Sarah Amanda Shurtliff was born January 22, 1865 in Harrisville, Utah. Her father, Luman Andrel Shurtliff, accepted the Gospel after hearing Joseph Smith speak. He was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints August 21, 1836 by David Whitmer. During his fruitful life he accomplished many things. He filled eight missions, three home missions, and was a Patriarch for eleven years. He had four wives and thirty-three children. He was a strict man and a strong tithe payer and he emphasized the importance of tithing to his children. Sarah’s parents endured many hardships for the Gospel. Luman and his families gave up their homes many times when they were called to colonize other places to build up the Church. Due to the strenuous conditions present in the early days of Utah, the family often found themselves in difficult circumstances.

Sarah’s mother, Mary Eliza Adams Shurtliff, died when she was only eight years old and Sarah had to go into other homes and work to help earn her keep. She worked hard, as all pioneer girls had to do, but she loved all her brothers and sisters and took great pride in helping any way she could.

Silas Benjamin Harper courted and married Sarah on April 2, 1885 and they lived in Payson, Utah where two little girls, Mary Blanche Harper and Elsa Vinetta Harper, were born. Tragedy struck again in her life—shortly after Elsa was born, Silas was killed in an accident while riding a load of hay. Sarah was left with two babies to care for.

When her sister Lovina Wilson, who had been sent by the Church to help colonize Mexico, heard the news she invited Sarah to join her in Mexico. Sarah accepted the invitation and traveled with other Church members to Mexico. When she reached Mexico she worked for "Aunt Fanny Harper" in her boarding house. Later she married Orson Oriel Richins, becoming his third wife. He was a loyal husband and a good father to her daughters. Through this union Sarah bore six more children: Marland Lumin Richins, Carrie Roween Richins, Sadie Esther Richins, Colola Beth Richins, Orson Oriel Richins, Jr., and Olive Olga Richins.

Sarah’s life continued to be one of hard work and true devotion to her family. While living in Mexico, she managed a store and a restaurant and made cheeses to sell. She was a devoted member of the Church and when Orson Oriel was called on a mission to the Central States in 1896, she happily supported her family and assisted her husband in fulfilling his mission.

According to the last pages of his missionary diary, he returned from his mission to find all his families enjoying good health and all were happy at his return. He wrote that Sarah was with the others at the depot in Guzman to meet him and he told of many happy events and parties that were held on his behalf. He was surprised at how his little son, Marland, had grown and how Blanche and Elsa were young ladies.

The next few years were happy, but hard, for the growing families of Orson Oriel Richins. Life in Mexico ended in 1912 due to the Mexican Civil War. When the Saints entered the United States again, the families had to separate, so Sarah took her family to El Paso, Texas. She felt a big responsibility upon her shoulders, but she knew that the Lord would watch over her and help guide her in every way. She never lost this simple faith and tried to instill it into all her children. Marland, while but a boy, immediately went to work to support the family. The girls did likewise as they became of age.

Sarah became a midwife and was in great demand among the Saints in El Paso. She spent a great deal of time nursing the sick. "Aunt Sade", as she was called, seemed to be needed everywhere.

Sarah was a strict tithe payer, as her father had taught her in her youth. Many times her tithing was all she had, but then it really wasn’t hers—she considered it the Lord’s—so it was paid to Him. She recalled, "We were never without. The Lord always blessed us." This grateful and humble spirit was manifest throughout her life.

When the Saints were advised to buy farms and colonize Red Rock, New Mexico, Sarah moved into a home there Orson had built for her and her two youngest children. Her son Marland and her daughter Beth and her husband also purchased farms there. Orson Oriel wanted as many of his children as wanted to join him in this venture, so they could all be together. Life in Red Rock was hard and the farming venture proved unsuccessful. Consequently, many of the settlers moved to nearby Virden, New Mexico where they could be near friends and relatives from the Mexican colonies.

Sarah lived in Virden the remainder of her years. She loved her little home there and would leave it only to visit her children and grandchildren or to work in the Temple in Mesa, Arizona. She very much enjoyed her time in the Temple.

"Aunt Sade" passed away in the home of her daughter Blanche in Virden, New Mexico on October 25, 1947, with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around her, as she wished. The day she passed away a new great-grandchild was born-a new spirit to live on and to glorify the Gospel that Sarah loved so dearly. Her descendants number eight children, 29 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren and 3+ great-great-grandchildren.

Children of Orson Oriel Richins and Sarah Amanda Shurtliff Harper Richins

1 Marland Lumin Richins Born: December 29, 1895 at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico Married: Died:  August 15, 1973

2 Carrie Roween Richins Born: October 25, 1899 at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico Married: Ford Died: May 12, 1983 in Prescott, Yavapai, Arizona

3 Sadie Esther Richins Born: February 9, 1902 at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico Married: Agee Died:

4 Colola Beth Richins Born: December 26, 1904 at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico Married:  Whipple Died: January 28, 1965 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona

5 Orson Oriel Richins Jr. Born: July 5, 1908 at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico Married: Died: April 24, 1990 in Chandler, Maricopa, Arizona

6 Olive Olga Richins Born: May 3, 1911 at Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico Married: McCulloch Died:

Orson Oriel Richins 1862-1926

Orson Oriel Richins grew up in Henefer, Summit County, Utah, which had been re-settled by his father, Charles Richins. He married Rachel Hennefer on May 25, 1881 and then married Caroline Fawcett six months later. After his second marriage, he was indicted for polygamy and was forced to hide out from federal marshals. He eventually moved his families to Arizona, New Mexico and finally Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico, where they spent the next 20 years. The Mexican revolution disrupted their lives again and the Richins were forced to move back to the U.S. Orson homesteaded some land just north of the Mexican border (20 miles south of Hachita, New Mexico) before moving on to Virden, New Mexico where he lived out his life.

Sarah Amanda Shurtliff was born January 22, 1865 in Harrisvile, Utah. Her father, Luman Andrew Shurtliff accepted the Gospel after hearing Joseph Smith speak; he was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by David Witmer on August 21, 1836. He had four wives and 33 children and was called on often to serve missions and colonize new areas. Sarah’s mother passed away when she was eight years old, and she had to live with other families.

She married Silas Benjamin Harper on April 2, 1885 and bore him two daughters while they lived in Payson, Utah: Mary Blanche and Elsa Vinetta. Silas was killed in an accident while riding a load of hay, leaving Sarah alone to care for her two small girls. Her sister, Lovina Wilson, was living in the LDS Colonies in Mexico and invited her to join her there. She accepted the invitation, joining other families enroute to the Colonies. She helped "Aunt Fanny" Harper with her boarding house.

While she was in Mexico, she met and married Orson Oriel Richins, becoming his third wife. Life in Mexico was good, even if somewhat difficult, but that changed in 1912 when they had to flee to the United States for refuge from the Mexican Revolution. Sarah took her family to El Paso, Texas where she labored as a midwife. She was very good at this and was in high demand to attend to the sick. Her children also worked to support the family.

The members of the Church were advised to buy farms and colonize Red Rock, New Mexico, and Orson Oriel complied. Sarah, with her two youngest children moved there and lived in the house Orson built her. Two of Sarah’s children joined her in Red Rock with their families. The venture proved unsuccessful and the Saints were released from their colonizing efforts. Many of them, including Sarah and her children, moved to Virden, New Mexico.

Sarah "Aunt Sadie" passed away on October 25, 1947 in Virden, New Mexico, where she is buried.

Sources:

Copyright 2001 www.OrsonPrattBrown.org