David Richards (1823-1902)

Our maternal grandfather David Richards, recorded in his Bible that he was born in Cwmcracken, near Nantyglo in South Wales on 9 April 1823. Today, Grandfather's birth place is just a very small area in the town of Nanty Glo. Grandfather worked as a Puddler in the ore refinery. A puddler fulfilled a vital role, determining when the iron ore was hot enough to be poured. Due to the intense heat, Puddlers often went blind at a young age.

In 1844, Grandfather was a resident of Merthyr and during this time married Margrate (Mary) Jones. To them was born at least five children. It was while living in Britton Ferry that David joined the Church. He was an active member and served some of this time as a Branch President. In his diary he speaks of walking ten miles, after his work days, to preach the gospel with missionaries, and of their successful baptisms. Apparently he had charge of sale of books since he kept a record of book sales for the local branch or mission. Branch records indicate that David also served as Branch President in the Witten le Ware Branch in Wales.

David had felt the spirit of gathering and for the next six years he and his family lived in Scotland, New Wales and in Durham, England while they endeavoured to save sufficient funds to emigrate to America. David Richards is listed in Church records as a Branch President in Britton Ferry Branch in Durham England. Mary was a baptized member but reportedly was never very accepting of her hsuband's long hours of devotion to Church activity. Apparently, however, she cooperated with plans for their emigration and the struggle to earn the monies to accomplish that goal.

The Richards family left Liverpool England on 30 March 1860, sailing for America on an 1168 ton clipper ship, The Underwriter. Elder James D. Ross and his counselors presided over the 594 Mormon passengers. Seventy of the emigrants came from Switzerland and the remainder from Great Britain. During the crossing there were four deaths and four weddings. After a thirty-two day passage, The Underwriter arrived at New York on the 1^st of May.

Eleven days later, the Richards were in Florence, Nebraska where they made prepartions for crossing the plains, held meetings and received instructions. The available records suggest the following ages for the Richards family: David 46, his wife Mary 51, and children Miriam 13, Jane 11, William D. 7 and Reese Mormon 4 years of age. (There is obviously some discrepancy in David's age, he may have been 37 years and his wife also younger).

The Richards pioneer group was the Daniel Robinson Company composed of British saints and families from the Eastern States Mission. They were the first handcart company of the season, leaving Florence, Nebraska on 6 June 1860. The company consisted of 233 souls who traveled with 6 wagons, 43 handcarts, 38 oxen and 10 tents. David prepared a handcart for their trip since that is obviously all they could afford. The handcarts were 4 x 6 x 1 ½ feet deep. They were permitted to take only 13 pounds per persons which generally included food and one change of clothing. The Richards walked, pushing or pulling (according to the terrain) their precious handcart, carrying all of their earthly belongings. They had many hardships but "few tragic difficulties." Some sickness prevailed during the journey and one 2 year old child died. With the exception of two weeks of drenching showers, the weather was beautiful for the entire trek. The group was often spoken of as the "Singing Welchmen" since they did enjoy singing.

A few days prior to the arrival of the Daniel Robinson Company in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young sent messengers to meet the saints and assist them in to the valley. The messengers brought the saints 2500 pounds flour and 500 pounds bacon. The pioneer company arrived in Salt Lake on Monday evening, 27 August 1860. As they reached the camping grounds opposite the 8^th Ward-school house, thousands of citizens gathered to welcome them. A Captain Balls and his band gave them a hearty welcome. Bishop Edward Hunter brought edibles and vegetables to refresh them.

Some three years after the arrival of the Richards family in Salt Lake, Mary and the children left for California with some friends who with her had become disillusioned with the Church and the valley. They were disenchanted and bitter and could not be convinced otherwise (A great granddaughter, Ina Meaker, stated that Grandmother Richards "did not like to live and raise her family under Mormons' outlandish ways!"). David followed the California-bound group for some distance to try to persuade his wife to change her mind, but to no avail. David returned to Salt Lake City and the saints. Nothing is known of any further contact David had with Mary or the children, but he at least knew of Mary's death as he was later sealed to her. Mary apparently did not re-marry.

David lived in Beaver, Utah for a short time, married Mary Ann Smith in 1872, divorced in 1881. He was sealed to a 'dead' sister in 1882, followed by a one year marriage to Margrate Thomas, divorcing in 1885. During the month before he married our Grandmother, David was sealed to his first wife, Margaret Jones and two additional 'dead' sisters. Thus Grandmother was wife #7. Sometime during these years, Grandfather moved to Hinckley where he homesteaded a twenty acre farm, cleared the land of sage and grease wood and began farming.

While visiting in Richfield, Grandfather David was introduced to our Grandmother, Margaret Christensen Beck, by Karen Christensen, a dear friend of Grandmother and an acquaintance of David. Karen was the sister who befriended Margaret when she first came to the Richfield area and started dressmaking, shortly after her arrival in Utah. Grandmother Margaret said that though David was 37 years her senior, he was a find man and represented stability and security, something this little lady had not experienced during her residence in America. Her little son, Lyman, was then five. She had divorced Christen Beck just a few months prior to Lyman's birth. Marriage to David promised a better life. It was not a matter of love, she said, but "I liked him."

David and Margaret were married in the Manti Temple on 8 July 1891 and went immediately to Hinckley to live on his farm. Their little humble home with adobe walls, and a thatched roof consisted of a 14 x 14 foot room and a small lean-to which served as a kitchen. The floors were dirt at first, then rough lumber and eventually covered by a rag rug carpet made on a neighbors loom. Grandmother loved her home and our Mom remembers the security she felt in this little abode. Grandfather had some difficulty understanding his wife's ways and was "sometimes cross and bossy but a good man."

