Samuel W. Richards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Samuel W. Richards |
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| Member of the Utah Territorial Legislature | |
| In office | |
| 1855 – 1859 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Samuel Whitney Richards August 9, 1824 Richmond, Massachusetts, United States |
| Died | November 26, 1909 (aged 85) Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
| Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37″N 111°51′29″W / 40.777°N 111.858°W |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Heskin Parker Mary A. Parker Helena L. Robinson Jane E. Mayer Ann Jones Elizabeth Whitaker |
| Parents | Phinehas Richards Wealthy Dewey |
Samuel Whitney Richards (born August 9, 1824 – died November 26, 1909) was an important religious and political leader. He lived in the Utah Territory during the 1800s. He was also a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Contents
Early Life and Family
Samuel Richards was born in Richmond, Massachusetts. His parents were Phinehas and Wealthy Dewey Richards. He joined the LDS Church when he was 14 years old. His father had been baptized into the church just before him.
When he was 18, Samuel worked on building a railroad. He had learned how to be a carpenter from his father. Later, his family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. This is where he met his first wife, Mary Haskin Parker.
Samuel helped build the Nauvoo Temple. He worked especially on the wood parts of the building. After the temple was finished, he helped people with special ceremonies there. He married Mary Parker in the Nauvoo Temple in January 1846. Mary had joined the church in England. Samuel's uncle, Willard Richards, was one of the missionaries who taught her.
Missions and Moving West
Samuel left for a mission to Great Britain in May 1846. While he was away, Mary traveled with Samuel's parents. They lived in different places in Iowa and Nebraska. On his mission, Samuel was a leader for the church in Scotland. He came back home in 1848.
For about a year, Samuel and Mary lived on a farm in Iowa. In 1849, Samuel, Mary, and their baby daughter traveled to the Utah Territory. They went in a wagon train led by Silas Richards.
Life in Utah
Once in Utah, Samuel worked as a farmer. He also served on the Salt Lake City Council. This was like being on the city's governing board. He was also part of the group that wrote the rules for the State of Deseret. This was an early government in Utah. Samuel also helped lead the University of Deseret.
From 1851 to 1854, Samuel went on another mission to Great Britain. For much of this time, he was the president of the British Mission. He also edited a church newspaper called the Millennial Star. He helped manage a fund that helped people move to Utah.
Family and Public Service
In 1855, Samuel Richards married Mary Ann Parker. She was the niece of his first wife, Mary Haskin Parker. Samuel later married four more women. He had 19 children in total. Some of his wives were widows who already had children.
From 1855 to 1859, Samuel was a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature. This was the law-making group for the Utah Territory. In 1857, he went on a short trip to England. He was sent to tell missionaries to come home. This was to protect their families during a time of trouble called Johnson's Army. He also gathered information about Johnson's Army. He delivered messages from Brigham Young to Thomas L. Kane. In 1856, Samuel was allowed to practice law in Utah's highest court.
In 1860, Samuel's first wife, Mary Haskin Parker, passed away. Only three of her six children were still alive. These children were raised by their cousin and stepmother, Mary Ann Parker Richards. Mary Ann was Samuel's youngest wife. She traveled with him when he led a mission in the Eastern United States from 1895 to 1897. By then, she was his only living wife. Mary Ann raised her aunt's three children and had ten children of her own.
Later Years
In 1861, Samuel Richards became a judge in Davis County, Utah. He also served several more times on the Salt Lake City Council. In 1871 and 1872, Samuel served as a missionary in Massachusetts. He also helped decorate the inside of the Salt Lake Temple. However, in Utah, he mostly worked in farming and milling.
