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Samuel Whitney Richards 1
Samuel W. Richards, born in Richmond, Mass., August 9, 1824, was the sixth child of Wealthy Dewy and Phineas Richards. , , , A cousin – Brigham (Young) introduced Phineas to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and to Joseph Smith.
Samuel was baptized (as) member of the church at the age of fourteen and spent most of his life in service of – the LDS Church.
When he was fifteen, Samuel went on the first of his several missions for this church. Being so young and articulate, he attracted a great deal of attention in his travels through New York, Connecticut and Vermont. Three years later, he and his family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. At Nauvoo, Samuel put his skills as a carpenter to use as he helped build the Nauvoo Temple. He was called to be a member of the group assigned by Joseph Smith to explore in the Rocky Mountains and areas (of the) West, to find a place for the members of the church to settle. This assignment was never completed due to the death of Joseph Smith.
Samuel married Mary Haskin Parker in the Nauvoo Temple on January 29, 1846. They lived in Nauvoo (as) Samuel worked daily at the Temple (despite} the gathering storm of opposition to the church members.
In April of 1846, Samuel writes in his daily journal . . . “Brigham’s council is that all the honest in heart be out of this City and County as soon as possible . . . I guess the brethren will have to scatter and leave this place.”
By the middle of May, he had gathered their belongings together and had taken Mary across the river where they said their goodbyes. Mary traveled on to Winter Quarters and Samuel returned to Nauvoo to join his brother, Franklin.
On July 7, Samuel and Franklin set out on their mission to England. They traveled by way of St. Louis to Pittsburg and then to New York. Along the way, they gathered food, bedding and generous gifts of money to help them on their mission. Before sailing, Samuel sent Mary a small box containing a photo of himself, gifts, ten dollars and a letter.
This mission spanned two years and . . . in February of 1848 when the brothers sailed for America. They brought with them one hundred and thirty converts to the church. In May (1848), Samuel rejoined Mary at Winter Quarters, where they remained for a year. During this winter in Iowa, Samuel and Mary had as their guests, Oliver Cowdery and his wife. A visit that proved to be quite interesting in that Oliver Cowdery wrote and signed what was to be his last testimony of the LDS Church while he was in their home.
Mary and Samuel’s first child, Mary Amelia, was born in April of 1849. Several months later, they crossed the plains to Salt Lake City where they were allotted some land adjoining that of Samuel’s brothers and father. Samuel built a house and farmed the acre; a son, Samuel Parker, was born in 1850.
Another call to the British Mission came in 1852. Samuel left before a third child was due to be born, this son died as an infant.
Arriving in Europe, Samuel labored in France and Switzerland as well as England. In 1852, Brigham Young appointed Samuel to be Agent of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Co. This fund provided financial assistance for converts emigrating to Utah. Samuel handled these funds, chartered ships and otherwise did what was needed to assure converts a safe and healthy passage to the United States.
Over the years, Samuel spent a total of nine years in the British Mission, part of it as Mission President. He and his brother, Franklin, helped 14,364 people to emigrate to the United States as converts to the LDS Church.
Samuel was a prolific writer; he published and edited a periodical called the Millennial Star while he was in England. He also had a great feeling for history and realizing the importance of records, kept detailed journals and diaries during most of his life. He was a gifted speaker and was often called upon to share his ideas and theories.
. . . During Samuel’s long and useful life, he held many positions of service to others; he was always willing to learn and anxious to share his knowledge with others. He died (November 26), 1909, a much revered and respected gentleman.2
1 Photo from familysearch.org
2 21st Century Pioneer Presentation given by Reed Richards to the Odgen Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers (on) 9 January 2017. Submitted by the Ogden Chapter to the National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers Library.
Brother Joseph
