Charles Coulson Rich (1809-1883)
21 Aug. 1809–17 Nov. 1883. Schoolteacher, farmer, cooper. Born in Campbell Co., Kentucky. Son of Joseph Rich and Nancy O’Neal. Moved to Posey Township, Dearborn Co., Indiana, ca. 1810. Moved to Tazewell Co., Illinois, 1829. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by George M. Hinkle, 1 Apr. 1832, in Tazewell Co. Ordained an elder by Zebedee Coltrin, 16 May 1832, in Fountain Co., Indiana. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri, 1834. Served mission to Illinois, 1835. Ordained a high priest by Hyrum Smith and John Smith, 12 Apr. 1836, in Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio. Moved to Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri, 1836. President of high priests quorum, 1837, in Missouri. Married Sarah DeArmon Pea, 11 Feb. 1838. Moved to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, 1839. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, fall 1839. Appointed member of Nauvoo stake high council, 5 Oct. 1839. Served in Nauvoo stake presidency, on Nauvoo City Council, and on University of Nauvoo board of regents, 1841. Member of Nauvoo Legion. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Served missions to Illinois and Michigan, 1842–1844. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 26 Mar. 1844. Appointed major general of Nauvoo Legion, 1844. Elected trustee of town of Nauvoo, Apr. 1845. Moved to Mount Pisgah, Clarke Co., Iowa Territory, 1846, and served as presiding elder. Moved to Winter Quarters, unorganized U.S. territory (later in Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), Mar. 1847. Migrated to Salt Lake Valley, 1847, and served as counselor in Salt Lake stake presidency. Moved to Deuel Creek (later Centerville), Davis Co., Utah Territory, by 1849. Ordained member of Quorum of the Twelve by Brigham Young, 12 Feb. 1849, in Salt Lake City. Served mission to organize church in northern California, 1849. Moved to Utah Co., Utah Territory, by 1850. Left to serve colonizing mission to southern California, Mar. 1851; helped settle San Bernardino, Los Angeles Co., California. Returned to Utah Territory during Utah War, 1857. Served mission to Europe, 1860–1862. Served colonizing mission to Bear Lake Valley, 1863; settled Paris, Owyhee Co., Idaho Territory, 1864. Delegate to Utah territorial legislature, 1864–1872. Served on construction committee for temple in Logan, Cache Co., Utah Territory. Died in Paris.
Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.