Pictured above: The Orson Oriel Richins homestead/ranch located twenty miles south of Hachita, New Mexico and north of the Corner Ranch—1913.

Orson had two water wells dug and he cleared 160 acres for dry farming. He raised wheat, milo-maize, beans and potatos, all of which found a ready market in Hachita.

While living in Mexico, Orson had freighted between Colonia Diaz, Mexico, Deming, New Mexico and Corner Ranch/Dog Springs, also in New Mexico, in addition to ranching.

From 1914 to 1922, Orson served as Presiding Elder of the Hachita Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After this time, life along the border grew too dangerous for his family and he sold his ranch to M.T. Everhart, owner of the Hachet Co. Ranch. Orson and Rachel then moved to Red Rock, New Mexico to try farming there.

(See Heartbeats of Colonia Diaz, by Annie R. Johnson, pages 368-369)