When a girl, she went through the trials that were common with all the Pioneers, eating bread made from wheat ground in the coffee mill. They were often hungry from the lack of food, and the bread even scratched their throat. Because of the grasshoppers taking everything they had, they surely went short of bread and butter. She gathered wool, spun it making stockings and dresses. At the early age of sixteen she became a Relief Society teacher which office she filled with credit. There was no Young Ladies' Mutual those days, and not much Sunday School, so she went to the Relief Society meetings, and enjoyed going teaching with an older sister, doing that until she married in 1877.
Emma met and married James Thomas Rich, son of John Henry and Lydia Pond Rich, who was born June 2, 1855 in Centerville, Davis County, Utah. They were married on December 27, 1877 in the Salt Lake Endowment House, then she moved to Richville, Morgan County, Utah were they lived the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of eleven children, six living to adulthood.
Her husband served a mission to the Southern States from November 15, 1898 to January 4, 1900, leaving his wife and six children. It was hard to feed the family and send money for his keep. One time he sent for money for a new suit as his was so shabby from constant wear. It was their conference, and he needed it badly. She sold and gathered all she could and still lacked five dollars. She called her family together and offered a prayer to the Lord that the way might be opened up for her to get this extra five dollars. She received no answer, and so decided to mail what she had. As she walked in the post office, she shook hands with Brother James Tucker, and he left $5.00 in her hand, the exact amount she needed. She always felt the Lord had heard and answered her prayers. That night she called her family together and offered a prayer of Thanksgiving.
She was very active as a church worker in the ward in which she lived, having been a Relief Society teacher and 1st counselor to Fanny Taggart for 17 years. Sister Taggart died in 1891, and in 1901 Emma was chosen President and held the office for 25 years until 29 June 1926, at which time she resigned because of ill health. While she was Relief Society President she visited the sick, laid out the dead, and made and dressed them in their temple clothes for burial. She went teaching with a baby on one arm and a bucket on the other and gathered up the donations of the sisters such as eggs, a bar of soap, spool of thread, and any little thing the sisters could afford to give. In gathering up the wheat for the time of need she and her partner would hitch up the horses on a wagon or buggy and drive all day, then deliver the grain to the Relief Society granary where it was kept.
She enjoyed her work and thankful for having the privilege of associated with the brothers and sisters of her ward until her health failed and she was released with a nice social and party.
Emma and James were the parents of eleven children:
William John Rich 1879 - 1888 - died age 9 years
Thomas James Rich 1881 - 1881 twin died near birth
Elizabeth Emma Rich 1881 - 1881 twin died near birth
James Henry Rich 1882 - 1960
Charles Alfred Rich 1884 - 1966
Lydia Jane Rich Parkinson 1886 - 1978
Charlotte Mae Rich Chapin 1889 - 1975
Emma Flossie Rich Spencer 1891 - 1971
Baby Rich 1893 - 1893 died near birth
Elsie Hemming Rich 1895-1898 died age 2 1/2 years
Eliza Edith Rich Holley 1898 - 1973
One son, James Henry was counselor in the Bishopric of Slaterville Ward, Ogden, Utah for 10 years and Bishop for five years. Charles Alfred spent two years in the Eastern States Mission. Lydia was in the presidency of the Relief Society of the North Morgan Ward, for 23 years. All of Emma and James children were married in the Salt Lake Temple and have filled many positions of trust in the LDS Church. Five of their grandchildren filled honorable LDS missions. Five grandsons served in the Armed Forces.
Both Emma and James remained faithful Latter-day Saints until death. James Thomas Rich died March 18, 1918 at the age of 62. Emma lived another 22 years, and had said, "I trust I shall ever be faithful in the truth of the Gospel at all times to the end of my life." Emma passed away at the age of 82, on December 27, 1940 at the home of her son James, in Slaterville, Weber County, Utah. She had been ill for three years, following a paralyzing stroke. Her funeral was in Richville, and she is buried next to her husband in the South Morgan Cemetery.
