Orson Oriel Richins

Orson Oriel Richins

by Ena R. Mitchell

My mother Rachel Hennefer Richins and my father Orson Oriel Richins spent their childhood in Henefer, Utah. There they played and helped their parents, as all small children do. As they grew older they had many boy and girl friends. Orson Oriel Richins was considered as one of Mother’s best boy friends. People would often see them going to school together and after school they would sit on their favorite bench and pretend that it was a wagon. He would help her off the bench as if it were a seat in the wagon. He walked home with her and he always carried her books for her. The Devil’s Slide was a favorite spot for all the young people. They would gather there for their picnics and to pick wild currants. Another delightful spot for fun was called the Witches’ Rock. In the wintertime, all the young people would go sleigh riding together. The friendship of Orson and my mother grew into love and they were married in the Temple Endowment House at Salt Lake City on May 25, 1881. To this union were born nine children, three boys and six girls. Six months after Father married my mother, he married Caroline Fawcett under the law of polygamy.

In the fall of 1882 Father was indicted for polygamy. It was necessary for him to hide out from the Officers. The Officers kept watch over the house so closely that it was necessary for Mother to carry food to him. Father had to hide in the chicken house, and Mother carried his food to him in a horse nose sack so that the officers would not become suspicious of Father’s whereabouts.

Father sold his property in Henefer and put Mother on the train for her to go to Mesa, Arizona, telling her he would follow. It was six months before Mother could let her folks know where she was. The officer questioned Grandma Richins as to their whereabouts. She never told where Mother and Father went.

Mother lived in Mesa, Arizona for seven years. Two of her children were born there. As Father and Aunt Carrie were living in Mexico, it was necessary for Mother to make a living for her children. Mother provided for them by taking in washing and by nursing the sick. Father moved Mother to Mexico to be with him and Aunt Carrie, his second wife. Mother and Aunt Carrie lived in the same house and Mother always said that she loved Aunt Carrie like a sister. Aunt Carrie died, leaving three young children: Oriel, eight; Parley, six years old and Mary, who was 15 months old.

Mother raised these three children like her own. The love and respect these children showed Mother was an indication of a job well done. A few months after Caroline’s death, Father married his third wife, a widow by the name of Sadie Harper, with two young girls.

Mother worked hard doing the many things needed to care for her family, selling butter and eggs to support their needs. The older children had to do many chores on the ranch in Mexico, milking many cows night and morning. Mother made butter and cheese to sell and Father would freight, taking the eggs, butter and cheese to Deming and Silver City and Dog Springs, making the circle by wagon.^[1]See “Camp for the Night” for a story about Orson’s freighting adventures. Mother and children were home taking care of the ranch and milking the cows and attending to the many duties.

The Story of My Father’s Life

by Rebecca R. Sanders

My father, Orson Oriel Richins was born in Henefer, Utah on April 2, 1862 and died December 16, 1926, in Virden, New Mexico. His father, Charles W. Richins was born in Sheepscombe Glen, England on August 17, 1828, and died 27 August 1903 in Colonia Diaz, Mexico. His mother Louisa shill Richins, was born in Staffordshire, England on June 22, 1829. She died April 28, 1902, in Mesa, Arizona.

My father was born under the new and everlasting covenant and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of eight years. He progressed in the priesthood to a Seventy and acted as a Presiding Elder in several branches in Zion.

His childhood days were spent in Henefer, Utah helping his father on the farm and working with cattle. My father had many boy and girl friends. Among his favorite of the girl friends was little Rachel Hennefer, who was born October 30, 1861, in Henefer, Utah. Her parents were James Hennefer, who was born June 2, 1821, in Wordsley, England and Sarah Hulks, who was born November 25, 1823, in London, England.

Every day they would be seen going to school together and at play, they would sit on a certain bench and pretend it was a wagon. He would help her off the bench as if it were a seat in the wagon. He would walk home with her and carry her books. The Devil’s Slide was a favorite spot for the young folks, where they gathered for picnics and to pick currants.

In the wintertime, they would go sleigh riding. As they grew older their friendship grew to love. They were married in the Temple at Salt Lake City, Utah on May 25, 1881. To this union was born nine children, three boys and six girls.

