Richard John Moxey Bee

Richard John Moxey Bee was born Feb 6, 1835 in Edinburgh, Scotland to George and Janet Aitcheson Bee. Richard is a Pioneer of Richmond. Richard is a veteran of the Utah War and Indian Wars.

Early Life

Richard intered into school at the age of four to get his primary eductation until the age of eight when he was admitted to George Heriots Hospital. Richard wrote the following,

"My father, being a burgess, a native of Scotland and a long established citizen of the city of Edinburgh was entitled to these rights, and being anxious that I, his only son and heir, should be enrolled on the list of next entrance, but he, being afflicted with palsy, having lost the use of the entire right side of his body, together with his speech, it developed for my mother to see that those rights belonging to me should not be lost. She accordingly worked arduously to that end, calling on the authorities for their recommendations and appealed to them to use their influence in my behalf. She finally succeeded, and we were both on hand at the February examination for admittance and I was accepted, along with about 20 other boys who were as fortunate as myself."

Richard continued through the school until he was 15. Just a few months before, his father died on June 3, 1843. Richard excelled in his education, being taught in nearly all branches of English, literature, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, mathematics, and learning Latin, Greek, French, and German.

"I advanced very rapidly in most of my studies, having good memory and apt at comprehension, that my studies became a pleasure instead of a task, that when I arrived at such age that I was necessitated to undergo my final examinations preparatory to leaving the academy. I had the privilege of being transferred to college where I could be fitted for the ministry, or choose a profession or other mechanical trade. 

"... I choose professional work and was accordingly apprenticed ‘til I was 21 years of age.."

Conversion and Westward Journey

In the spring of 1850, Richard's sister and mother were converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and turned all their attention to converting Richard as well. Richard eventually gave into the teachings at the age of 15, leaving his amazing education, inherited land, and a prosperous future.

In the fall of 1850, the Bell family began preparations to move to the United States and left Liverpool, England on the New Orleans. They traveled across the Atlantic landing coincidentally in New Orleans, Louisiana.

"After engaging the services of one of the pilots we were safely towed to port, and again rejoiced and thanked our Heavenly Father that we were once more privileged to place our feet on terra firma."

The Bell family took a steamboat up the Mississippi River until they arrived at St. Louis, Missouri. They had to stay in St. Louis until water levels were well enough that the steamboat could go up the Missouri River. They stayed the entire winter, finally making it to Council Bluffs, Iowa. When times became available to move west, Robert and his sister stayed behind until they had enough saved to also move west.

On July 8, 1852, Richard joined the Henry W. Miller Company. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 10, 1852.

Life is the Salt Lake Valley

Early Time

"We finally arrived at Salt Lake City and halted on what is now known as Main Street. I espied my mother on the opposite side of the street on the lookout for Orson Hyde’s wagons who were expected. 

"She came across and inquired of my mate if Richard Bee was along. I was standing alongside, but she did not recognize me. I thereupon laughed and spoke and she immediately fell upon me and could not contain herself. She wept for joy that we had met again. 

"After her fullness of joy had somewhat subsided she told me where she resided, and wished me to come and see her as soon as I possibly could get away. 

"I got an opportunity that evening and made her a visit. I was introduced to her husband Joseph Dobson as my stepfather."

While in Salt Lake City, Richard taught school, worked in a sawmill, and did other odd jobs. He later moved to Lehi, Utah where his mother and stepfather were living. On Nov 4, 1856, Richard married Mary Mathieson in Bountiful, Utah and soon moved to Lehi.

"In consequence of my wife’s having come across the plains with the hand carts she left the principal part of her clothing at Winter Quarters, then Florence, to be sent on with the wagons getting a receipt for 90 lbs. weight. 

"The wagons were detained at Sweet Water being belated, and had to remain there ‘til the fall of 1857 and notices were sent out to those having luggage in the train to call for it. 

"My wife and I accordingly made a journey to the city, expecting to get her luggage as per receipt. All that could be found was shown to her in a small bundle tied up in a skirt, about 10 lbs. instead of a chest of clothing she had left. She was so disappointed and horrified she fainted away to unconsciousness. I had her conveyed to Bountiful 10 miles north of Salt Lake, where my two sisters, Mrs. Hatch and Mrs. Thompson lived. 

"We went directly to Mrs. Thompson and there my wife was prematurely confined of a baby girl, but who died about 10 hours afterwards. She was born on the 10th day of October. Her mother surviving her by only three days never having recovered from the shock, caused by her disappointment. After the internment of my wife and child I returned sorrowful and lonely to my home in Lehi. I followed farming in company with Father Dobson, ‘til the winter of 1858-59."

