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 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. Mother and children were home taking care of the ranch and milking the cows and attending to the many duties.