Children of Rachel Hennefer Richins

• Judith Louisa (Thygerson), born April 26, 1882, at Henefer, Summit County, Utah and died on April 12, 1937, in Virden, New Mexico.
• Rachel Rebecca (Sanders), born March 25, 1885, at Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona and died on May 28, 1960, in Douglas, Arizona.
• Sarah Lillian, born August 3, 1888, at Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona and died June 13, 1891, in Colonia Diaz, Mexico.
• Orson James, born May 13, 1891, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico and died on 29 August 1974 in Lordsburg, New Mexico.
• Goldie Ireta (Wright), born August 30, 1893, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico and died January 30, 1920, in Hachita, New Mexico.
• George Arthur, born February 13, 1896, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico and died May 28, 1981, in Dallas Texas.
• Prudence Mae (Bowers), born on October 16, 1900, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico and died October 16, 1978, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
• Ether Wellington, born October 14, 1902, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico and died January 21, 1973, in Lordsburg, New Mexico.
• Ena Agnes(Mitchell), born January 3, 1906, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico and died December 1, 1999, in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Children of Caroline Fawcett Richins

• Joseph Oriel, born April 12, 1883, at Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, and died 19 March 1941 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
• Charles Parley, born September 18, 1886, at Deming, Grant County, New Mexico and died December 20, 1976, in Blythe, California.
• Emery Willard, born February 23, 1889, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, New Mexico and died May 27, 1891, in Colonia Diaz, Mexico.
• Mary Emma (Patton), born December 7, 1890, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico and died January 21, 1969, in Mesa, Arizona.

Children of Sarah Harper Richins

• Marland Lumin, born December 29, 1895, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico and died August 15, 1973.
• Carrie Roeen (Ford), born on October 25, 1899, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico and died May 12, 1983, in Prescott, Arizona.
• Sadie Esther (Agee), born on February 9, 1902, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico.
• Colola Beth (Whipple), born December 26, 1904, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico and died January 28, 1965, in Phoenix, Arizona.
• Orson Oriel, Jr., born July 5, 1908, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico. He died on April 24, 1990 in Chandler, Arizona.
• Olive Olga (McCulloch), born May 3, 1911, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Under the law of polygamy, Orson took Caroline Fawcett as his second wife and to them was born four children, three boys and one girl. Caroline Fawcett was born on August 24, 1862, in New Zealand. They were married on October 20, 1881. Her father’s name was Joseph Fawcett and her mother’s name was Mary Ann Stratford.

On February 23, 1895, he married Sarah Amanda Shurtliff Harper, who was a widow with two daughters, Mary Blanche and Elsa Vinetta. To them was born six children, two boys and four girls.

This made a total of nineteen (19) children in all for Orson Oriel Richins—eight boys and eleven girls.

Henefer, Utah

Orson moved from Henefer, Utah to Mesa, Arizona and lived there seven years. Then on account of his religious beliefs, he went to Old Mexico where he could live with his families. When father went to Mexico he made his home in a little town called Colonia Diaz. As an occupation, he took up freighting from Mexico to Deming, New Mexico. He took butter, eggs, cheese and all kinds of vegetables to sell and exchange for dry goods.

It was a lonely road over many mountains and very few travelers were seen on the road in the early days of 1887. The small towns were far apart and on many occasions, he saw bands of Apache Indians roving about. They would come to his wagon and stop him. Father always gave them whatever they wanted and when they had ransacked through all his provisions they would ride on their horses to the rear of the wagon for miles. Then they would give one of their war whoops, turn their horses, wave good-by to him and ride off in the direction from which they came. He said that he always had a prayer in his heart that his life would be spared and that he might see his families again.

On one of Father’s trips, ^[2]See “Camp for the Night” for a story about Orson’s freighting adventures. he had sold his load and was on his way home and as usual, he wanted to stop at an old man’s place in Emory Canyon. I think he was a prospector and lived in a one-room adobe house, which was at the entrance of Emory Canyon. It was in a large range of rugged mountains where the Indians had their hideout. There was a small spring at the house, where Father could water his horses.

He was in Emory Canyon just a few miles away from the house and it was getting late in the afternoon but he wanted to make the old prospector’s home before night. He heard a still small voice say, “Camp for the night.” So he hobbled his horses and went to bed, but was unable to sleep much, as he could not understand why he was told to camp there.

He arose very early the next morning, hitched his team to the wagon and started on his way expecting to make it to the old prospector’s for breakfast. He had only gone a short distance when he heard Indians whooping and yelling and of course, this put him on edge. As he neared the prospector’s home he could smell meat frying and thinking he was just in time for breakfast, he forgot the Indians, tied his team and went to the house to greet his old friend. Upon entering the house he could see that the Indians had been there, and he found his prospector friend dead.

