RICHARD FRY Richard Fry, President ofthe Morgan Stake of Zion from 1893 to 1900, was bom in the small town of East Down, Devonshire, England, on 15 April 1831. His parents were William and Mary Ridges Fry. Richard was the youngest of six children with three older brothers and two older sisters. He survived them all. Richard was a strong, supple young man. He was about 5'8" tall and weighed about 200 pounds. He had pleasant, well defined features, blue eyes, determined mouth and well kept beard. For years before he came to Utah, he took part in varied athletic tournaments and games, including wrestling. He was an excellent horseman who loved outdoor life. Like most other boys of his time he did what he could to support himself and to aid his parents, but did not have the opportunities for a good education. In spite of this, he managed to gain a common sch<x>l education while engaged with his father in working for Mr. Samuel Coffin. He gained the lasting respect and confidence of his old school master, Mr. Irwin. Samuel Coffin, his employer, was a wealthy land owner who owned a stable of well bred horses and kennels of fine stag hounds. Mr. Coffin was also rector in charge of a parish of the Church of England. Richard became manager of the stables and supervised several men. He was held responsible for the condition ofthe horses and the hounds. Many times after the animals were groomed, Mr. Coffin would stroke his white silk glove over their shining coats and if a trace of dirt appeared on his glove, the animals were ordered regroomed. The whole estate was managed with this same meticulous care. The Coffins were a highly respected family. Richard had a close companionship with Mr. Coffin and his son. They rode side by side in hundreds of English fox and stag hunts, riding many hours together over hedges, fences, creeks, and rivers on the blooded and well trained horses. In 1852, when Richard was twenty-one years old, he and Mr. Coffin's son traveled to the United States together with Richard as guardian and protector ofC.CS. Coffin. This trip was taken solely for pleasure and Mr. Coffin, Jr., treated Richard more like a brother than a companion. They visited the largest cities and places of interest in the East, traveled as far West as St. Paul, Minnesota, the end of the Western railroad, then up into Canada as far as possible by rail. Richard's expenses were all paid by Mr. Coffin, Sr. After Richard returned to England, he learned about the gospel from Richard Rawle, a brother of Ann Rawle, who worked as a maid in waiting for 241