Charles Coulson Rich


Charles C. Rich was a major player in the Mormon history of Caldwell County and many other places. He has proud descendants everywhere.
Charles Rich was born 08-21-1809 in Boone County, Kentucky, to Joseph and Nancy (O'Neal) Rich. Charles joined the LDS Church in Tazewell County in 1832, then left for Kirtland, Ohio, then in 1834 he went to Zion's Camp. From there he went to Kirtland. Charles and his father together traveled to Caldwell, County, Missouri. Their first action was to buy some land and put it in their names. They decided that if they put the two pieces in each others names that might confuse the people of Ray County enough that if there was trouble, being in two names they may skip over them. The organization of Caldwell County was in December 1836.

Land Bought
Charles C. Rich & Joseph 2244- 11 SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of sec 33, 40A Mirabile Twp. 11-12-1836 1626-10 SW 1/2 of NW 1/4 of sec. 3, 80A Rockford Twp. 04-26-1837 Rich, Joseph & Charles C. Rich 2243 - 11SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of sec. 33, 40A Mirabile Twp. 11-12-1836 1627 - 10 SW ‡ of NW 1/4 of sec. 3, 80A Rockford Twp. 04-26-1837 They were also to buy land for the church, in 1837.
Mr. Rich was ordained a High Priest in Zion, August 20, 1837. His home was the center of church activity in that area of the county. Mr. Rich's activities were: farming, hunting, building a lathe, making a boat, and making chairs. Wife (1) Sarah DeArmon Pea, at Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri 02-11-1838.
During the battle of Crooked River, when David W. Patten fell mortally wounded, Rich laid down his sword in the heat of battle and administered the ordinance of laying on the hands; after which he resumed the sword and assumed command. Because of the prominent part he took in the Missouri troubles, he was forced to flee for his life through the (Iowa) wilderness into Illinois. The wives of the men who were imprisoned or had fled were left to provide for their families and to find a way to remove to Missouri. Sarah Rich, pregnant with her first child, took into her home seven families one being John Page and his critically ill wife, Lorain. Sarah Rich wrote that "the mob was troubling us so severely at this time, that it was impossible to have Sister Page buried for three days." Missouri troops, were seeking to arrest Charles Rich for his participation in the Crooked River battle, searching his home twice while Sister Lorain was "laying in the house a corpse." Phoebe Patten, whose husband had led the attack at Crooked River, was living in constant fear that the Missourians would capture and torture her.
Sarah Rich and Samantha Stout vowed not to separate until they reunited with their husbands. They left Far West in January with Darah's cousin and her father who had come from Illinois to assist her on the journey. Upon reaching the Mississippi River across from Quincy they found half the river frozen with chunks of ice. Crossing with their wagons was impossible. Hearing of their arrival on the opposite side of the river, the husbands acquired a small boat and braved the dangerous frozen ice. For three months, both couples (Sarah rich, Samantha Stout and Charles Rich and Hosea Stout) remained together until their reunion on the brozen banks. Less than two months later Sarah gave birth to her first child. (1c/1w) Sarah Jane b 03-04-1839 at Burton near Quincy, Illinois.
Samantha Stout, having suffered from exposure during their journey to Illinois, lay bedridden for several months and finally died in November 1839.
Charles was ordained a member of the High Council in Nauvoo and was also a member of the city council. (2c/1w) Joseph Coulson b 01-16-1841
Major General Rich in the Nauvoo Legion was known as General Rich up to the day of his death. When Prophet Joseph Smith in 1843 was taken to Missouri, Brother Rich, at the head of twenty-five men, started out from Nauvoo to render him assistance, and returned after having traveled about 500 miles on horseback in seven days. Throughout his lifetime he was less noted for his brilliant talent than for his real goodness. Being a man of generous impulses, he seemed to live for the happiness of others than his own.
    (3c/1w) Artimessia b 01-15-1843
    (4c/1w) Charles Coulson b 09-02-1844
    Wife (2) Eliza Anna Graves, at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Ill. 01-02-1845
    Wife (3) Mary Ann Phelps 01-06-1845
Wife (4) Sarah Jane Peck 01-09-1845
    (1c/4w) Hyrum b 10-08-1845 Mt. Pisgah, Harrison County, Iowa
    Wife (5) Emeline Grover - 02-02-1846
    (1c/2w) Mary Bratton b 02-11-1846 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois
    Charles left Nauvoo on February 13, 1846. He presided over Mount Pisgah branch that winter.
    (5c/1w) John Thomas b 12-15-1846 in Mount Pisgah, Harrison Co., Iowa.