Farming became a joint effort as Margaret would assist with the harvesting, pitching hay and grain and she always milked their one cow. But Grandfather was not a young man and the burden of livelihood became increasingly Margaret's responsibility. Young Lyman assisted as he became older but had difficulty meeting the expectations of his exacting stepfather who expected complete obedience and had little patience with him. To supplement the income, Grandmother continued her dressmaking, often sewing through the night.

Dora, their first child was born 30 July 1892, and always said that her Dad never did forgive her for not being a son. David, born 1894, was the pride and joy of his father and was a "fine young man." Our Mom Elsie arrived 1 March 1897 and was said to have been "terribly spoiled" by both mother and father. Grandfather was very strict with Lyman and Dora but there reportedly was no punishment for Dave and Elsie who could get away with anything. Dora assumed the big sister role, was a great protective ally to the older brother Lyman, and continued throughout her life as a devoted, helpful one to Dave and Elsie.

Mom Elsie, though just 5 years old at the time of her father's death, had vivid memories about him but admitted that some may have been from hearing the oft repeated recollection of her Mom. Grandfather had a fine singing voice and loved to sing. Mother remembered her father teaching little Welch songs and verses to her. One of these songs she often sang in Welch to us children and interpreted these words: "Where is Jesus" Where is Jesus, In the Heaven. Search for Him, Search for Him, all ye people." Our Mom was asked to sing at a Stake conference (when under 5 years of age!). Grandfather had her stand on the pulpit and held her as she sang for the congregation. Apparently it was a big success but Grandmother was absolutely humiliated since her artistic darning work on the knees of young Elsie's stockings was evident to the audience.

Unusual faith and devotion to the Church were among David Richard's greatest strengths. He "enjoyed the spirit of the Lord" and gave strict observance to living his religion. Grandfather was a high priest. He had the gift of healing to such an extent that people came from all over for his administrations. The Richards children were frequent recipients of his blessings and he would have Grandmother bathe the children prior to the blessings so that they would be clean and the Holy Ghost might be in attendance. The family knew very little sickness prior to their family patriarch's death. Grandfather also had the gift of tongues and utilized this gift on several occasions. Another of David's roles was acting as a doctor of sorts. He was frequently called upon to set broken bones and such.

Mom Elsie enjoyed telling us little bits she remembered of her childhood. The following incident was one which Mom said was typical of the times. Grandfather had a nice little grain crop one year. He'd built brush barriers since they had not had the finances to provide fences. Here came one of Hinckley's residents with a band of horses ready to drive through the grain which was coming along so well. Grandfather went out and told the man not to cross his land. The man told Grandfather to go to H*** and proceeded to drive on. At the Sunday Services each week, it was customary to have a request for notices 'does anyone want to give out a notice' There would be a variety of responses in addition to Church announcements i.e.: We need some help on a farm, or There's a ditch meeting to be held, etc. The Sunday following the above incident, Grandfather volunteered a notice at Church. "There's a man who came and drove his horses across my field last week and I told him, 'Don't drive your horses across my field' and he said, 'You go to H*** and I said, 'You go to H* yourself, d* you.' And his name is Wililam B. Elder." It seems that a very embarrassed Brother Elder in attendance at the meeting was seen to slide down in his chair mumbling.

Perhaps Mom's most significant memory of her Father involved a stroke which he had some time prior to the stroke that took his life. Mom recalled, "I can still picture it, either from Mother telling me or my own memory, I'm not sure which. He was sitting out in the big chair under a tree. And he couldn't say a word, but he mumbled. Mother seemed to understand that he wanted the Bishop, but he couldn't express it. So she sent for Bishop Pratt, a kindly old gentleman. Bishop Pratt came and blessed him, administered to him and asked if he could be made better. Almost immediately Father's voice returned and he began singing, "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning." Such a great testimony to us that he gave credit to the Lord."

On April 22^nd, 1902, when our Mom Elsie was just five years old, her father suffered the second stroke which completely paralyzed him and he lived just a few days. A wooden casket was made by one of the men in Hinckley. Grandmother had just five dollars in the house and that bought handles for the casket. The Relief Society sisters covered the casket with cloth, then put a white flannel lining inside the casket and "made it look nice." Grandmother always made the burial and temple clothes for all Hinckley's dead, including men's tailored white suits. This she did with her little treddle sewing machine. Mom remembered very well seeing her Father in the casket; Her Mother holding her up so she could see him more clearly and five year old Elsie leaning down and kissing her Father goodbye.

David Richards was buried in the Hinckley cemetery. The headstone which our Mom had placed at her father's grave many years ago is still clearly readable. Eloise has had flowers placed on Grandfather's grave at Memorial Day during recent years.

Millard County Court records include David's handwritten last will and testament which indicate that he being of sound mind, did bequeath and endow all residue of his estate one wagon- $18, cow- $20, household goods- $25. With estimated value at $538. No mention is made of the home.

Mother Elsie often spoke of the choice heritage that had been hers. By worldly standards, the Richards family could have been classed as deprived but apparently David and Margaret thought otherwise, and instilled that in their children. Some of our choicest genes (and as our Dad would say 'good blood') certainly were inherited from this stalwart Welchman who sacrificed much for the testimony he had embraced. David Richards stayed true to the end.

In honor of our Mormon Pioneer ancestor, we have sent a check to the National Society of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers Headquarters at 3301 E. 2920 So. in Salt Lake, 84109. A plaque memoralizing Grandfather Richards will be placed in the Pioneer Memorial Gallery wall in the special section honoring Pioneers who's arrival in Utah preceeded the railroad. The next panel will be placed when sufficient requests are received to complete the panel of plaques. It may take several months. But do plan to visit the Sons of the Pioneers Pioneer Memorial Gallery and check on your Grandfather David Richards!