Thomas and Harriet lived in Salt Lake for four or five years where two children were born, Alice Marinda (January 22, 1857) and Esther Ann (April 6 1860). Esther Ann died when she was two months old and was buried in Salt Lake City. On August 8, 1860 they went to the Endowment House and received their endowments and were sealed to each other for time and eternity.

They were called to go south and help settle what is now known as Goshen, Utah County, Utah. Thomas and his brother John and their families left Salt Lake in 1860, traveling south crossing the Jordan River south of the Point of the Mountain and traveling along the west side of Utah Lake. As they neared the river, the oxen Thomas was driving, being thirsty, made a rush for the water and went down a steep bank into the deep water. The wagon box tipped off and floated down the stream.

Thomas managed to catch hold of the cattle and they swam to the bank. The women and children were in the other wagon with Uncle John. A just Thomas had in his wagon went bobbing down the stream and in the excitement, Harriet, thinking it was he, cried in alarm, “Save Tom! Save Tom!” Then she saw him safe on the other bank. After the danger and fright were over, they had many a laugh at this incident. The wagon box and some of the things were recovered a few miles down the river.

Arriving at Goshen, Thomas engaged in farming and working at his trade of blacksmithing. While living there, three sons were born to them: Abner (August 31, 1861), Arthur E. (October 5, 1863), and Thomas A. (May 15, 1866).

They next moved to Pleasant Grove, Utah County, Utah, then known as Battle Creek, because a battle with the Indians had been fought there. They lived on what was then called Farnsworth’s Hill on the road to Battle Creek Canyon. Here Harriet Priscilla was born (December 22, 1868). They then built a log house north of the flour mill. The logs for this house were split on the old pit near Battle Creek Canyon.

Thomas’ brothers, Charles and Edward, who had settled at Henefer, Summit County, Utah, wanted him to come to Henefer and work at blacksmithing, so in 1869 they moved there. The railroad was being built down Weber Canyon at this time, so there was much work there. On November 9, 1870, my father, Oscar John Deveraux Richins was born.

Thomas had occasion to go to Echo Canyon and as he was driving along, a band of Indians on horses stopped him. They took their bows and arrows and circled around the wagon. He thought his time to die had come, but at some words from their chief, they all rode away.

When they had lived in Henefer a little over a year, the blacksmith shop burned down, so they moved back to their home in Pleasant Grove. On their journey back from Henefer, Albert, then about 15 years old, and Alice, about 12, walked and drove their stock from Salt Lake to Pleasant Grove. Albert walked barefoot. They tried to take a short cut over the hills and became lost. They did not arrive home until a long time after dark.

The mill ditch had been dug right next to their home while they had been gone, so they had to move farther east on their property to avoid being so close to the water. The United Order was in effect when they returned so Thomas took his blacksmithing tools and worked in the Order Shop, which was located just east of the old mercantile store.

Harriet’s brother, Joseph Deveraux, with his wife and six children came from England so she and Thomas took them into their small log house to live with them until her brother could find a home for his family. Later Thomas built a larger soft-rock home which is still standing, although it has been remodeled and has been built onto.

Thomas and Harriet’s son, Marcus E., was born January 1, 1873 and their last child, Nettie E. was born February 7, 1875.

Harriet did much toward helping with the finances. Besides caring for her large family, she dried fruit and took in sewing. Her special line of sewing was making men’s and boys’ suits and overcoats. She also made fancy gloves made from buckskin which she obtained from the Indians, stitching them with bright colored silk. While living in England she worked making kid gloves.

She was called on to help care for the sick, sometimes being both doctor and nurse. She took care of her aged father who was blind and bedridden for the last six years of his life. She did everything she could to make him comfortable until his death.

The children helped too. They gleaned wheat from the fields after it had been harvested and gathered ground cherries which were scalded to remove a gummy substance, and then dried or made into preserves to sell. They had one pair of shoes each fall and went barefoot the rest of the time.

Thomas and Harriet were the parents of ten children—six boys and four girls. Four of these children pioneered Ashley Valley (or Vernal, Uintah County, Utah):

• Albert F., who married Helena Nielson
• Abner E., who married Frances Fage
• Arthur, who married Emily Dee
• Priscilla, who married Henson Eaton
• Two died: Esther in infancy and Marcus when a young man.

The others remained in Pleasant Grove, lived and died there and are buried in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery:

• Alice, the wife of Edward Warburton
• Thomas, who married Ellen Jay
• Oscar, who married Hulda Anderson
• Nettie, wife of William Green

Thomas and Harriet’s soft rock home in Pleasant Grove, Utah with Thomas and some of his children in the foreground.

Both Thomas and Harriet were affected with deafness and it was a great handicap to them. Although in later years they were denied the privilege of hearing the gospel preached, they enjoyed reading the scriptures.

Harriet died May 14, 1896, age 63 years. Thomas passed away December 28, 1896, after suffering a stroke on Christmas day. Both are buried in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery.

Our wonderful grandparents stood steadfastly by the church in the early days even at the cost of life itself, and left home, country, and comfort to conquer the Great American Desert for the privilege of worshipping in the Lord’s appointed way and building up the Kingdom of God. What a dept of gratitude we owe these stalwart pioneer ancestors of ours!