Eric Walz History 300 Collection What affect did Thomas E. Ricks have on the settlement of the Upper Snake River Valley? By Sean Braniff December 15, 2004 Box 7 Folder 2 A research paper by Sean Braniff Transcript copied by Victor Ukorebi and David Garmon December 2005 Brigham Young University Idaho
2 Some people simply make a difference. A man might be virtually unknown throughout most of the world, but to others, he is praised and they count themselves blessed because of what he did. To the small community in Rexburg, Idaho, and the county that surrounds it, one such man had an influence that continues to be felt a hundred years later. His life on the frontier from birth, and his experience settling cities in Utah, all prepared him for what he accomplished in the Upper Snake River Valley of Idaho. It would later be written of him, When the Lord in His wisdom saw it fit to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth in the Latter Days, without a doubt, he also chose some of the choicest spirits among his children to come and dwell in mortality to fulfill his all wise purpose. 1 Thomas E. Ricks was an unmatched resource in the settlement of the area. His skills of settling, his example and leadership, and his role in the origins of BYU-Idaho were indispensable. To understand how Thomas Ricks was able to forever change much of the Upper Snake River Valley, one must first understand where he came from and what skills and talents he possessed. The settlement of the Rexburg area was certainly not his first encounter on the frontier. On the contrary, almost all of his life was spent blazing bold new trails and opening up the frontier. Ricks was born on July 21, 1828, not far from the Mississippi River in the state of Kentucky. Two years later his family moved to the frontier in Illinois, to a community called Silver Creek. It was here that Ricks spent many years of his boyhood. One can imagine what life would be like growing up in the early nineteenth century on the frontier: hunting, fishing, shooting, farming, and many other skills learned at an early age. 2
3 Religion was a strong part of life for the Ricks family as well. They attended the Campbellite church for years, but in 1841 their lives changed forever. Mormon missionaries found an open audience in the Ricks family and taught them of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In June of that year the entire family, save Thomas, was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although he was very involved in church activities he would not be baptized himself until the age of 16, five years later. 3 To say the LDS Church had a profound affect on the Ricks family would be an understatement. It affected almost every aspect of their life, and forever changed where they spent the rest of their lives. In 1844, not long after the death of Joseph Smith, the family moved within Illinois to the city of Nauvoo; a city that had only been settled for a few years. 4 Nauvoo indeed was settled, but its people were not. They were without their beloved prophet and leader and persecution was continually growing worse. Within three years of moving to Nauvoo they were on the move again, this time a move far greater than they had ever experienced. The saints left for the Rocky Mountains. Under the direction of Brigham Young, the Ricks family, along with thousands of others, packed up what they could and traveled west, into an entirely new frontier. 5 The trek west proved to be difficult. Like Nauvoo it served as training camp for Thomas E. Ricks. While traveling west, a group of Indians tried to scatter some of the cattle that belonged to the group of Mormons. Ricks, along with others, went after them, but was caught in a gun fight. Before it was over, Thomas had been shot three times, the balls of which remained in his torso until the day he died. 6
4 Reaching the Salt Lake Valley was a welcome relief, but only a brief one. The members of the church immediately began a task of immense import. They had to build communities, and do so quickly. The Ricks family settled in Bountiful Crayon, north of Salt Lake. Here, perhaps better than anywhere else before, Thomas Ricks learned what it was to settle an area. He helped build homes, stores, roads, fences for farms, and canals. The Ricks family was very directly involved with the building of the first sawmill for the use of cutting logs needed for the various works projects. 7 For the next few years Ricks did much for the community and the church. He helped time and time again to bring immigrants to the Salt Lake Valley, even helping to rescue the ill-fated Willie and Martin handcart companies. 8 He also served a proselyting mission for the church to Las Vegas and helped find places for settlement in southern Utah with Parley P. Pratt. 9 Ricks, however, could not stay away from settling for long. Word was out in the late 1850s that there was good land in Cache Valley, further north of Salt Lake. That was all it took to get Brother Ricks up to Cache Valley to settle the area. 10 Settlement in Cache Valley was another great learning experience for Ricks. It was here that he learned the importance of a good arm and a strong back in building a new community on the frontier. Ricks himself was sheriff of Cache Valley in 1860 when a fugitive came into the territory. David Skeen was wanted for attempting to kill a man and was himself killed by Sheriff Ricks when he tried to run from the law. 11 There was also trouble with Indians from time to time. One of the most notable instances came when local Shoshoni Indians were blamed for kidnapping horses and their chief was killed while trying to escape after being arrested. 12
5 The Mormons, always prone to look after themselves, created a militia in Cache Valley for protection against Indians, rustlers, and other troubles common on the frontier. Ricks was appointed a major in the militia and commander of what was called the Minute Men. 13 Because of this assignment he would again be called upon to help those struggling to make it west. 14 Moses Thatcher, who later served as an apostle for the church, wrote of his experience with Ricks in Nebraska bringing suppliers and helping the saints: Thomas E. Ricks sent his or some of his teams right down to assist them and their luggage up from the landing and also to take some of those who were going through with him: up to his camp the people are looking well and I think that they have been significantly blessed in their journeying across the ocean and also coming in from New York It is indeed interesting to see both old and young of both sexes occupied in some busy employment with cheerful countenances and singing the songs of Zion they no doubt feel to rejoice 15 Nature was a hard thing to tame at times. Word got out that a man had been mauled by a bear. The bear was shot at point blank range several times and was only killed after it was shot directly in the head. Ricks, along with Moses Thatcher and others went on search parties for predator wildlife they could find. As a result, many of the bears, foxes, wolves and coyotes in the area were killed or driven from the area. 16 In the Cache Valley area he also had a part in building sawmills, gristmills for grain, flour mills, canals and roads. All of these skills he would use again later. While living in Cache Valley his home was often used as housing for visiting church officials. In this capacity he became personally acquainted with every member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 17 Then, in the late 1870s history repeated itself to a certain degree. Word began to spread that that there was more good land further north, this time it was the Upper Snake River Valley in the Idaho territory.
