Richmond Forts

In the summer of 1859, the Early Settlers moved to a spring located west of today's Big J's, located on the Brower-Robinson Home. According to Francis Bair:

"The first year we lived in a little group round [a] ... spring. The small houses were lined up from the spring to the city creek which was only about two hundred yards away to the south."1

The early settlers spent their first winter in this area in four small log homes, accompanied by wagons and dugouts. The winter of 1859-60 was not an easy experience, as it would test their belief whether or not this area was habitable. Due to some later arrivals, not everyone harvested food during the fall, so rations were made.2 For food, the most common was boiled wheat and any animals they could find in the wild.  Though conditions were harsh, not a single soul was lost.

Cottonwood logs from the local canyons were used to fuel fires and sustain the settlers.2 The wood was transported via nearby streams. In 1860, Church President Brigham Young visited Richmond and commanded the Saints to build a stronger fort. Richmond Fort was constructed away from the Old Fort, and all moved in but Isaac Shepard. Bishop Tidwell and other Richmond citizens dressed as Native Americans, and at night, started yelling and shooting at the Old Fort. In the following days, Isaac moved into the Richmond Fort, completely abandoning the Old Fort.3

Some of the settlers in 1860 believed that Richmond was not a suitable place to build a home, so they moved far from each other, spreading their homes as far north as Cove and south as Crow Mountain. When Brigham Young visited Richmond, he commanded the settlers to build a fort to protect themselves from Native American attacks. This was only one of the main reasons he commanded them to make a fort. The other was to build friendships with one another. Having men, women, and children from different parts of the world can isolate or alienate one group or culture. George M. Thomson said about the fort, "... we became, as families, very closely associated and each helped the other in sickness and in health. ... The close associations they had together in those days were almost as one family."2

However, a fortified construct is only as good as the people who watch over it. The following was written about William McGee Harris and his time during the fort.

"Often while driving cattle from his Richmond home to his ranch In Gentile Valley he [William McGee Harris] has pointed out a certain spot in a cove of Lave Rock on Trout Creek, saying, 'There is where we camped the first night out after trailing Indians who had stealthily let down the bars to the horse corral in the Old Fort while the guard was off-duty just a few minutes and taken the horses.' Because of their Indian guide turning traitor, the trail was lost north of Soda Springs and this chase was unsuccessful."3

City Guards

Eliza Maria Allred relates:

"The early days in Richmond were not very pleasant days, The Indians were so troublesome we had to watch our children so closely, afraid to let them go out of the house for fear of being stolen. One or two children were taken by them. They were stealing horses and cattle. Men were called to be minute-men and had to be prepared at a minute's warning to protect the few people in Cache Valley and Idaho, and in our own town, Richmond, and many a scare was had and for a number of years before they got friendly. "5

After the construction of the Fort, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. Most of the men of the Fort were members.

"[George Thomson] was one of four patrol men who stood guard at night around the fort to protect the settlers from the Indians. These men were relieved by four others after three or four nights until all took turns then they took their turn again. In this way he and his wife, with all the other Pioneers of 1860 passed through all of the trials and experiences connected with settling of a new country."4

On Sep 14, 1864, the Richmond Home Guard was created with Henry Standish as Captain. At any cost, the city Guard was to protect. Most of the Guard consisted of Minute-Men. They had regular drills every night and practiced to fight against angry Native Americans. The Home Guard was released from active duty on Oct 25, 1864.

For a list of those who were a part of the City Guards, please refer to the Indian Wars veteran page.

Construction of the Fort

After Brigham Young's sermon, settlers began construction immediately on their new fort. The fort was constructed heading east to west, as was the slope of the mountainside on which it resided, making it the easiest way for water to travel to the fort. It was also the highest point from which to view the rest of the valley in case of Native American attacks.

The fort had two rows of houses with a break in the middle for a road to enter heading north to south, in and out of the city that was two rods (33ft) in depth. Each plot of land had a home facing inward the fort with a garden and yard. Outside the fort were fences for cattle, horses, and other animals. Inside the fort was a courtyard for people to mingle, walk, ride, and perform other activities. A small stream of water ran on opposite sides of the courtyard to water plants and horses.1

Schooling In the Fort

Maggie W. Thomson recalls:

"Father (George Thomson) was Deacon for the long log meeting house which stood in the center of the wide street just north of our log cabin. In this meeting house they held meetings. Sunday School and during winter months, had dances and a school. In one end Brother David P. Rainey taught the younger children and in the other end another Brother taught the older ones, the school was only conducted for a few months during the winter months."6

Julia Ann Wright also recalls:

"There was a big log meeting house built we went to school, the boys set at the east end and the girls at the west. We had to carry the wood in to keep the fires. The teacher Mr. Dainez taught the girls Mr. Standish the boys."7

Richmond Fort Today

Today, Main Street and State Street are all that remain of the Fort and serve as the city's main roads as they did over 165 years ago. In Oct of 1936, the Daughters of Utah Pioneers erected a marker and plaque in the city park dedicated to the fort. The marker sits in the southwest corner of the fort, exactly where Beason Lewis' lot was located.

1. Bair, Amos W. (1976). History of Richmond, Utah. The Richmond Bicentennial Committee. pgs 12-13

2. Willie, Mary Diana Beach. (Year made Unknown) George Jorgen Andersen, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by Valarie M. Rich, March 15, 2020. https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/102589751?p=48591182&returnLabel=George%20Jorgen%20Andersen%20(KWCH-ZH2)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2FKWCH-ZH2

3. Charles Z. Harris. (Year made Unknown) Story of William Harris, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by Carol Y Williams, June 16, 2013. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/1381144?cid=mem_copy

4. Margaret Winifred Thomson. (Year made Unknown) BIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE THOMSON, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by dwmerrill1733, June 13, 2013. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/1353906?cid=mem_copy

5. Eliza Marie Allred. (Year made Unknown) Eliza Marie Allred Biography, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by April Oaks, Aug 4, 2013. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/2002839?cid=mem_copy

6. Margaret Winifred Thomson. (June 28, 1944) History of the Life of Maggie T. Merrill, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by dwmerrill1733, April 6, 2014. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/6369334?cid=mem_copy

7. Julia Ann Wright. (Year made Unknown) Mrs. Julia Wright Petty Life, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by Peterson Crossley LeeAnn, Dec 13, 2016. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/31663753?cid=mem_copy

Creator Unknown. (Year made Unknown) Map of Richmond Fort, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by LauraElzbthRskllyMrbl, Aug 3, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/130525648?p=40003556&returnLabel=Samuel%20Roskelley%20(KWZ4-RQQ)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2FKWZ4-RQQ