Utah War

Richard was drafted as a minute man during the Utah War. Richard writes about one of his experiences.

"I carried messages from one point to another as may be required. 

"At one time, while on duty I was required to carry a message to Gen. Gerginson in Salt Lake reporting a company of Apostate Mormons were traveling along the foothills trying to make their way out of the Valley to join the soldiers at Ham’s Fork on Bridger.

"I was able to make all dispatch as possible ‘til I reached the city 32 miles away. 

"I started at 5 O’clock in the morning and arrived at Gen. Gerginson’s quarters at 7 O’clock, delivered my message and a company was soon formed and dispatched to intercept the escaping gang, which they accordingly did.

"After orders to the commissary I was well entertained with breakfast and care of my horse. After recuperating for 2 hours, I returned home the same day and held myself in readiness for further orders."

Life in Richmond

Travel to Cache Valley

In the summer of 1860, a call for families to settle in Cache Valley was made by the Church, and Richard took the opportunity along with his brother-in-law Thomas R. Dobson. Just before he left, he married Georgina McKechnie in Bountiful on Feb 9, 1860. 

"On the following day the 10, my brother-in-law and his wife, my sister Joanna and myself started for our new location. I leaving my wife Georgina ‘til such time as I had made a temporary home for her reception.

"The snow was on the ground and as we journeyed north it got deeper, ‘til at last arriving at Box Elder now Brigham, we were compelled to leave our wagons and procure sleds to pursue our journey.

"After some little delay we again started, but instead of going the usual way through the mountains eastward and reaching Cache Valley by way of Wellsville, we had to proceed northward about 20 miles further round and enter Cache Valley by way of the Mendon Divide, thence southward by way of Mendon and Wellsville, before we could reach the main traveled road. However, we got there as best we could, nothing happening of any importance, to hinder our progress."

Early Life in Richmond

"Richmond being our destination, we again headed north and camped for the night 2 or 3 miles from Logan... We still had about 14 miles further to go before reaching Richmond but arrived there about dark and went into camp.

"There were no houses built at Richmond as yet, but a few contemplating settlers were living in tents and other improvised shelter.

"My brother-in-law, myself and a few others started out prospecting, going north, found the country after passing Richmond Creek to be nice and level. The snow as giving way and the grass was protruding and the ground betting bare in spots.

"What vegetation we saw was apparently luxurious, and we thought probably we might locate in that locality if prospects at Richmond did not appear as favorable as the other.

"Emigrants still kept arriving and in a few days it was deemed advisable to organize and form a settlement, under some kind of regulation, for our own peace and safety.

"The leading spirits at that time seemed to be a brother John Bear and another family by the name of Cooper. A meeting was called, an organization completed, and arrangements made for surveying the adjacent land into 5, 10, and 20 acre lots, to be drawn for with the exception of a few who had wintered there, and had broken up a little of their land they already had staked off and claimed, their squatter rights being respected.

Indian War Involvement

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. Richmond was organized as the 5th Battalion Infantry, with Thomas L. Whittle as Major, David P. Rainy as Adjutant, and Robert M. Kerr and Dana Walton as Captains. On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. Richard was appointed a Private in both instances. Richard recounts:

"The first year, shortly after moving to Richmond many marauding Indians were annoying the settlements in Cache Valley, committing many depredations, stealing stock and killing the settlers and occasionally stealing children when opportunity afforded. 

"While we were living in our wagons not having as yet built any houses, work reached us that a party traveling and while crossing the creek at Smithfield, six miles south of us, had been killed by the Indians and fight was taking place with settlers of Smithfield and the Indians, reinforcements were needed to assist the brethren there. A call company with other brethren hastened to assist in the rescue of the settlement 

"As we reached Smithfield, the brethren were in full chase after the Indians, who were making for the canyon east of town. We joined in the chase and got near to the Indians who had to take a position the brethren could not advance but it had the effect of subdividing the Indians for that time. 

"The result of the fight in town was the shooting of one of the brethren, Samuel Cousins, through the left lung, but in time after careful nursing he partially recovered. 

"One of the Indian Chiefs, Araapeen was killed in the streets before the Indians took to flight. I assisted in carrying him off in a wagon for burial."

Due to some Native Americans stealing his horses, Richard had to move to find a better place to live.

Epilogue