6 Ricks was somewhat familiar with the Upper Snake River Valley because of some expeditions he had been on scouting lines for the railroad. Ricks had become interested in the railroad when he traveled by the rail to the Eastern States to serve as a missionary of the church years earlier. 18 This happening just after the completion of the transcontinental railroad, Ricks was able to ride the train all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Upon returning home to Cache Valley, Ricks got involved with the local railroad, eventually becoming president of Utah Northern Rail. As a result of this he oversaw the building of many railroad lines. They took him all the way up to Montana at times and through the Upper Snake River Valley. 19 As a result of his experience, the Cache Stake President recommended to LDS church President John Taylor that Thomas E. Ricks would be a good man to oversee the settlement of the Upper Snake River Valley. President Taylor listened and Ricks was soon called to be the Bannock Ward bishop, with stewardship over the Upper Snake River Valley. Bishop Ricks was called to this position in December of 1882. In early January he ventured into the Upper Snake River Valley to survey the area. 20 Some settlements already existed and he wanted to see where else they could settle and how they could help those that were already there. Winters in the Upper Snake River Valley were not favorable to any form of expeditions or settlement, but Bishop Ricks surveyed the area nonetheless, even crossing the Snake River on foot, for it was completely frozen over. 21 Ricks returned to Cache Valley and word spread quickly that the Upper Snake River Valley was a desirable place. In past times church callings were used to ask people to settle areas, but they were not needed at this time. The people came on their own,
7 month after month. Eleven families left Cache Valley in late January heading for the land of which Ricks had spoken so highly. As it was the middle of winter they had to leave on sleighs. 22 The settlers worked under the direction of Thomas Ricks to begin building homes. The ice and snow was thick but they managed to make shelters and the beginnings of a new home. The community was shortly called Rexburg after Thomas Ricks, Ricks being the derivative of the German Rex. 23 As soon as the winter melted away, the real work began. Canals were dug which was the beginning of the Rexburg Canal Company and ferries were put in place for the crossing of the rivers, all under supervision of Ricks. The people built stores and homes for themselves. Within the first year over 800 people were living in the area. 24 The growth in the area was phenomenal and this signified change in the Bannock Ward. That change happened in 1884 when it was announced that the ward would become a stake and that Bishop Ricks would become President Ricks, president of the new Bannock Stake. Despite the great growth of the church, things were not easy for the settlers. They were living on the edge of the frontier. Relations with Indians were a constant thing to think about. At times fugitives and outlaws came through, just as they had done in Cache Valley years earlier. They had to deal with the diseases of the time, including cholera and diphtheria. 25 Ricks personally sacrificed much to help settle the area. In Cache Valley he had been living in one of the finest ranches on the region, having two thousand acres of land. 26 His home was on the north side of the Logan Tabernacle and just one block from the temple, making its location the most convenient in all of town. 27 He sold his home
8 and his title in the railroads and came up north. One can understand his words from the February, 1890 stake conference with this in mind. I have always been a minute man, and have left my family in sickness. But the Lord has blessed them and we met again in safety. Before coming up here I was comfortably situated and had prepared to enjoy life in comfort. I was called here and expended my means for the benefit of the people. I built a mill and it was burnt up and what with the persecution, my means have been used up, and I am comparatively poor. But my faith has been increased in the Lord and I acknowledge the blessing of the Lord 28 He left his home and braved a new frontier. Ricks experienced everything from his mill being destroyed to his store being robbed of 48 dollars cash, 100 dollars worth of furs, and much more right down to a bundle of overalls. 29 Despite the hardships Ricks persisted, but not only for himself. He continued to work for others. Persecution was another trial for the early settlers. A small percentage of the members of the church at the time were practicing polygamy, including Thomas E. Ricks. Many of the non-mormons did not like this fact and did what they could to discourage it. The persecution that the church endured reached its hand into other aspects as well. Under the Test Oath Act passed by the territorial legislature, all members of the church were disenfranchised because of celestial marriage. This left them without the privilege to vote, hold office, or serve on a jury. The only benefit left to them was that of paying taxes. Perhaps the most troubling to them was that they were also denied the right to teach. 30 One such member that was denied this privilege was Sarah Barnes, who was released from her teaching position because she was a member of the LDS Church. Many teachers entered the school system that harbored harsh feelings for the members of the church. As a result the church members began to take their children out of the public schools to protect them.