The Indians had made a big fire in the stove and placed his body on it to burn. Hurriedly father took his friend’s body from the stove and buried it near the house, all the time fearing the Indians would return. He knew he was prompted by that still small voice the night before and the Lord had saved his life.

He continued his homeward journey and stopped at Alamo Huecco and Dog Springs where he met a cowboy and told him of his scare. For protection, they agreed to stay together until the Indians had gone back to their hideout and then father continued his journey home even though he had to pass over the Indian’s trail several times. The scare made him very nervous for several weeks so he discontinued his freighting for some time.

Missionary Moments

My father was called on a mission for the Church, which meant leaving his two wives and eleven children while he labored in the Central States Mission for 27 months. While on this mission he visited Carthage Jail, where the Prophet Joseph Smith was killed by the mob. The stains of the Prophet’s blood were still on the floor, which was covered with a carpet. They have tried to remove these stains but it cannot be done.

During this time he made many friends and converts and filled an honorable mission. He returned to his home in Colonia Diaz and found his families in good health, thankful they had prospered during his absence. After his mission he continued farming, raising cattle and freighting from Colonia Diaz to Guzman.

During this time he was called to serve as a home missionary with Brother Mabin as his companion. Some times they would take their wives and children with them as an outing or trip. On one of these trips they were on their way home from Colonia Morales and had camped overnight in Guadalupe Canyon.

While building a fire the next morning to cook breakfast, a mad coyote came in camp, jumped and scratched my father’s face. He tussled with the mad coyote and his first thoughts were of the Mabin children, who were sleeping on the ground close to where he was building up the fire. He awoke Brother Mabin and told him to cover the children so the coyote would not harm them.

The coyote got away from him but was killed by a rancher the next day. The fear of hydrophobia was so prevalent in his mind that he prayed to the Lord for deliverance from the fear. He knew his prayers were answered because the fear was taken from his mind. My father said he knew that through the power of the Lord no ill effects came from the scratches of the rabid coyote.

Exodus From Mexico

In 1912, during the Mexican Revolution, Father and his families were driven from their homes. They had to leave for the United States in such a hurry that they left all of their possessions behind them. After a few weeks the Revolution quieted down and a group of relatives went back to Mexico and gathered what few things were left in the houses and some of the cattle that had not been driven off.

My father took up a homestead not far from Hachita, New Mexico and close to the Mexico border. He lived there for a number of years and progressed very nicely, but due to his wife’s health, he sold out to the Diamond A Cattle Co. and moved to the town of Hachita, New Mexico.

Father was a very religious man and while in Hachita he was Presiding Elder over the branch of the Latter-day Saints Church that was started by the people who were driven out of Old Mexico at the time of the Exodus in 1912.

While in Hachita, word came from the church authorities for the Saints and settlers to buy farms in Red Rock, New Mexico, which is 38 miles north of Lordsburg. Father invested all he had in a farm in Red Rock, then he asked all of his children and their families to go there and buy a home so they would all be together. The three or four years spent in Red Rock proved very unsuccessful and father worked so hard his health began to fail him. He gave up farming and moved to Virden, New Mexico, where the people consisted of mostly Latter-day Saints and his former acquaintances of Old Mexico.

Father’s Final Words

Father loved to read the four standard works of the church and the Desert News. He was a great pioneer and loved to start new homes, but old age was creeping upon him and his health was failing fast. A short time after moving to Virden, he had a stroke, which made him bedfast. He knew that his time upon this earth was short so he called his wives, children grandchildren to his bedside and gave each a blessing.

His daughter Golda Ireta, who had passed on in death before him, January 30, 1920, assisted him in living these blessings, because he would pause all through his blessings and say, “Ireta bring me more blessings, more blessings Ireta.” In all he gave 29 blessings, which have been a help to all his families. His last words to his children were, “Live the Gospel and Teachings of Jesus Christ and the Lord will bless you for it.”

He passed away on the 16th of December 1926 and was laid to rest at Virden, New Mexico.

The Story of the Sick Horse

Ena R. Mitchell

I would like to relate a story father told us about one of his many experiences when he was freighting out of Mexico selling the cheese, eggs and butter mother made. Uncle Bill, as father always referred to him, lived in the mountain like a hermit. ^[3]See “Camp for the Night” for a story about Orson’s freighting adventures.