Memories of Grandma Rich (Emma Elizabeth Hemming Rich) by Hazel Chapin Mickelsen (grand-daughter)
Grandmother Rich was a very special spiritual person. The way I remember her best is seeing her sitting in her wooden rocking chair which was always by the table in the dining room. On the chair was a beautiful hand embroidered piece of cross stitch on blue and white gingham in the design of a deer scene. I remember it being very detailed. There was a cushion on the chair's bottom stuffed fat with chicken feathers to match the back.
Her hair was grey, and always looked neat by being all combed upon top of her head in a bun pinned with bone hair pins. Some brown combs were added to keep the short ends in place, plus all the ladies at that time wore them. The fun thing about her hair was that she would take it down and let me comb and brush it by the hour. I would style it every way I could think of. I enjoyed this very much, and I believe she did also.
She always wore a half apron which was just gathered on a waist band. Her dress was long with plain long sleeves, no gathering on a band or elastic on the bottom of them, just hemmed. I guess you would say these garments were made of calico or gingham. She wore black laced oxfords. She wore small lens gold rimmed glasses.
I can remember her house very well in detail. The kitchen was small with a coal cook stove. The oven door was left open much of the time when not in use for taking to help with the heating of the house. I'm sure that stove had cooked many, many tasty good meals, and baked many delicious cookies, pies, and breads. It seems one could never catch her with her pantry empty, because she always had a big crock of the best oatmeal cookies sitting on the floor of her pantry, oh, were they ever good !! There was a small table with drop leaves sitting front of the kitchen window. Flower pots with blooming house plants were on the window sill. I believe they were mostly geraniums. On the wall, opposite from the stove, were shelves where dishes, pans, and those things used daily were kept. This had a front curtain of calico gathered on a string or rod which would keep things more private, plus it would keep out the dust so things would stay cleaner. There was a small bedroom off the kitchen which had a big fat feather tick on the bed.
In the dining room there was a cot with both sides down so it looked like a small sofa. There was also a beautiful china cupboard where her special dishes and other precious things were kept and were just used for company. There was a pot-bellied stove to keep the room cozy and comfortable.
Two small rooms were off the north end of the dining room. One was the pantry which had shelves across one end, and a waist high cupboard across the other end. On top of this cupboard would be sitting a round shallow milk pan filled with milk, and thick rich cream that had come to the top. We would have a thick piece of Grandma's good homemade bread spread with luscious sweet cream skimmed from the milk, and sugar sprinkled over the top. We would take it in our hands, and go outside on the porch to eat our special treat. It was yummy ! There was also a boiler with a dish towel in the bottom, and a tight fitting lid which kept things from drying out. This sat on the floor under the window.
The other room off the dining room was a small closet, and was used for hanging clothes and storage. I remember well, helping to pick the large Greening apples from the big trees around the lot and preparing them for winter to keep in this closet. We wrapped each apple in newspaper before putting them into the bushel box.
Off the dining room also, was a large room which was the parlor. All I remember of this room is that it seemed huge. There was an organ, a large square dining table in the middle of the room, lovely lace curtains which gathered at the top of the window and fell to the floor in soft folds. There were dark green blinds to be pulled at night, and a woven rug on the floor. Several handmade braided area rugs were scattered over the traffic areas.
Our trips from our home in Morgan to Richville were really special to us, and were planned well in advance. We had a white horse named "Nellie" who pulled the one-seated buggy. We would go spend the day in Richville with Grandma while my father was at home working. After we would get past East Canyon Creek (headed West on Young Street) and up to the "Y" where we turned south, we would think we were halfway there. There was a large irrigation ditch which was parallel to the road after we turned south on the last corner. My mother would drive "Old Nellie" down into the ditch and we rode along in it as far as we could in the water before coming to a curve in the ditch where there was a bridge. Mother said the water would lubricate the buggy wheels and also cool "Nellie" off.
