On June 9, 1856, they left Iowa City, Iowa, with the first handcart company of which Edmund Ellsworth was captain. Thomas Richins was 30 years old, his wife, Harriet, was 22, their little son, Albert Franklin, was 16 months, and Harriet’s father, John Deveraux, was 57.
Provisions became scarce so they were put on rations, one pint of flour per day per person. This they cooked as best they could. They told of one day that they mixed too much water with the flour and all they could do was drink it. One time Thomas was so hungry he cut pieces of rawhide from the cart to eat.
Harriet told how a band of Indians came into their camp. One of the Indian squaws who had a papoose saw a poor hungry pioneer woman trying to nurse a little undernourished baby. The Indian mother felt so sorry for them she took the poor baby in her arms and nursed it. However, it made the baby sick because it was not used to such rich milk.
The travelers did have some meat. At one time a deer or elk was served out. Once Brother Ellsworth killed a cow. On August 6, they saw thousands of buffalo. Four were shot. The next day their hungry appetites were satisfied with buffalo meat but they had to dig for water and it was very thick. A few days later, all or most of them had bad diarrhea or purging—they didn’t know whether it was the buffalo or the muddy river water.
They traveled through dust storms, electrical storms, and bright sun that sunburned and baked them. To keep their sprits up as they traveled they would sing. A few lines of one of the songs they sang are:
“Oh some must push and some must pull
As we go marching up the hill
Then merrily on our way we go
Until we reach the valley-O!”
They camped about 19 miles from Fort Laramie. Here they had plenty of wood to burn and they said it was quite a treat after burning so many buffalo chips. After nearly four months of weary traveling, having been delayed by sickness and deaths, and the breaking down of handcarts which were made of unseasoned lumber, they reached Salt Lake City September 26, 1856. The company was met by Brigham Young and a large number of saints in emigration Canyon and given a hearty welcome. Harriet used to tell of them bringing watermelons to them on their arrival.
Church Emigration publications give this report of their arrival:
“In the evening of September 25th it was reported that Captain Edmund Ellsworth’s company was encamped at the Willow Springs for the night. Consequently, on the 26th, President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Daniel H. Wells and many other citizens in carriages and several Gentlemen and Ladies on horseback, with a part of Captain H. B. Clawsen’s company of lancers, and the brass bands under Captain William Pitt left the President’s Office at 9 a.m. with the view of meeting them back of the Little Mountain.
“President Young ordered the party to halt until the handcarts should arrive, and with President Kimball drove to meet them. Soon the anxiously expected train came in sight led by Captain Ellsworth on foot, and with two aged veterans pulling the front cart, followed by a long line of carts attended by the old, middle-aged, and young of both sexes.
“When [they were] opposite the escorting party, a halt was called and their captain introduced the newcomers to President Young and Kimball. This was followed by the joyous greeting of relatives and friends, and an unexpected treat of melons.
“While thus regaling, Captain Daniel D. McArthur came up with his handcart company, they having traveled that day from the east of Big Mountain. From the place of halting to the public square in the Sixteenth Ward [later the University site] the following order of march was observed, under the supervision of Captain Clawson:
- Lancers
- Ladies on horseback
- President Young’s, Kimball’s, and Wells’ carriages
- The bands
- Captain Ellsworth’s and McArthur’s companies
- Citizens in carriages and on horseback
“The line of march was scarcely taken up before it began to be met by men, women, and children on foot, on horses, and wagons, thronging out to see and welcome the first handcart companies, and the numbers rapidly increased until the living tide lined and thronged South Temple Street.
“The procession reached the Sixteenth Ward Square about sunset, when the lancers, bands, and carriages formed in a line facing the line of handcarts; and after a few remarks by President Young, accompanied by his blessing, the spectators and escort retired, and the companies pitched their tents at the end of a walk and pull of about 1300 miles.”
What a joyous day that must have been for Thomas and Harriet to finally reach their destination after traveling such a long and hard journey from their home in England!
Thomas and Harriet lived in Salt Lake for four or five years where two children were born, Alice Marinda (January 22, 1857) and Esther Ann (April 6 1860). Esther Ann died when she was two months old and was buried in Salt Lake City. On August 8, 1860 they went to the Endowment House and received their endowments and were sealed to each other for time and eternity.
They were called to go south and help settle what is now known as Goshen, Utah County, Utah. Thomas and his brother John and their families left Salt Lake in 1860, traveling south crossing the Jordan River south of the Point of the Mountain and traveling along the west side of Utah Lake. As they neared the river, the oxen Thomas was driving, being thirsty, made a rush for the water and went down a steep bank into the deep water. The wagon box tipped off and floated down the stream.
