Lewis Ricks
Lewis Ricks was born 20 December 1830 at Madison, Missouri. His father was Joel Ricks, his mother Eleanor Martin. He had an older brother, Thomas. He lived on a farm on the Silver Creek about 20 miles east of Alton. His father was a prominent industrious farmer and accumulated a good-sized farm. The family was active members of the Campbellite Church.
Mormon missionaries came to the region about 1841. The Ricks family accepted the teachings and was baptized 6 June 1841 by Elder George Boosinger. They believed the teachings agreed in every aspect with the teachings of the New Testament. Lewis was very interested and was eleven years old when baptized.
In August 1845 his father sold his farm in Madison County to move to Nauvoo, Illinois. Here he purchased a city lot on the prairie some distance from the temple. He also bought a farm at Appanoose. The family was active in church affairs. Lewis was a young lad of fifteen. How he must have loved to do what he could to help build the magnificent temple. He also learned to do farm work. The Ricks family resided near the Ezra Allen family. The two families became quite close, one daughter impressed Lewis very much.
By this time Lewis had several more brothers and sisters. They are Sarah born 1832, Clarinda 1835, Temperance 1836, William 1839, Jonathan 1841, Mary 1843, and Josiah 1845. Two more were added after they arrived in Utah: Joel 1850 and Nathan 1853.
As the enemies came into Nauvoo, it was necessary for the family to again leave their home. In the winter months many of the saints had to abandon their home and possessions to cross the Mississippi River. The Ricks family, with several teams, crossed the Mississippi River 27 April 1846 at Fort Madison. As they crossed into Iowa territory they stopped at regular intervals to plow and sow tracts of land to be harvested by those who would come after them.
They arrived at the Missouri River near Council Bluffs in July. Here the family made a temporary residence on Silver Creek. They planted and harvested crops while they made preparations and arrangements to travel to the Rocky Mountains.
The Ricks family remained at the Missouri River until the spring of 1848. They joined the Heber C. Kimball Company. This company consisted of 2417 people with 792 wagons, one of the largest caravans to cross the plains. (This is what was written in daughter Esther Linford’s history. Other emigration records say the Heber C. Kimball had 662 people leaving May 26 arriving Sept. 23, 1848).
Although this tells about the Ricks family we can assume that Lewis was kept busy helping. He probably walked at times or rode a horse and perhaps helped drive a team.
While near the Elkhorn River the company was attacked by the Indians. His Brother Thomas was seriously injured. The company could not be delayed, so a special bed was made for him in one wagon. He had recovered quite well when they arrived at the valley, in September 1848.
After arriving at the Salt Lake Valley, the Ricks family settled in Bountiful, about ten miles north of the city. His father, Joel, put the boys to work to build a sawmill. They stayed there through the winter of 1848-1849. Lewis, being a strong young man, was asked to go back east to help other saints come west. He made four trips. During this time, because of the exposure and hardships he became sick. He was unable to do much physical labor for two or three years. He did much reading and studying while getting stronger. He often read to his mother and they would discuss the things he read. He and his mother became very close. In the spring of 1849 they moved six miles further north to Centerville. This was to be their home for nine years. A tanning business was started while in the Centerville Farmington area.
In 1854 they experienced the famine caused by the grasshoppers and crickets. This was the second time crops had been destroyed by the insects. Through the faith and prayers of the saints another miracle was witnessed. The grasshoppers were devouring everything in sight. One morning soon after sunrise, the grasshoppers rose like a cloud in such a numbers that the sky was darkened. This was happening every morning to give the hoppers exercise after a night of eating. As they rose up in the air, a strong wind came from the east mountains, taking them to the briny waters of the Great Salt Lake. Later when the wind changed to a west wind, the dead grasshoppers were washed up on the shores of the lake, in mounds three feet deep and stretched for miles. Their prayers had been answered again.
When Johnson’s army was threatening to enter the valley in 1858, the Ricks family joined the other saints in going south to Nebo, in the Juab valley. It was hard to leave their nice home not knowing if they would return. As peace was established with the army, they returned to Centerville early in July, in time to harvest the crops they had planted.
In the spring of 1859 the Ricks family went to the Cache valley to settle. Soon a log cabin was built. With the help of others, and his boys, a sawmill and a grist mill were built, the first in Logan. They again engaged in the tanning business. They also operated a farm.
On the 25 of December 1859 Lewis married Ammorette Allen by William B. Preston. This was the first marriage recorded in Logan. They had known each other since they were in Illinois. She was a widow to Thomas Grover. His father had married her mother as a second wife in 1852 while living in Centerville, Utah. Two children were born to the young couple there in Logan. Elvira Sarah was born 3 Dec. I860, and Mary Ammorette born 4 Dec. 1862. (They were later sealed in the Endowment House 27 June 1870.
The couple lived in Logan until 1863, when Brigham Young called them and other young couples to go settle the Bear Lake Valley. So in the spring of 1863, with their two young children they traveled to the Bear Lake area. Apostle Charles Rich was the leader of the group.