Father was always prayerful and believed in his Father in Heaven’s protecting care. Father always made it a point to visit Uncle Bill’s place when he made his rounds to tell him about things that were happening in the world and all the news he knew about their friends. Uncle bill lived near Antelope Wells in the mountains in what is known as Emory Canyon. He was a hermit living alone, mining and prospecting. Father always tried to stay the night with him so they could visit. This time he was trying to get to Uncle Bill’s before dark and for no reason one of his horses became very lame and sick. The horse seemed unable to walk and tried to lay down. Seeing the condition of his horse that evening, Father got out of the wagon, took hold of the bridle and led the horse off the road into the tall mesquites to hide from view if any passerby would happen to come along, as he had fear of stopping near the well. He prepared for the night and gave the best care he could to the sick horse.

During the night he heard a group of horses trotting on the road. His fear was Indians, as he knew that they traveled at night when they were on a War Party. He kept still and crawled to where his horses were, in hopes he could soothe them so they would not make a noise and attract the other horses. Right at daybreak father was up ready to start on his trip. He got up early in hopes to arrive at Uncle Bill’s in time for breakfast. He harnessed the horses and the sick horse showed no sign of being ill as he had been the night before, so he was soon on his way.

Upon entering Emory Canyon he could see the smoke from the chimney of Uncle Bill’s house and also smelled meat like beef frying. Father was pleased, thinking he would soon enjoy a good deer steak for breakfast. Father approached the house and thought it strange that Uncle Bill did not greet him when he drove up. Father jumped off the wagon and opened the door of the cabin and to his horror, he saw a red-hot stove and Uncle Bill tied across the stove burning. Father, realizing that the Indians had just left, hurriedly cut the rawhide strings that held Uncle Bill on the stove and quickly dug a shallow grave, buried his friend behind the cabin and left before the Indians returned.

Father realized that the party of Indians that had passed him in the night had killed his friend. Thanking the Lord for his protection, he always felt and knew the Lord had a hand in the reason for his horse becoming so sick the night before. The Lord had answered his prayers and gave him protection so he might return to his family.

Missionary Opportunities

Father was called on a mission in October 1896 to serve in the Central States from October 1896 to January 29, 1899, for a total of 27 months. He left his families to care for themselves in his absence. I have heard my mother (Rachel) repeat many times how blessed his loved ones were while he was on his mission. Mother said they had very little food in the home, only enough flour to make one batch of bread when he left. When he came home he found the family well. Mother had cared for her family well and they were able to buy all their needs in clothing and food from the sale of cheese and butter she made and from selling eggs at a store in town. She had also purchased enough bricks to build a new brick home and there were two barrels of flour in the home.

Exodus From Mexico

The Mexican Revolution necessitated Father move his families to the United States for safety. When they left Mexico they went from Colonia Diaz, Mexico to the Corner Ranch in the United States (New Mexico), which was about 20 miles away, they stayed for three days. They hoped to return to their homes once the fighting in northern Mexico calmed down, but the conditions in Mexico only worsened. They were told they would not be able to return to Mexico for the foreseeable future. The United States Government ordered the refugees to Hachita, New Mexico and provided tents for their families. The tents, food and clothing were provided until the people could provide for themselves. I was 5 years old, but I remember the Tent City. I loved to go with Mother when she went to the big tent, which was the Commissary, to get food. Mother would give me dried peaches, prunes and apples to eat, which was such a treat. We eventually moved from the Tent City to Old Hachita. Mother was able to find work at a boarding house to support the family. Father was busy trying to find land to homestead. He and my brother-in-law, Ras Thygerson filed on a homestead twenty miles southeast of Hachita.

Father built a long one-room house made of 1″ x 12″ boards and a few half windows. It had a tin roof and a dirt floor. To deflect the heat, father and the boys went to the Big Hatchet Mountains and cut bear grass to put on the roof. We lived in this house with a dirt floor for over a year before father put a wooden floor in the house. Mother was very particular about the care of the dirt floor. Each day it had to be dampened and swept. The floor was hard and had little or no dust. We lived on the homestead, with father doing dryland farming and raising some cattle, from 1913 to 1922.

Father was called to be the President of the Branch in Hachita and the only means of transportation we had for many years was a team of horses and wagon. Each Sunday morning we were up at daybreak and ready to travel the 20 miles to attend Sunday School and Church. Our lives were very primitive.