Thomas managed to catch hold of the cattle and they swam to the bank. The women and children were in the other wagon with Uncle John. A just Thomas had in his wagon went bobbing down the stream and in the excitement, Harriet, thinking it was he, cried in alarm, “Save Tom! Save Tom!” Then she saw him safe on the other bank. After the danger and fright were over, they had many a laugh at this incident. The wagon box and some of the things were recovered a few miles down the river.
Arriving at Goshen, Thomas engaged in farming and working at his trade of blacksmithing. While living there, three sons were born to them: Abner (August 31, 1861), Arthur E. (October 5, 1863), and Thomas A. (May 15, 1866).
They next moved to Pleasant Grove, Utah County, Utah, then known as Battle Creek, because a battle with the Indians had been fought there. They lived on what was then called Farnsworth’s Hill on the road to Battle Creek Canyon. Here Harriet Priscilla was born (December 22, 1868). They then built a log house north of the flour mill. The logs for this house were split on the old pit near Battle Creek Canyon.
Thomas’ brothers, Charles and Edward, who had settled at Henefer, Summit County, Utah, wanted him to come to Henefer and work at blacksmithing, so in 1869 they moved there. The railroad was being built down Weber Canyon at this time, so there was much work there. On November 9, 1870, my father, Oscar John Deveraux Richins was born.
Thomas had occasion to go to Echo Canyon and as he was driving along, a band of Indians on horses stopped him. They took their bows and arrows and circled around the wagon. He thought his time to die had come, but at some words from their chief, they all rode away.
When they had lived in Henefer a little over a year, the blacksmith shop burned down, so they moved back to their home in Pleasant Grove. On their journey back from Henefer, Albert, then about 15 years old, and Alice, about 12, walked and drove their stock from Salt Lake to Pleasant Grove. Albert walked barefoot. They tried to take a short cut over the hills and became lost. They did not arrive home until a long time after dark.
The mill ditch had been dug right next to their home while they had been gone, so they had to move farther east on their property to avoid being so close to the water. The United Order was in effect when they returned so Thomas took his blacksmithing tools and worked in the Order Shop, which was located just east of the old mercantile store.
Harriet’s brother, Joseph Deveraux, with his wife and six children came from England so she and Thomas took them into their small log house to live with them until her brother could find a home for his family. Later Thomas built a larger soft-rock home which is still standing, although it has been remodeled and has been built onto.
Thomas and Harriet’s son, Marcus E., was born January 1, 1873 and their last child, Nettie E. was born February 7, 1875.
Harriet did much toward helping with the finances. Besides caring for her large family, she dried fruit and took in sewing. Her special line of sewing was making men’s and boys’ suits and overcoats. She also made fancy gloves made from buckskin which she obtained from the Indians, stitching them with bright colored silk. While living in England she worked making kid gloves.
She was called on to help care for the sick, sometimes being both doctor and nurse. She took care of her aged father who was blind and bedridden for the last six years of his life. She did everything she could to make him comfortable until his death.
The children helped too. They gleaned wheat from the fields after it had been harvested and gathered ground cherries which were scalded to remove a gummy substance, and then dried or made into preserves to sell. They had one pair of shoes each fall and went barefoot the rest of the time.
Thomas and Harriet were the parents of ten children—six boys and four girls. Four of these children pioneered Ashley Valley (or Vernal, Uintah County, Utah):
- Albert F., who married Helena Nielson
- Abner E., who married Frances Fage
- Arthur, who married Emily Dee
- Priscilla, who married Henson Eaton
- Two died: Esther in infancy and Marcus when a young man.
The others remained in Pleasant Grove, lived and died there and are buried in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery:
- Alice, the wife of Edward Warburton
- Thomas, who married Ellen Jay
- Oscar, who married Hulda Anderson
- Nettie, wife of William Green
Both Thomas and Harriet were affected with deafness and it was a great handicap to them. Although in later years they were denied the privilege of hearing the gospel preached, they enjoyed reading the scriptures.
Harriet died May 14, 1896, age 63 years. Thomas passed away December 28, 1896, after suffering a stroke on Christmas day. Both are buried in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery.
Our wonderful grandparents stood steadfastly by the church in the early days even at the cost of life itself, and left home, country, and comfort to conquer the Great American Desert for the privilege of worshipping in the Lord’s appointed way and building up the Kingdom of God. What a dept of gratitude we owe these stalwart pioneer ancestors of ours!
“A Short History of Thomas Richins and Harriet Deveraux,” by Afton Gene Richins Fischio (granddaughter), August 1982; Published by the Richins Surname Association, August 1983.
