Morgan Pioneer History Binds Us lo^etiier Richard Smith Norwood and His Three Wives, Martha Russell Norwood Elizabeth Stevenson Bailey Norwood Caroline Chloe Norton Pickup Norwood Richard Smith Norwood Richard Smith Norwood was born June 7, 1811, in Greenville, Green County, Tennessee, to Richard Norwood and Mary Smith Norwood. He was the third of four children. His family moved to Madison County, Alabama. His father joined the army in 1812, but was taken sick and sent home. He died in 1815, leaving his wife with four children to raise. His mother moved to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, where Richard attended school until nine years of age, then he and his brother, John, were "bound out" to John Bess, 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 Edwin Burgess. Richard married Martha Russell on June 27,1834, and six children were born to them. They lived together eleven years. Richard was converted to the L.D.S. Church by A.O. Smoot, a missionary, and he was baptized on April 8, 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. He started out for Memphis, Tennessee, on foot and with no money. He stayed with relatives and friends at times, who tried to dissuade him from his decision, but he was firm. He suffered severe illness at times, and much hardship, but with the help of various Saints along the way, he finally arrived at Nauvoo on March 12, 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 with three different families during these illnesses. 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 part of the battle and he could see the cannon balls tearing up the ground. Within twenty-four hours, however, the Saints crossed the river to safety, after having battled for their lives for several days. Richard was again hired 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 their prayers, thousands of quail suddenly came into their camp. How they rejoiced! They then made their 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 body of the Church was located. During their journey along the Platte River, one of the oxen became frightened and started a stampede. Several animals were crippled and had to be killed. About seventy-five others ran away with a herd of buffalo and were never recovered. Many wagons were broken. They continued on through to 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. They arrived on October 6,1847. 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. Women were rationed a half pound of flour a day. Richard was very much involved in the event of the crickets devouring their first crops, and the miracle of the seagulls devouring the crickets. In the fall of 1848, Richard took a team and wagon back to Pacific Springs to help more Saints on their way to this valley. They were directed by Heber C. Kimball. Richard married a young widow, Elizabeth Stevenson Bailey, with two children, on October 23, 1848. She had been born in 1823 in Spain. They lived in Salt Lake City for one year, in a house he had built, and his work was principally on tithing buildings. Here their first child, Mary Malinda, was bom. They then moved to Provo, but Elizabeth was not content, so they moved back to Salt Lake City. The day after their arrival, the first corner stone of the Salt Lake Temple was laid and they attended the services. Their