The ranch was near the Mexican Border and many nervous and dangerous days and nights were passed. Mexicans often crossed into the United States stealing and murdering the white ranchers who lived along the border. While we lived on this ranch, my father and brothers never left the house or went anywhere on the homestead without first strapping a belt of bullets around their waist and carrying their rifles. Guns and ammunition were always kept in the house where they could be reached quickly. Even when going to and from the fields, guns were taken. Whenever we heard that some ruthless Mexican who had molested or killed other ranchers in the area was about, we were not permitted to undress for bed or use lights of any kind, as they might announce our whereabouts. We lived in constant fear.

Father, realizing the danger his family was in, asked the United States Army to be encamped below our ranch near the border. A small detachment of soldiers was stationed five miles above us at the Home Ranch, a large cattle company headquarters. The soldiers patrolled each day to the Mexican border, which was below our ranch. This offered a little protection for us.

Mother refused to live on the ranch any longer and moved to Hachita and ran a boarding house during the year of 1920-21. In 1922 she moved to Duncan, Arizona where I was to attend High School. Father sold the ranch and bought a small farm at Red Rock, New Mexico. The farm was very sandy and this purchase turned out to be unprofitable. Father and mother lived at Red Rock two years. Father was unable to make headway farming, as his health was very poor. Father underwent an operation for a hernia, after which father never fully regained his health. Father sold the farm at Red Rock and bought a lot in Virden, New Mexico where father and mother wanted to live. They moved to Virden and lived in one room of the home of father’s halfsister (Aunt Bea Smith) until they could build their own home in Virden. Father died December 16, 1926, and was buried in Virden, New Mexico.

The Return Home: Excerpts From My Missionary Journal

by Orson Oriel Richins

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, at Brother B. Pierces, Saturday, January 28, 1899.

The morning beautiful, the weather clear, sun shines bright, Brother Pierce and family well. I wash myself at Brother Pierce’s, went and ate breakfast with Brother J. L. Wilson at the restaurant, from there came and got ready to go on the RGSM & Pacific RR. Leaving Ciudad Juarez 9:00 am for Guzman station 78 miles. Arriving at Guzman Station 12:00. I was accompanied by G. L. Wilson, A. P. Spillsberry and one Mr. Stewart from the East coming into Mexico to look at the Country. The last named person and I had quite a chat one morning. Mr. Stewart said that the Prophet Joseph Smith was blessed with more than man’s wisdom, for said he, “He could not have organized the Church so perfect if he had not been blessed by Divine Wisdom.” I was met at the Station by my son Oriel Richins, and my brother-in-law Robert Maybin, (Eunice’s husband). Was pleased to see each other. From the Station we went ¼ mile to the wagons, where I was met by my dear wife Sarah and my daughter Rebecca and my sister Eunice. It was a happy meeting, being absent from each other 27 months. Robert Maybin had soon hitched up the horses on the wagon, and we were soon traveling towards Colonia Diaz, just before sundown we camped and ate supper, and let the horses have a rest and eat. We then hitched up again and drove until about 8:30 pm. Here we camped for the night, 25 miles from Guzman. The moon shined bright, a nice beautiful evening. We made our bed on the ground, said our prayers and I administered to Eunice, we then all retired for the night.

At our Camp on the Road, Sunday, January 29, 1999.

We all got up feeling well, (Eunice better). Made a fire, Eunice got breakfast ready, we said our prayers and ate our breakfast after which hitched up the horses on the wagon, and rolled out of camp about 9:00 am. The road nice and weather pleasant. Arrived at my home about 12:00. Here I met my dear wife Rachel and the rest of the family; Judith, Parley, Mary, Orson, Ireta, and George. Also two of my sisters, Agnes and Lois. We all got into the wagon and went to my Father’s. Here I meet my dear father who is 70 years old, enjoying good health and looking better than when I left. Also, met Aunt Agnes and the rest of my brothers and sisters including my brother Marland who I had not seen for 7 years. It was a joyful meeting, finding each other enjoying the best of health. We ate diner at Father’s and after dinner we sat in the parlor and sang hymns and had an enjoyable time. After which I took Oriel’s pacing mare and went up to my home in Diaz. Here I meet my little son Marland who had grown so much I would not have known him. Also Blanche and Elsie who had grown to be big girls. It was a joy to meet all my dear family, enjoying good health, and to think God had so blessed us, and permitted us to see each other again, being returned to the bosom of my loved ones once more after being absent 27 months on a mission in the Northern Illinois Conference. We feel to thank God for this glorious blessing. I returned from my home in Diaz to the Ranch. Here I was surprised by a wagon load of young folks (12) from town. The evening was spent singing and reciting. I also gave them a small sketch of my missionary experiences: the entertainment lasted until about 11:00 pm, dismissed by prayer by O. O. Richins. Our guests returning home to Diaz. I then had family prayers and we all retired for the night 10:30 pm.

