Introduction
Sarah Amanda Shurtliff was born January 22, 1865 in Harrisville, Utah. Her father, Luman Andrel Shurtliff, accepted the Gospel after hearing Joseph Smith speak. He was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints August 21, 1836 by David Witmer. During his fruitful life, he accomplished many things. He filled eight missions, three home missions, and was a Patriarch for eleven years. He had four wives and thirty-three children. He was a strict man and a strong tithe payer and he emphasized the importance of tithing to his children. Sarah’s parents endured many hardships for the Gospel. Luman and his families gave up their homes many times when they were called to colonize other places to build up the Church. Due to the strenuous conditions present in the early days of Utah, the family often found themselves in difficult circumstances.
Sarah’s mother, Mary Eliza Adams, died when she was only eight years old and Sarah had to go into other homes and work to help earn her keep. She worked hard, as all pioneer girls had to do, but she loved all her brothers and sisters and took great pride in helping any way she could.
Marriage and Two Families
Silas Benjamin Harper courted and married Sarah on April 2, 1885 and they lived in Payson, Utah where two little girls, Mary Blanche and Elsa Vinetta, were born. Tragedy struck again in her life—shortly after Elsa was born, Silas was killed in an accident while riding a load of hay. Sarah was left with two babies to care for.
When her sister Lovina Wilson, who had been sent by the Church to help colonize Mexico, heard the news she invited Sarah to join her in Mexico. Sarah accepted the invitation and traveled with other Church members to Mexico. When she reached Mexico she worked for “Aunt Fanny Harper” in her boarding house. Later she married Orson Oriel Richins, becoming his third wife. He was a loyal husband and a good father to her daughters. Through this union Sarah bore six more children: Marland Lumin, Carrie Roween, Sadie Esther, Colola Beth, Orson Oriel, Jr., and Olive Olga.
Sarah’s life continued to be one of hard work and true devotion to her family. While living in Mexico, she managed a store and a restaurant and made cheeses to sell. She was a devoted member of the Church and when Orson Oriel was called on a mission to the Central States in 1896, she happily supported her family and assisted her husband in fulfilling his mission.
According to the last pages of his missionary diary, he returned from his mission to find all his families enjoying good health and all were happy at his return. He wrote that Sarah was with the others at the depot in Guzman to meet him and he told of many happy events and parties that were held on his behalf. He was surprised at how his little son, Marland, had grown and how Blanche and Elsa were young ladies.
Leaving Mexico
The next few years were happy, but hard, for the growing families of Orson Oriel Richins. Life in Mexico ended in 1912 due to the Mexican Civil War. When the Saints entered the United States again, the families had to separate, so Sarah took her family to El Paso, Texas. She felt a big responsibility upon her shoulders, but she knew that the Lord would watch over her and help guide her in every way. She never lost this simple faith and tried to instill it into all her children. Marland, while but a boy, immediately went to work to support the family. The girls did likewise as they became of age.
Sarah became a midwife and was in great demand among the Saints in El Paso. She spent a great deal of time nursing the sick. “Aunt Sade”, as she was called, seemed to be needed everywhere.
Sarah was a strict tithe payer, as her father had taught her in her youth. Many times her tithing was all she had, but then it really wasn’t hers—she considered it the Lord’s—so it was paid to Him. She recalled, “We were never without. The Lord always blessed us.” This grateful and humble spirit was manifest throughout her life.
When the Saints were advised to buy farms and colonize Red Rock, New Mexico, Sarah moved into a home there Orson had built for her and her two youngest children. Her son Marland and her daughter Beth and her husband also purchased farms there. Orson Oriel wanted as many of his children as wanted to join him in this venture, so they could all be together. Life in Red Rock was hard and the farming venture proved unsuccessful. Consequently, many of the settlers moved to nearby Virden, New Mexico where they could be near friends and relatives from the Mexican colonies.
The Final Years
Sarah lived in Virden the remainder of her years. She loved her little home there and would leave it only to visit her children and grandchildren or to work in the Temple in Mesa, Arizona. She very much enjoyed her time in the Temple.
“Aunt Sade” passed away in the home of her daughter Blanche in Virden, New Mexico on October 25, 1947, with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around her, as she wished. The day she passed away a new great-grandchild was born-a new spirit to live on and to glorify the Gospel that Sarah loved so dearly. Her descendants number eight children, 29 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren and 3+ great-great-grandchildren.
