Charles Coulson Rich
Source: The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star, Volume
45; Published 1883; Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack.
Charles Coulson Rich was born August 21, 1809, in Campbell County, Kentucky; (now Hebron KY) was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Geo. M. Hinkle, in Tazewell County, Illinois, April 1st, 1832, and ordained an Elder in Fountain County, Indiana, by Zebedee Coltrin, while en route to Kirtland to see the Prophet Joseph.
Received his endowments in Kirtland Temple, and was ordained a High Priest under the hands of Patriarch Hyrum Smith, at Kirtland. Moved with his father to Far West, Missouri, in 1836, and was married to Sarah D. Pea, February 11th, 1837, near Caldwell County, Mo., by George M. Hinkle. He shared with the Saints all the persecutions they endured. While carrying a flag of truce between the camp of the Saints and mobocrats at Far West, he was shot at about 10 yards distant by one Bogard, a Methodist preacher and a mob officer at the battle of Crooked River, when David Patton fell mortally wounded, and while bullets were flying thick and fast, he laid down his sword in the heat of battle, and administered the ordinance of laying on hands to the dying hero; after which, he resumed the sword, assumed command, and the battle of Crooked River was won by the Saints.
Because of the prominent part he took in the Missouri troubles, he was forced to flee for his life through the wilderness into Illinois. He was ordained a member of the High Council in Nauvoo, and was also a member of the City Council. Left Nauvoo the 13th of February, 1846, and presided over Mount Pisgah Branch the following winter. Left Pisgah March 20th, 1847, for Winter Quarters, starting for Salt Lake June 14th, 1847, in charge of a. company of moving Saints.
He arrived in Salt Lake October 3rd, 1847. Acted during the absence of the Twelve in the valley as Counselor to Father John Smith. Was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, February 12th, 1849. Started on a mission to California, October 9th, 1849, and returned home November 4th, 1850. Again started to California, March 6th, 1851, with a portion of his family and a company of Saints, by the southern route, to purchase a place for the location of the Saints that might be gathered from the islands of the Pacific. With A. M. Lyman in September 1851, he purchased the rancho of San Bernardino, containing an area of 20 .miles square, for the sum of $77,500, to which place the company removed And began the foundation and settlement of what is now one of the richest And finest counties in Southern California. When the Buchanan war broke out, the rancho of San Bernardino was sold, and the Saints returned to Salt Lake, President Rich leaving there April 16th, 1857, and arriving in Salt Lake in June. He accompanied General D. H. Wells to Echo Canyon and Fort Bridger during the Buchanan war. Started on a mission to Europe, May 1st, 1860, and returned to Salt Lake, September 18th, 1862. Explored the Bear Lake Valley in the fall of 1863, and moved there in the spring of 1864. Served several terms as a member of the House and Council in the Utah Legislature.
In the year 1872, attended the reunion of the Rich family held at Truro, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
He was the son of Joseph Rich, and Nancy O. Neal, his mother dying three days after her arrival in Salt Lake, and his father dying in Paris, Bear Lake Valley, July 26th, in the year 1866.