9 The Mormon settlers were now left with a dilemma. Education was something that the church valued greatly, but where were they supposed to get it? Ricks believed greatly in the value of education, even though the only education he received was in frontier life. In an 1884 stake conference he stated, We must educate our children as there are important positions awaiting them. 31 Knowing of the schools that the church had assisted in building, President Ricks petitioned the church, now under the direction of President Wilford Woodruff, for financial assistance. The church responded favorably, stating that it was their will that a church academy be built in the area. Like the other academies of the church, this was to be a place where science, mathematics, and art could be taught hand in hand with the gospel. 32 Having permission to go ahead with the academy is a very different thing than actually starting classes. President Ricks did all he could to get things going quickly. He recommended Jacob Spori to be the academy s first principal. Spori, being a native of Switzerland and having served a mission for the church in Turkey and the Holy Land had a great knowledge of languages. 33 Without Ricks the students would not have even had desks to write on. He tirelessly wrote to different firms to acquire money for desks. Ricks also wrote to Salt Lake and asked local members of the church for help. The needed money was raised and Ricks chose the First Ward meetinghouse for the site of the school. 34 So it was that the Bannock Stake Academy began. It is important to note that things were run only at great expense to the members of the area. It appeared for a time that the expenses would prove to be too much and that the academy would have to close. This was unacceptable to Ricks. Still the stake president, he urged the bishops of the
10 wards to encourage their members to support the academy. This they did and the academy remained open. 35 Ricks continued through the next few years to do what he could to raise money to pay the expenses of the academy. As time wore on, it became more and more apparent that a building solely devoted to the institution was needed. The level of education was increased and it soon became the only school in the Upper Snake River Valley offering high school level classes. 36 A site was finally picked for the building that would house the Academy, but it would cost the members in the area a great deal to build the desired three-story building. Until he death in 1901, Thomas Ricks worked tirelessly to raise money for the building needed by the academy. He continued visiting homes, collecting money from the bishops of the wards, and petitioning the Church General Board of Education for funds. 37 The cornerstone for the building was dedicated in 1900 by Elder George Q. Cannon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the church, just a year before the death of President Ricks. Unfortunately he did not see its completion. After his death the Board of Education was reorganized and under recommendation of the First Presidency of the church they renamed the institution Ricks Academy. 38 Four years after his death a fitting eulogy was written in the Student Rays, an academy publication. President Ricks was one of that great school of men which an all-wise God created specifically for the labor of colonizing the great West and establishing His people among the wilds of the Rocky Mountains. 39 Looking back it might seem odd that such a building was made at such a time. The years however would prove the wisdom of Thomas Ricks and those involved in the Academy. By 1915 Ricks Academy was offering college-level classes and in 1923 it
11 became known as Ricks College. The campus and level of education would continue to grow throughout the years, always reaching new heights and exploring new frontiers, just as its namesake had done. Perhaps the greatest frontier that it would enter was in 2001, when Ricks College, whose beginnings lie in the Bannock Stake Academy s meetings in the old First Ward meetinghouse, became Brigham Young University-Idaho, a baccalaureate degree-granting institution. Those involved with the university and Rexburg today marvel at what Thomas E. Ricks accomplished. As President of the Board of Education, he oversaw the workings of the first four school presidents. 40 The Jacob Spori Building, named after the first president, stood for nearly one hundred years and was quickly re-built after it destruction. The Thomas E. Ricks Building is at this very time finishing completion and will house the department of history. The university, though no longer bearing his name, bears his influence on every step of the campus. An obituary published in the paper after his death expressed how many felt about his life and accomplishments. In times of trial and danger he always stood firm, and counted no sacrifice too great in the living of the eternal principles which he knew to be all saving In his life, in his example, in his character, he has left the record of a well spent life. 41 Even more than a hundred years after his death, his descendants still honor his name and carry his legacy, even as his grandsons carried his casket at his funeral. 42 Truly Thomas E. Ricks was the backbone of [the] settlement of the Upper Snake River Valley. 43 Some people simply make a difference.