The Value of Prayer in Father’s Life

by Ena R. Mitchell

In September 1921 mother, (Rachel H. Richins) her grandson Sidney Wright, and I moved to Duncan, Arizona, where I was to attend High School. We lived in three rooms of my brother Orson’s large house. He and his wife and family were living near Duncan. Mother did not want to live anymore at the ranch near the Mexico border. She felt if she moved to Duncan near her son and where I could attend High School, Father would consent to sell the homestead.

About the middle of September or the first part of October 1921, Father (Orson O. Richins) came and spent two days with us in Duncan. He had to return to the ranch to take care of a few things, and would only be gone overnight. Sidney was four years old and being young wanted to go with his grandpa. It was a thrill for him to ride in the Model “T” Ford with his grandfather. On their return trip to Duncan from the ranch, they had to travel an old road, which went near Brockman, about 20 miles southeast of Lordsburg. The Model “T” got stuck in mud. Father tried to get the car out but failed, so the only thing he could do was to get a shovel to dig the car out. Fortunately, he saw a ranch house about three-quarters of a mile off the road and thought it best to walk to it to see if he could borrow a shovel or something to dig with to get the car out of the mud.

Father went to the ranch house and borrowed the shovel and returned to the car and worked with the car and dug it out with the shovel. There was no road to the ranch house and the ground was muddy, as it had rained the day before. Father thought it best to walk again to the ranch house to return the shovel rather than risk getting the car stuck again. Father cautioned Sidney again not to get out of the car, advising him of the danger of wild animals and being lost in the thick brush. This worried father and he hurried to return the shovel he had borrowed. After returning the shovel he took a short cut through the brush in hopes to return to Sidney sooner, when suddenly the earth caved in beneath him and he found himself dangling in an old well up to his armpits. Father swung his legs and feet in hopes to touch something to get a footing against the side of the well, but he was unable to touch anything with his feet. He made efforts to try to wiggle forward on his elbows on the old planks that had been covered with dirt, but every time he made a move he could hear and feel the boards crack, and give from the weight of his body.

Father struggled for some time in hopes he could move enough to be able to touch a side of the old well with his feet, but it was impossible for when he did the rotten boards cracked and gave way. Father was gravely concerned about his predicament, for he seemed doomed to fall in the old abandoned well to his death.

He realized the danger of his young grandson Sidney, alone in the car in a wild and brushy country. What would happen to him if he got out of the car and wandered away in the tall brush? He would never be found and would be lost forever. In this anxiety, Father prayed humbly for some time and with anguish called upon the Lord to be freed from this awful peril and to deliver him so he could go to his young grandson. While praying for his grandson’s safety, Father poured out his heart humbly and in earnest prayer to the Lord for Sidney’s safety and protection.

Father recalls only that he awoke and found himself lying on the ground near the well where he had been dangling. He never knew how he ever got out of the well, or how long he had been lying on the ground unconscious. He knew it was about noon when he got the car out of the mud and went to return the shovel to the ranch, and now it was late in the afternoon. Father said he crawled some distance away from the well, as he was afraid that he might again become trapped. He hurried to the car, as he was anxious to reach Sidney. He had a prayer in his heart that he would find his young grandson safe. He half ran to the car, as he was some distance away from it, and found Sidney sound asleep in the back. Father knelt beside the car and offered up a prayer of thanksgiving to his Heavenly Father, thanking him for his blessings: delivering him out of the hole and finding his grandson safe and asleep in the Model “T”.

It was early evening when Father and Sidney reached Duncan. Orson was chopping wood and I was carrying the wood into the house when Father came and sat down on a large stump and related his experience. With tears running down his face and shaking from the ordeal, Father told of his pleading to his Father in Heaven to spare him, and for the safety of his grandson.

Father never wanted to speak of this experience again, as he was very humble and touched by the ordeal he had gone through. Father had great faith, especially that the Lord hears and answers prayers. He taught his children to have faith in our Heavenly Father as He hears our prayers and answers them.