History of Sarah Ann Richards and Daniel Hughes
DANIEL was born 21 January 1854 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamoran, Wales.
He was the fifth child of James and Margaret Jones Hughes. He came with his
parents and family to America
on the ship Chimborazo. They
settled Pottsville, Pennsylvania
till they could go to Utah. They
had a little daughter born 23 October
1856 named Sara Ann. The mother died in 1858 leaving a young family
and a disheartened husband. The oldest child was eighteen years old and the
baby two yrs old. The father made arrangements with Margaret’s brother to come
and take his family to Utah and
he returned to Wales.
Daniel was only four years old at this time.
The oldest
sister, Maria eighteen and Taliesin seventeen years old took care of the family
with help of the uncle William Jones. The family
eventually settled in Samaria, Idaho
and homesteaded land.
Daniel grew
up and married Sarah Ann Richards in January of 1877. They had four children,
the oldest being seven years old when Daniel took sick with pneumonia and died
three days later. Sarah was expecting another baby which was born eight months
later. Daniel was only 29 years old when he passed away. The family was too
young to work on the farm so mother moved to Malad, Idaho
to live in 1886. The oldest boy, James took on responsibility as soon as he was
old enough to help his mother. They had sheep while in Samaria
and so he went to work with sheep and was seldom home. He became a sheep
sheerer and traveled through Montana,
Oregon and Idaho.
When Daniel
was alive we all went to church so our family continued to go. My mother died
to become a nurse, the three younger children were small so Mother left the
oldest daughter Jenette, in charge and went to Salt
Lake City to go to school.
She graduated
in 1902 and made this her life’s work. James married Elizabeth Jones 29
November 1900 and things became easier for him.
SARAH
ANN RICHARDS was the daughter of John Thomas Richards and Ann Janet Morgan.
She was born 19 January 1859
in Wales.
After her husband
died leaving her a young widow with a family to raise, she was talented in the
field of nursing, going into the homes of the sick and helping in every way she
could. The church knew about Sara’s talent and so they sent her to nursing
school in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She studied nursing and the care of mother’s and their new born babies and she
became a MidWife.
The
following blessing was given to Sarah the 23rd of June 1903 by
President George Reynolds: Sister Sarah Ann Hughes with the authority vested in
us we lay our hands upon your head and bless you that you may be very efficient
and very powerful in accomplishing the purposes of the Lord in the bringing
forth of the children of men, as a midwife and a nurse, assisting the mothers
in Israel in their delivery when the time thereof comes.
We bless
you that you may be wise with regard to medicines and with regard to the laws
of the daughters of men; that you may be a wise counselor and an able
practitioner; that you may be able to do much good I the midst of Israel; that
you may feel that the Lord is very much with you and you are blessed in this
calling for it is of great responsibility and one of great care in the midst of
the people of the Most Hight God.
We bless
you, dear sister, to this end, and we say unto you, seek the Lord continually,
that no evil may befall you nor to those who commit themselves to your hands,
but that you may be able to accomplish very much good in your labors.
The
blessings, with all blessings necessary for your good, we seal upon your head
at this time in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the virtue of the Holy
Priesthood, Amen.
She worked
very hard, always ready to go and take coarse of the
sick when she was called. It did not matter what time of the day or night, she
would be there. She was kind, dependable, and loving. Always willing to help in
any way she could. She would work with the Doctor and many times alone
delivering babies into the world. Later in Sara’s life she remarried. She married John McCallister who had a family. She opened her heart to them
and helped raise them. Later they were divorced and Sarah was left with that
family to raise. She did many praise-worthy things in
her life. The mothers of this valley will always give thanks for the services
she gave to them and their families. She will always be lovingly remembered as
Aunt Sarah.
Daniel and
Sarah were the parents of five children: James, Jenette,
John Morgan, Margaret Maria, and Daniel
John and
Daniel never married.
Sarah was
always neat and clean and dignified. She was very artistic with her hands and
knew the art of crocheting, knitting and sewing. Her hair was black and she was
about 5 ft 3 in fall. Her eyes were black but filled with happiness at all
times. She died 31 October 1937
and was buried in Samaria by her
beloved Daniel.
