I, John Willmott Richins, son of Charles Wager and Agnes Mary Willmott Richins, was born September 13, 1895, at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico. I was the 29th child in a family of thirty children born to my father. My father had three wives: 1) Louisa Shill, 2) Esther Stowe Ovard, and 3) Agnes Mary Willmott. I am the ninth child of Agnes Willmott.

Like Nephi of old, having been born of goodly parents, I have a noble heritage and sincerely trust that I can do honor to the name which my father gave to me. I was almost eight years old when my father passed away August 27, 1903. After my father's death, mother with her family moved into Diaz. I attended grade school in Colonia Diaz, but I did not have the privilege of further schooling.

Mother's family consisted of ten children. They are as follows: Jesse Willmott, Eunice Ann, Edward Byron, Lois Elizabeth, Agnes Priscilla, Bertha Louisa, Beatrice, Charles Richard, John Willmott, and Roxie Eliza. My brother Jesse and sisters Eunice, Lois and Agnes were all married by 1910. This made my sister Beatrice the oldest at home. I was six weeks old when my brother Byron was dragged to death by a horse on October 27, 1895. I worked out on the ranch a good deal riding the range and fence lines even though I was just a boy.