, 1900 at Georgetown, Idaho
Married Charles A. Hymas
7. Ireta, born March 3, 1902 at Georgetown, Idaho
Married Samuel Leo Hymas
8. Carol, born December 25, 1903 at Georgetown, Idaho
Married Don William Draper
9. Pearl, born December 29, 1905 at Georgetown, Idaho
Married Jay L. Haddock
10. Franklin Dewey, born August 7, 1908 at Paris, Idaho
Married Margaret Poole
11. Margaret Iva, born July 20, 1910 at Paris, Idaho
Married Merrill E. Cook
12. Helen, born October 31, 1912 at Paris, Idaho
Married Fred A. Swalberg