    Charles left Pisgah on 03-20-1847 for the Winter Quarters, starting for the Great Salt Lake Valley on 06-14-1847 in charge of a company of moving Saints. He arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley 10-03-1847.
    (2c/2w) Eliza Ann b 11-14-1848 Salt Lake City, Utah (2c/4w) Henrietta b 07-30-1849 Salt Lake City, Utah (1c/3w) Laura b 09-25-1849 Salt Lake City, Utah (6c/1w) Elizabeth b 10-06-1849 Salt Lake City, Utah (1c/5w) Thomas Grover b 12-30-1849 Salt Lake City, Utah (2c/3w) Mary Ann b 05-15-1850 Salt Lake City, Utah (3c/2w) Frances Phoebe b 06-30-1850 Salt Lake City, Utah (3c/4w) Orson b 10-06-1850 Salt Lake City, Utah - Twin (4c/4w) Orissa Elizabeth b 10-06-1850 Salt Lake City, Utah - Twin
During the absence of the Twelve, on their return to Winter Quarters, he acted in the valley as counselor to Father John Smith who was left to preside over the colony. Elder Rich was ordained a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles by Brigham Young and started on a mission to California on October 9th, returning home November 4, 1850. He again started for California 03-06-1851, with a portion of his family and a company of Saints, by the southern route to purchase a place for the location of the Saints that might be gathered from the islands of the Pacific. Along with Elder Anasa M. Lyman, in September 1851, he purchased the ranch of San Bernardino, containing about one hundred thousand acres of land, for the sum of $77,500, to which place the company removed and began the foundation and settlement of what is now one of the richest and finest counties in southern California.
(2c/5w) Caroline Whitney b 01-22-1852 (3c/3w) William L. b 08-09-1852 Salt Lake City, Utah (7c/1w) David Patton b 04-08-1853 Salt Lake City, Utah (5c/4w) Samantha b 10-18-1853 Centerville, Davis Co., Utah (3c/5w) Nancy Emeline b 02-19-1854 Salt Lake City, Utah (4c/3w) TWIN Morris b 08-07-1854 Salt Lake City, Utah (5c/3w) TWIN Minerva b 08-07-1854 Salt Lake City, Utah (8c/1w) Benjamin Erastus b 11-07-1855 Salt Lake City, Utah (6c/4w) Henry Benjamin b 12-15-1855 Centerville, Davis Co., Utah
When the Buchanan war broke out the ranch, San Bernardino, was sold and the Saints returned to Utah. He accompanied Gen. Daniel H. Wells to Echo canyon and Fort Bridger during the Buchanan war, rendering valuable council and aid.
(6c/3w) Amansa M. b 10-25-1856 Salt Lake City, Utah (4c/5w) Landon Jedediah b 03-11-1858 Salt Lake City, Utah (7c/3w) Paulina b 04-21-1859 Salt Lake City, Utah (7c/4w) Lorenzo Ether b 04-22-1858 Salt Lake City, Utah (9c/1w) Frederick Cormel b 07-19-1859 Salt Lake City, Utah (8c/4w) Phoebe J. b 04-27-1860 Centerville, Davis, Utah (5c/5w) Samuel Joseph b 05-01-1860 Salt Lake City, Utah (6c/5w) Heber Charles Chase b 08-01-1862 Salt Lake City, Utah.
In 1860 Rich was called on a mission to England and for a time was associated with Elder Amansa M. Lyman in the presidency of the European Mission. He returned home in 1862. In the autumn of 1863 he explored Bear Lake Valley and moved his family there the following spring.
During the early years of the Bear Lake settlements, the only means by which the residents could get their mail when snow was deep was by crossing on snow-shoes. When others would not undertake the dangerous traveling through the mountains, when terrific storms prevailed, Brother Rich would set out. Through his great feat of strength and knowledge of the country. This man of great strength and endurance, sometimes bore fatigue that would kill an ordinary man. In the early days of the Church, Elder Rich would be remembered as a military man and was distinguished for his bravery.
    (9c/4w) Julia Ann b 08-07-1863 Centerville, Utah (8c/3w) Ezra C. b 08-18-1864 Paris, Bear Lake, Utah
    Wife (6) Harriet Sargent
    (7c/5w) Joel Hezekiah b 03-17-1865 Paris, Bear Lake, Utah
    Wife (7) Jane Susanne Stock 08-27-1865
(10c/4w) Wilford Woodruff b 01-10-1866 Paris, Bear Lake, Utah (9c/3w) Edward I. b 04-29-1868 Paris, Bear Lake, Utah (11c/4w) Walter Peck b 01-18-1869 Paris, Bear Lake, Utah (8c/5w) George Quayle b 03-17-1869 Paris, Bear Lake, Utah (10c/3w) Jacob b 09-04-1876
Rich was stricken with paralysis 10-24-1880 and died at his home 11-17-1883. During the 3 years of illness he never was heard to complain. He was a natural pioneer and was the leader of the original settlers of that valley, where he resided until his death, continuing to be the main director in the establishment of towns and settlement in that region.
Sources used include: Caldwell County land records, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, and Susan Easton Black's monumental work on Early LDS Membership. Two easy to use sources are the CD LDS Collector's Library from Infobases and Biographical Archive on microfiche. Those collected works will guide the user to more information by using their references, bibliographies and source lists.

-Annette Curtis, excerpted from MMFF Newsletter #14