Another thing I remember was the big raspberry patch We would help to pick them when we would go to visit. We always used to go to the chicken coop also, where there were about twenty five large Plymouth rock hens. They laid big brown eggs, and it was fun to gather them in a special bucket and take them to the house. We played house in the many apple tress, and waded in a little ditch which ran just inside the front fence. It was always fun to watch for the mailman too, because there was a real mailbox for him to put the mail in, and we could take it into the house.
It was always fun to go to Grandma's, and we all loved her very much.
Things I remember of my grandmother (Emma Elizabeth Hemming Rich) by Mae Chapin Butters (grand-daughter)
I remember the shiny corner kettles on the bench outside the back step. The steps were scrubbed till they were worn from scrubbing.
The trail down to Uncle Charles Rich's home through the garden; they always had a big garden.
The apple orchard of Greening and red Wealthy apples. We used to go and pick several boxes for winter and wrap each apple in newspaper so they would keep better for winter use. We did not have a basement, so we put them in the back of the closet where it was dark. The green apples were so good to bake, and the red ones were better to eat.
The red and white check kitchen tablecloth which was worn in holes on the corners. The old gray dishrag she had, and Uncle Amos (Aunt Eliza's husband) washing the dishes for one big family get together, tore a dish towel in two pieces, to use one-half for a dishrag.
Cookies in the big crock on the floor in the pantry. I never found it empty - not even once.
Grandma's big feather bed, and how I used to go up to her place and stay by myself for a few days at a time. We would kneel together by the side of the bed every night, and she would always say the nicest prayer out loud, then we would climb into bed. She slept better than I did however, because she snored and kept me awake part of the night, but I never did tell her so.
Sometimes when mother would want to go to Grandmother's on a Sunday afternoon, Dad just didn't want to go. He would hitch up the horse to the buggy for us, so mother and we three girls could go by ourselves.
I remember being to Grandmother's sometimes when Aunt Lydia and Uncle Fred Parkinson and family came. As soon as they got there Uncle Fred would lay down on the couch in the dining room and go to sleep. As soon as he woke up he'd say, "Well, Lydia, let's go home". While he slept, I remember Ruth, Ida, and I would go in the parlor. Ruth would always get a book out of the bottom of the sideboard and read, but I guess Ida and I just got into things. We always used to look at all the knickknacks on the sideboard. Grandma had a glass chicken like a dish with a lid on, and china dogs, etc. We would only look, and not take anything down.
Grandma always had such nice ways and was always so good to us kids. She would come to our house and stay a few days or sometimes a week at a time. She would often help darn socks, sew on buttons, or whatever she could do that would help. We all loved her to come, and tried to coax her to stay longer. Whenever she got sick, she always came to our house to recuperate.
Grandma always wore a waist slip apron over her dress. I remember when she had her stroke at the last, and she was flat in bed and helpless and had to be cared for and fed everything she ate. She used to say to me that she wished I could stay with her and take care of her all the time. I did stay for a few days at a time and relieve others. She always said she hoped she wouldn't get sick and have to be cared for and become a burden to others, but that was exactly what happened to her, and she had to be cared for for three years before her passing.
She was alone for 22 years after Grandpa died, and we all loved her very much. I shall always remember the very lovable, special person that Grandma was to everyone.
She enjoyed her work and thankful for having the privilege of associated with the brothers and sisters of her ward until her health failed and she was released with a nice social and party.
Emma and James were the parents of eleven children:
 |
| James Thomas and Emma Elizabeth Hemming Rich with their children William John and James Henry |
William John Rich 1879 - 1888 - died age 9 years
Thomas James Rich 1881 - 1881 twin died near birth
Elizabeth Emma Rich 1881 - 1881 twin died near birth
James Henry Rich 1882 - 1960
Charles Alfred Rich 1884 - 1966
Lydia Jane Rich Parkinson 1886 - 1978
Charlotte Mae Rich Chapin 1889 - 1975
Emma Flossie Rich Spencer 1891 - 1971
Baby Rich 1893 - 1893 died near birth
Elsie Hemming Rich 1895-1898 died age 2 1/2 years
Eliza Edith Rich Holley 1898 - 1973
One son, James Henry was counselor in the Bishopric of Slaterville Ward, Ogden, Utah for 10 years and Bishop for five years. Charles Alfred spent two years in the Eastern States Mission. Lydia was in the presidency of the Relief Society of the North Morgan Ward, for 23 years. All of Emma and James children were married in the Salt Lake Temple and have filled many positions of trust in the LDS Church. Five of their grandchildren filled honorable LDS missions. Five grandsons served in the Armed Forces.
