Microfilm of a typescript autobiography of Charles Edmund Richardson, edited and typed in approximately 1934. It opens with recollections of the early life of Richardson's mother Mary Ann Darrow Richardson (1818-1872), including her conversion to Mormonism while stuck in Salt Lake City on the way to Oregon (despite her early fears of "dreadful Mormons" ). He also writes briefly of his father, Edmund Richardson (1816-1874). The autobiography then recalls Richardson's early life in Manti and Springville, and includes many anecdotes of his childhood and school days as well as family life. It also covers his work at the Shoebridge Mill and in the mining camps, his learning Spanish at St. John for missionary work while teaching school, traveling along the Rio Grande, studying law and moving to Mexico, the "depredations of Texas outlaws" around Canyon Creek, Indian attacks near Wilford, and many anecdotes about life in Mexico. Portions of the document were written by Richardson's wife Sarah Louisa Adams ("Sadie" ) and his brother Sullivan Calvin "Sullie" Richardson. The second portion of the microfilm includes an autobiography of Sullie Richardson (1861-1940). Sullie also includes a variety of childhood anecdotes, including his school experiences, his father's work in the Nevada mines, and other family stories. He also describes traveling through Provo Canyon, encounters with Indians near Prescott, confrontations at Fort Defiance, working on the railroad near Rio Puerco, working for the water service in Brigham City, moving to Mexico and meeting President Diaz, teaching school, working on the Arizona Eastern Railroad, and moving to Thatcher, Arizona. All inquiries about this item should be directed to the H. Russell Smith Foundation Curator of Western Historical Manuscripts at the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA. Microfilm. San Marino, Calif. : Huntington Library Photographic Dept., 1950. 1 microfilm reel : negative 35 mm. Forms part of the Manuscripts Department's Mormon file, c.1805-1995. Charles Edmund Richardson (1858-1925) was born in Manti, Utah, and moved to Springville as a child. He spent his youth working at the Shoebridge Mill and in various mining camps. He lived in the United Order at Brigham City before being called on an Indian mission to St. Johns. He moved to Mexico in 1885 and in the 1890s took up the study of law in and became a colonists' attorney. Richardson died in Graham County, Arizona, in 1925.
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