12 Endnotes 1 Wilford Ricks, Biographical Sketch of Tabitha Hendricks Ricks. 2 Wanda Ricks Wyler, Thomas E. Ricks: Colonizer and Founder. 3 rd edition. (Provo, Utah: M.C. Printing, 1989), 2-3. 3 Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Early Years. 4 Ibid. 5 Snake River Echoes, Thomas E. Ricks, A founding Father. Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Early Years. 6 Ibid. 7 Wanda Ricks Wyler, Thomas E. Ricks: Colonizer and Founder. Third Edition. (Provo, Utah: M.C. Printing, 1989), 16. Years. 8 Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Cache Valley 9 Thomas E. Ricks, Las Vegas, to Tabitha Hendricks Ricks, Logan, 28 February 1855. Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Cache Valley Years. 10 Wanda Ricks Wyler, Thomas E. Ricks: Colonizer and Founder. Third Edition. (Provo, Utah: M.C. Printing, 1989), 48-50. Valley Years. 11 Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Cache 12 Ibid. 13 Ibid. 14 Wanda Ricks Wyler, Thomas E. Ricks: Colonizer and Founder. Third Edition. (Provo, Utah: M.C. Printing, 1989), 71-77. 15 Journal, Moses Thatcher. Valley Years. 16 Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Cache 17 Wilford Ricks, Biographical Sketch of Tabitha Hendricks Ricks. 18 Wanda Ricks Wyler, Thomas E. Ricks: Colonizer and Founder. Third Edition. (Provo, Utah: M.C. Printing, 1989), 77. 19 Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Cache Valley Years. 20 Scott, Patricia Lyn, The Hub of Eastern Idaho: A History of Rigby Idaho, 1885-1976. (Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Press, 1976), 30.
13 1983), 7. 21 David L. Crowder, Rexburg, Idaho: The First 100 Years. (Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Press, 22 Ibid., 15. 23 Ibid., 17. 24 Bannock (Rexburg) Ward membership records 1882-84. Years. 25 Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Rexburg 26 Utah Journal, April 6, 1885. 27 Utah Journal, June 12, 1886. Years. 28 Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Rexburg 29 Utah Journal, October 26, 1885. 30 Ricks Family Collection, Origin of Ricks College. 31 Ibid. 32 Minutes of Ricks College Board of Education, Dec. 28, 1897 to July 26, 1917, 1. 33 Ricks Family Collection, Origin of Ricks College. Years. 34 Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Rexburg 35 Ibid. 1983), 171. 36 David L. Crowder, Rexburg, Idaho: The First 100 Years. (Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Press, Years. 95. 37 Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Rexburg 38 Minutes of Ricks College Board of Education, Dec. 28, 1897 to July 26, 1917: March 5, 1902, 39 Student Rays. November 1, 1905. Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks: The Rexburg Years. 40 Minutes of Ricks College Board of Education, Dec. 28, 1897 to July 26, 1917. Years. 41 Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Rexburg 42 Ibid. 43 Minutes of Ricks College Board of Education, Dec. 28, 1897 to July 26, 1917, 95.
14 References Primary Documents Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bannock Ward (Madison County, Idaho). Bannock (Rexburg) Ward memberships records 1882-1884. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Minutes of Ricks College Board of Education, Dec. 28, 1897 to July 26, 1917. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Rexburg Irrigation Company. Financial Records 1890-1969. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Ricks, Ruth S. Life story of Ruth Smellie Ricks. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Ricks, Wilford. Biographical sketch of Tabitha Hendricks Ricks. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Cache Valley Years. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Rexburg Years. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Ricks Family Collection. The Origin of Ricks College. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Ricks, Thomas E., Las Vegas, to Tabitha Hendricks Ricks, Logan, 28 February 1855, transcript in the hand of Thomas E. Ricks. Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Cache Valley Years. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Snake River Echoes, Thomas E. Ricks, A founding Father. Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Early Years. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho.
15 Student Rays. November 1, 1905. Thomas E. Ricks, The Rexburg Years. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Thatcher, Moses. Extracts from the Journal of Moses Thatcher concerning Thomas E. Ricks. 1886. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Utah Journal, selections. Ricks Family Collection. Articles about Thomas E. Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: The Rexburg Years. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Widdison, Reba Ricks. Biographical sketch of Elizabeth Jane Shupe Ricks. Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Secondary Documents Crowder, David L. Rexburg, Idaho: The First 100 Years. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Press, 1983. Scott, Patricia Lynn. The Hub of Eastern Idaho: A History of Rigby Idaho, 1885-1976. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Press, 1976. Wyler, Wanda Ricks. Thomas E. Ricks: Colonizer and Founder. Third Edition. Provo, Utah: M.C. Printing, 1989.