Both Emma and James remained faithful Latter-day Saints until death. James Thomas Rich died March 18, 1918 at the age of 62. Emma lived another 22 years, and had said, "I trust I shall ever be faithful in the truth of the Gospel at all times to the end of my life." Emma passed away at the age of 82, on December 27, 1940 at the home of her son James, in Slaterville, Weber County, Utah. She had been ill for three years, following a paralyzing stroke. Her funeral was in Richville, and she is buried next to her husband in the South Morgan Cemetery.
Memories of Grandma Rich (Emma Elizabeth Hemming Rich) by Hazel Chapin Mickelsen (grand-daughter)
Grandmother Rich was a very special spiritual person. The way I remember her best is seeing her sitting in her wooden rocking chair which was always by the table in the dining room. On the chair was a beautiful hand embroidered piece of cross stitch on blue and white gingham in the design of a deer scene. I remember it being very detailed. There was a cushion on the chair's bottom stuffed fat with chicken feathers to match the back.
Her hair was grey, and always looked neat by being all combed upon top of her head in a bun pinned with bone hair pins. Some brown combs were added to keep the short ends in place, plus all the ladies at that time wore them. The fun thing about her hair was that she would take it down and let me comb and brush it by the hour. I would style it every way I could think of. I enjoyed this very much, and I believe she did also.
She always wore a half apron which was just gathered on a waist band. Her dress was long with plain long sleeves, no gathering on a band or elastic on the bottom of them, just hemmed. I guess you would say these garments were made of calico or gingham. She wore black laced oxfords. She wore small lens gold rimmed glasses.
I can remember her house very well in detail. The kitchen was small with a coal cook stove. The oven door was left open much of the time when not in use for taking to help with the heating of the house. I'm sure that stove had cooked many, many tasty good meals, and baked many delicious cookies, pies, and breads. It seems one could never catch her with her pantry empty, because she always had a big crock of the best oatmeal cookies sitting on the floor of her pantry, oh, were they ever good !! There was a small table with drop leaves sitting front of the kitchen window. Flower pots with blooming house plants were on the window sill. I believe they were mostly geraniums. On the wall, opposite from the stove, were shelves where dishes, pans, and those things used daily were kept. This had a front curtain of calico gathered on a string or rod which would keep things more private, plus it would keep out the dust so things would stay cleaner. There was a small bedroom off the kitchen which had a big fat feather tick on the bed.
In the dining room there was a cot with both sides down so it looked like a small sofa. There was also a beautiful china cupboard where her special dishes and other precious things were kept and were just used for company. There was a pot-bellied stove to keep the room cozy and comfortable.
Two small rooms were off the north end of the dining room. One was the pantry which had shelves across one end, and a waist high cupboard across the other end. On top of this cupboard would be sitting a round shallow milk pan filled with milk, and thick rich cream that had come to the top. We would have a thick piece of Grandma's good homemade bread spread with luscious sweet cream skimmed from the milk, and sugar sprinkled over the top. We would take it in our hands, and go outside on the porch to eat our special treat. It was yummy ! There was also a boiler with a dish towel in the bottom, and a tight fitting lid which kept things from drying out. This sat on the floor under the window.
The other room off the dining room was a small closet, and was used for hanging clothes and storage. I remember well, helping to pick the large Greening apples from the big trees around the lot and preparing them for winter to keep in this closet. We wrapped each apple in newspaper before putting them into the bushel box.
Off the dining room also, was a large room which was the parlor. All I remember of this room is that it seemed huge. There was an organ, a large square dining table in the middle of the room, lovely lace curtains which gathered at the top of the window and fell to the floor in soft folds. There were dark green blinds to be pulled at night, and a woven rug on the floor. Several handmade braided area rugs were scattered over the traffic areas.