In the fall of that year Lewis and Thomas Sleight were called by Apostle Rich to go to Cache Valley to get a supply of food and clothing. They were also to get cattle and horses and be back before winter set in. His daughter Esther Linford wrote of the experience. “The winter came, however, sooner than they expected, and so on the return trip the wet snow began to fall and by the second day was many feet deep, and then the wind blew so they were caught in a terrible blizzard. As night came, the cattle and horses refused to face the fierce blizzard, and they were still miles from camp. The two men were weary, drenched, and all but frozen when they were forced to stop and make camp.
“They found a few dry twigs and placed them inside a hollow tree to make a fire, but when they got their matches from their grub box, they found them to be wet and wouldn't light. In desperation, the two tired and discouraged travelers offered an earnest prayer for help, all the time wondering how it could possibly come. Suddenly Lewis remembered his pistol which was in the wagon, and which had one load in it. This they shot into the kindling, which luckily ignited and they soon had a roaring fire. The next day relief wagons came for them and helped them into the Bear Lake Valley, and thus their lives were saved.”
His family and friends in Cache Valley often urged him to return there, where it wasn't so cold and winters weren't so long. He would always refuse saying, "I was called here by Divine authority and here I remain until that same authority releases me."
There were many very severe winters. These pioneers were used to hard times. They were determined to make the best of it. The summers had nice weather. The mountains and valley was filled with beautiful scenery. The Bear Lake was full of fish.
It wasn't long until they had log houses built. Some stone homes were also built. Several small towns were established: Paris, St. Charles, Liberty, Ovid, and Fish Haven, to name a few.
Lewis was the first school teacher in Paris, Idaho. He taught in a small log cabin that was heated from a fireplace. The benches were made of split logs. Supplies were scarce. But he was an outstanding teacher As a youth he had loved the old fashioned spelling bee. He had many times out-spelled everyone. He was a well-informed and recognized as a well-read man.
One winter that was very severe, much of their food was frozen. An appeal for provisions was sent to the Church leaders. It was the pioneers in Cache Valley that came to their rescue. In the spring his father Joel sent a caravan of four wagons to Lewis. There were four wagonloads of supplies brought by his brothers Ezra, Nathan, Josiah, and Jonathan. When the provisions arrived, Lewis divided his portion with others in need. He would take no payment but asked those that received to do likewise to others if the occasion arose.
The Bear Lake was a blessing to them. The pioneers made their own boats and canoes. They were able to go out on the lake and catch many trout and suckers. The fish were salted down in large barrels and freighted to Evanston, Wyoming. There was a good market for the fish so they were able to purchase needed provisions.
Lewis and Ammorette made beautiful beaded buckskin gloves and moccasins. They were able to sell or trade them for needed groceries and dry goods.
During the years he lived he was active in church affairs. He became a Stake High Councilman. Many sought advice from him. He was known as a man with much wisdom and courage. He was very resourceful and was able to live a fairly comfortable life for that time. He was one who spent much time in helping build the beautiful Bear Lake Tabernacle.
In 1873 his wife's health began to fail. She had borne five more children there. They are Ellen Adelia born 12 Nov. 1865, twins Lois Esther 29 Feb 1868, and Lewis Ezra 1 March 1868, Joseph Alexander 19 February 1871, and Phebe 2 Jan. 1874, who died 15 September that same year.
Lewis decided Ammorette should be with her own family for the birth of her next child. He took her to Cache Valley where she could receive better care. But she died three days after giving birth to her last child. This left Lewis with seven children to raise alone. Her mother took the new baby to care for. Young Esther went to live with Grandfather and Grandmother Ricks. She spent several years in their home.
Lewis returned to Bear Lake with the five other children. With the help of thirteen year old Elvira, he served as both father and mother.
Daughter Esther tells about those later years. "We didn't have too much of this world's goods in those days but there was 'heaps of love' in the home. Some of my fondest recollections are of the long winter evenings spent listening to Father read to us the poems he knew and loved, or we would have little shows or play games in front of the fireplace, with candles for light.
There, too, we had our study periods. When father called, "Where are your books children?” out would come the blue-back spelling book, the copybook, the times tables, and the McGuffy readers from primer to the 6th grade, Father being our patient teacher.
When our studying was over, we always knelt in family prayer and then scampered off to bed. Father was kind, but firm, keeping us close by him and guarding and guiding us. His greatest desire was to have us become fine and useful men and women."
He had been a faithful servant of the Lord. He was a hard worker, accomplishing much. He was a devoted father. He did much in establishing the settlements in Bear Lake County, Idaho. He died in Benson, Utah 2 January 1894.
Information taken from other histories:
Eleanor Martin Ricks by Ella Vida Cardon Adams
History of Joel Ricks author unknown
LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson Vol. 2 p 70
Lewis Ricks history by daughter Esther Ricks Linford
Compiled by Colleen Tippets wife of John Tippets, a great grandson of Lewis