Ben E. Rich scrapbook, 1906-1913

File — Box: 4, Folder: 1

Identifier: MSS 7690

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Includes a scrapbook of clippings from various newspapers that are divided into three general areas. The first section of the scrapbook contains several articles about Ben E. Rich: his mission presidencies, rumors of his call to Apostleship, and his legacy after death. The second section includes poetry. The third includes dozens of editions of a repeated column, "Pilgrimage of the Utah Pioneers: Sixty Years Ago Today." The column follows the daily happenings of the Utah Pioneers as a memorial. The scrapbook also includes other various articles.

Dates

1906-1913

Creator

Rich, Ben. E. (Benjamin Erastus), 1855-1913 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from William Jacobson and Sandy Borbón Rich collection on the Ben E. and Alice M. Rich family must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

Ben E. Rich (1855-1913) was a Mormon missionary, politician, and newspaperman. He is best known for his service as mission president in the Southern States Mission and the Eastern States Mission.

Ben E. Rich was born on November 7, 1855, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of Mormon apostle Charles C. Rich and Sarah De Armon Pea Rich. He was one of fifty-two children; his polygamous father had six wives. He attended school in Salt Lake City, Utah, and moved to Ogden, Utah, at age twenty to work as the Weber County Recorder. Soon after, he served a three-year mission to England. Upon his return he headed a colonial migration to Idaho. He settled in Rexburg, Idaho, and purchased the Rexburg Press. He ran various newspapers and worked in that line of business for several years until he ran for an Idaho state senate seat and began his political career in earnest. After losing the campaign, he instead became a delegate representing Idaho in the Republican National Convention in 1896.

Rich was a polygamist, marrying five times between 1877 and 1899. His wives included Diana Farr (1877), Rosabell Osmond (1885), Andrea Christiana Jenson (1888), Laura Bowring (1898), and Alice Caroline McLachlan (1899).

Rich served in various capacities in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1898 he was sent to the Southern States Mission as president, and served there for many years, until being transferred to the presidency of the Eastern States Mission. He passed away in New York City on September 13, 1913, while still serving in that capacity.