[Submitted by Linda J. Nichlos] • .. LIFE SKETCH OF RICHARD SMITH NORWOOD AND HIS THREE WIVES MARTHA RUSSELL ELIZABETH STEVENSON CAROLINE CHLOE NORTON ' ·J C '-../ l'f • Richard Smith Norwood was born 7 Jun 1811 in Greenville, Green Co . , Tennessee, to Richard Norwood and Mary Smith . He was the 3rd of 4 children. His family moved to Madison Co. , Al.a ., then his father joined the AITDy in 1812, but was taken sick and sent home. He died 1815, leavi his wire with 4 children to raise . His mother moved to Tuscaloosa Co., Al.a, where Richard \attended school until 9 years of age, then he and h~s brother John were "bound out" to John Bes who raised corn and cotton. Mr, Bess treated the two boys like members of the family. Just previous to this time, bis mother had married F.dwin Burgess. Richard married Martha Russell 27 Jun 1834, and 6 children were born to them . 'Ibey lived together 11 years, then Richard was converted to the L. D. S. Church by A, O. Smoot, a missionary and he was baptized 8 Apr 1844. His wife, Martha, being influenced by neighbors against it, could not accept the gospel. Richard could not deny it, and after much useless persuasion, he left ·his wife and children, who had turned against him, and started out for Mempbis, Tenn. , on foot and with no money. He stayed with relatives and friends at times, who tried to diesuade fran bis decision, but be was fi:rm. He suffered severe illness at times, and much hardship, bu with the help of various Saints along the way, he finally arrived at Nauvoo 12 Mar 1846. He was employed by Apostle Orson Hyde as a te:amster to help the Saints move West, but he became ill with inf1ammatory rheumatism and bilious fever, and could not l eave at that time . He lived wit three different families during this illness . After his recovery he was involved in a battle against mobs trying to drive the Saints out of Nauvoo. He was a guard at the temple during par of the battle and he could see the cannon balls tearing up the ground. Within 24 hours, howeve the Saints crossed the river to safety, after having battl ed for their lives for several days . Richard was hired again as a teamster, and in September, with a very destitute company of ' Saints, be headed for the Rocky Mountains . Once, when starvation was facing them, in answer to prayers, thousands of quail suddenly came into their camp . How they rejoiced? They then made their winter camp near Oskaloosa, I owa on the Des Moines River, enduring unbelievable hardship. When Spring came, they started out again, by way of Mount Pisgah Winter Quarters, where the bod; of the Church was located. During their journey along the Platte River, one Ci' the oxen became frightened and started a stampede, Several animals were crippled and bad to be killed, About 75 others ran away with a herd of buffalo and were never recovered. Many wagons were broken . 'Ibey continued on through the Black Hills of Dakota, to Fort Bridger, then on to Bear River, East Canyon, Emigration Canyon, and finally into the valley that is now Salt Lake City. 'Ibey arrived 6 Oct 1847. They pitched their tents in the Fort, gathered logs for future homes, and since food was scarce, they had to dig roots to live on. Womenwere rationed a half pound 0 1 flour a day. Richard was very much involved in the event of the crickets devouring their first crops , and the miracl e of the Seagulls devouring t he crickets. In the Fall of 1848 Richard took a team and wagon back to Pacific s.prings to help more Saints on their way to this valley. They were directed by Heber C. Kimball , Richard married a young widow with 2 children, Elizabeth Stevenson Bailey, 23 Oct 1848 . She had been bor n in 1823 in Spain. They lived in Salt Lake City for one year, in a house he hE built, and his work was principally on tithing buildings . Here their first child, Mary Malinda, was born. They then moved to Provo, but Elizabeth was not content, so they moved back to Salt Lake City. The day af'ter their arrival her e , the first corner stone of the templ e was laid and they attended the services. Tbeir 2nd chil d, Brigham, bor n in 1853, died at the age of 9 Monthe They had 4 more girls within the next 10 year s . Richard and Elizabeth were sealed to each othe1 13 Oct 1850 in Elizabeth's home. They both received their endowments 23 Jul 1852 in the Endow-ment House. Richar d moved his family to a fann in Big Cottonwood, and it was here he met Caroline Chloe Norton Pickup, whose husband had gone to California after she had divorced him, Richard and • Caroline were sealed 3 Jan 1858 in the President's Office by Brigham Young. Elizabeth was re-sealed at this time also . On 1,,6 Nov 1867 both these wives were again re- sealed to Richard. This was done a great deal at this particular time , Caroline Chloe Norton had been sealed to George Pickup in 1857, but it was cailcelled 29 Dec 1857, after she had left him, She had 3 children by Pickup but the baby, Rebecca had died as an infant . While still in Big eottonwood, Elizabeth had another child, Nancy .Areta. Caroline had their first chil d, Adelia. They all moved to Morgan in 186o where each wife bad another child, then again they moved, this time to Porterville, Morgan co. , Utah. Her e they homesteaded a fine f a:rm, known as Norwood Rollow . - • " l::.t .,..?I,,. , · ::-r- . A/1rJ,,/,.c- - --- -----• --•V_._. ..,,"° .... _....., W4A. .U.&\J.&.'-" /()0 ~ children i~ Porten-ille·: - El.i;a~th" !~;;;a, ;;;y-3-0~t-1878 and was buried in Porterville cemetery Caroline Ch1oe Nor ton was born 6 Sep 1836 in Shelby, Shelby Co., Tennessee, to John Warren . Norton and Dorothy Osborn, the 3rd of 7 children. Richard and his family lived the United Order for 2 years whil~ in Porterville, then when tbroke up he obtained another £arm, whicli he sold in June 1880 and moved to Orderville to li~e ar his 4 daughters (El.izabeth's) . Here ,he lived the United Order again for 4 years, then, ng called by the Directors, he went t9 work on a ranch in Arizona, leaving his wife in Order-ille. When the Order broke up here, Ribhard bought a 20-acre farm which he tended withthe help of his son, Richard. After a year, he \iirned the fann in for 507 head of sheep. Caroline left Orderville about 1886, taking her 3 youngest children, and went to live with her eldest son, Edward Pickup,in Hunttngton, Utah. After living there a ~ew years, she moved back to Porterville, and lived near lfer daughter Sarah Jane Durrant until her death 15 Mar 1901. She was buried in the Porterville cemetery. Richard smith Norwood was always a devout church member, serving in 111any ways. He lived with his son, Richard, until he got married, then he was alone with just a housekeeper until he passed away 18 Jan 1898 in Orderville, Utah. He was burieg in the Orderville cemetery,. · _sq J:> '1>7df ~ b1 Linda. ::r. /VJc h /p_s • ..