Our trips from our home in Morgan to Richville were really special to us, and were planned well in advance. We had a white horse named "Nellie" who pulled the one-seated buggy. We would go spend the day in Richville with Grandma while my father was at home working. After we would get past East Canyon Creek (headed West on Young Street) and up to the "Y" where we turned south, we would think we were halfway there. There was a large irrigation ditch which was parallel to the road after we turned south on the last corner. My mother would drive "Old Nellie" down into the ditch and we rode along in it as far as we could in the water before coming to a curve in the ditch where there was a bridge. Mother said the water would lubricate the buggy wheels and also cool "Nellie" off.
Another thing I remember was the big raspberry patch We would help to pick them when we would go to visit. We always used to go to the chicken coop also, where there were about twenty five large Plymouth rock hens. They laid big brown eggs, and it was fun to gather them in a special bucket and take them to the house. We played house in the many apple tress, and waded in a little ditch which ran just inside the front fence. It was always fun to watch for the mailman too, because there was a real mailbox for him to put the mail in, and we could take it into the house.
It was always fun to go to Grandma's, and we all loved her very much.
Things I remember of my grandmother (Emma Elizabeth Hemming Rich) by Mae Chapin Butters (grand-daughter)
I remember the shiny corner kettles on the bench outside the back step. The steps were scrubbed till they were worn from scrubbing.
The trail down to Uncle Charles Rich's home through the garden; they always had a big garden.
The apple orchard of Greening and red Wealthy apples. We used to go and pick several boxes for winter and wrap each apple in newspaper so they would keep better for winter use. We did not have a basement, so we put them in the back of the closet where it was dark. The green apples were so good to bake, and the red ones were better to eat.
The red and white check kitchen tablecloth which was worn in holes on the corners. The old gray dishrag she had, and Uncle Amos (Aunt Eliza's husband) washing the dishes for one big family get together, tore a dish towel in two pieces, to use one-half for a dishrag.
Cookies in the big crock on the floor in the pantry. I never found it empty - not even once.
Grandma's big feather bed, and how I used to go up to her place and stay by myself for a few days at a time. We would kneel together by the side of the bed every night, and she would always say the nicest prayer out loud, then we would climb into bed. She slept better than I did however, because she snored and kept me awake part of the night, but I never did tell her so.
Sometimes when mother would want to go to Grandmother's on a Sunday afternoon, Dad just didn't want to go. He would hitch up the horse to the buggy for us, so mother and we three girls could go by ourselves.
I remember being to Grandmother's sometimes when Aunt Lydia and Uncle Fred Parkinson and family came. As soon as they got there Uncle Fred would lay down on the couch in the dining room and go to sleep. As soon as he woke up he'd say, "Well, Lydia, let's go home". While he slept, I remember Ruth, Ida, and I would go in the parlor. Ruth would always get a book out of the bottom of the sideboard and read, but I guess Ida and I just got into things. We always used to look at all the knickknacks on the sideboard. Grandma had a glass chicken like a dish with a lid on, and china dogs, etc. We would only look, and not take anything down.
Grandma always had such nice ways and was always so good to us kids. She would come to our house and stay a few days or sometimes a week at a time. She would often help darn socks, sew on buttons, or whatever she could do that would help. We all loved her to come, and tried to coax her to stay longer. Whenever she got sick, she always came to our house to recuperate.
Grandma always wore a waist slip apron over her dress. I remember when she had her stroke at the last, and she was flat in bed and helpless and had to be cared for and fed everything she ate. She used to say to me that she wished I could stay with her and take care of her all the time. I did stay for a few days at a time and relieve others. She always said she hoped she wouldn't get sick and have to be cared for and become a burden to others, but that was exactly what happened to her, and she had to be cared for for three years before her passing.
She was alone for 22 years after Grandpa died, and we all loved her very much. I shall always remember the very lovable, special person that Grandma was to everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment