• LIFE SKETCH OF RICHARD SMITH NORWOOD AND HIS THREE WIVES MARTHA RUSSELL ELIZ.ABETH·STEVENSON CAROLINE CHLOE NORTON '~ JS l Richar d 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., Ala., i.: ;then his father joined the Army 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., Ala, where Richard iattended school until 9 years of age, then he and h~s brother John were nbound 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, his mother had married F.dwin Burgess. Richard married Martha Russell 27 Jun 1834, and 6 children were born to them. They 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, be left his wife and children, who had turned against him, and started out for Memphis, Tenn., on foot and with no money. He stayed with relatives and friends at times, who tried to dissuade from his decision, but he was finn. 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 teamster to help the Saints move West, but he became ill with inflammatory rheumatism and bilious fever, and could not leave at that time. He lived wit three different :t'amilies 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 battled for their lives for several days. Richard was hired again as a teamster, and in September, with a very destitute company of Saints, he headed for the Rocky Mountains. Once, ·when starvation was .facing them, in answer to Mrayers, thousands of quail suddenly came into their camp. How they rejoiced? They then made ~ he~r winter camp near Oskaloosa, Iowa 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 af the oxen became frightened and started a stampede, Several animals were crippled and had to be killed. About 75 others ran a-way with a herd of buffalo and were never recovered. Many wagons were broken, They continued on through the Black Hills of rakota, to Fort ;Bridger, then on to Bear River,. East Canyon, Emigration Canyon, and finally into the valley that is now Salt Lake City. They 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. Wcmenwere 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 miracle of the Seagull.s devouring the crickets. . In the Fall of 1848 Richard took a team and wagon back to Pacific 1Prings to help more Saints on their way to this valley. They were directed by Heber C. Kimbal.lo Richard married a young widow with 2 children, Elizabeth Stevenson Bailey, 23 Oct 1848 . She had been born 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 after their arrival here, the first corner stone of the temple was laid and they attended the services. Their 2nd child, Brigham, born in 1853, died at the age of 9 Month~ They had 4 more girls within the next 10 years. Richard and Elizabeth were sealed to each othe1 13 Oct 1850 in Elizabeth's heme. They both received their endowments 23 Jul 1852 in the Endow-ment House. Richard moved his family to a farm 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 I Caroline were sealed 3 Jan 1858 in the President's Office by Brigham Young. Elizabeth was re- ~ ealed at this t:i.me also. On 1..6 Nov 1867 both these wives were again re-sealed to Richard. ~ is was done a great deal at this particular time, Caroline Chloe Norton had been seal.ed to George Pickup in 1857, but it was caiJc~lled 29 Dec 1857, after she had left him. She had 3 children by Pickup but the baby, Relbecca had died as an infant, While still in Big cottonwood, Elizabeth had another child, Nancy .Areta. Caroline had their ·first chil d, Adelia. They all moved to Morgan in 186o where each wife had another child, then again they moved, this time to 'Porterville, Morgan co., Utah. Here they homesteaded a fine t:ann, known as Norwood Hol.:low. - • • •~J:.:.1 ·)\?Jn ~ • ::;-. -.A/)r,1,, /,..c:: · - - - - - .. - - , · · - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - · - - · -4-4UY ....... "'" ..,. A "'~" Ii 7 • children in Portervil.le . Elizabeth passed away 3 Oct 1.878 and was buried in Porterville cemetery Carolinti Chloe Nor ton was born 6 Sep 1836 in Shelby, Shelby Co., Tennessee, to John Warren Norton and Dorothy Osborn, the 3rd of 7 chil dren. Richard and his fami l.y lived the United Order for 2 years whil e in Porterville, then when it broke up he obtained another £arm, which he sol d in June 1880 and moved to Orderville to live I r his 4 daughters (E1izabeth's). Here be lived the United Order again for 4 years, then, · ng called by the Directors, he went to work on a ranch in Arizona, leaving his wife in Order-le. When the Order broke up here, Richar d bought a 20- acr e farm which he tended withthe help of his son, Richard. After a year, be turned the fallll in for 507 bead of sheep. Caroline left Orderville about 1886, taking her 3 youngest children, and went to live with her eldest son, Edwar d Pickup,in Huntington, Utah. After l iving there a ~ew years, she moved back to Portervill e , and l ived near her daughter Sarah J ane Durrant until her death 15 Mar 1901. She was buried in the Porterville cemetery. Richar d smith Norwood was al ways a devout church member, serving in many 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 buried in the Orderville cemetery • .Slf brn;-ff-~4 b·t Linda. :f.' )he h /1J,S --- -- - - - ------ • • [Submitted by Linda J. Nichlos]