Charles C. Rich
1809–1883 (74 years)
Hometown: Campbell County, Kentucky
Biography
Charles C. Rich was an apostle from 1849 until his death in 1883. A Kentucky native who converted young, Rich was a prominent colonizer and military leader in early Mormon history.
Rich helped found San Bernardino, California, as a Mormon colony and later Bear Lake, Idaho. He practiced polygamy with six wives. He served in Mormon militias and was involved in various conflicts during the church’s early western settlement.
His colonizing work helped extend Mormon influence across the American West during the settlement period.
Served Under
Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:
Wives (6)
Charles C. Rich was a polygamist with 6 marriages. 4 of these wives were teenagers at the time of marriage.
Marriage Age Comparison
6 wives · Ages at marriage
| # | Name | Marriage Date | Her Age | His Age | Age Diff | Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarah DeArmon Pea | Feb 11, 1838 | 27 | 28 | 1 | 9 |
| 2 | Eliza Ann Graves ⚠ | Jan 3, 1845 | 17 | 35 | 18 | 3 |
| 3 | Mary Ann Phelps | Jan 6, 1845 | 20 | 35 | 15 | 7 |
| 4 | Sarah Jane Peck ⚠ | Jan 15, 1846 | 17 | 36 | 19 | 6 |
| 5 | Emeline Grover ⚠ | Feb 2, 1846 | 14 | 36 | 22 | 6 |
| 6 | Harriet Sargent ⚠ | Mar 28, 1847 | 14 | 37 | 23 | 4 |
Children (35)
With Sarah DeArmon Pea (9 children)
- Sarah Jane Rich (b. Mar 4, 1839)
- Joseph Coulson Rich (b. Jan 16, 1841)
- Atrimessia Rich (b. Jan 15, 1843)
- Charles Coulson Rich Jr. (b. Sep 2, 1844)
- John Thomas Rich (b. Dec 15, 1846)
- Elizabeth Rich (b. Oct 6, 1849)
- David Patton Rich (b. Apr 8, 1853)
- Benjamin Erastus Rich (b. Nov 7, 1855)
- Frederick Carmel Rich (b. Jul 19, 1859)
With Eliza Ann Graves (3 children)
- Mary Bratton Rich (b. Feb 11, 1846)
- Eliza Ann Rich (b. Nov 14, 1848)
- Frances Phoebe Rich (b. Jun 30, 1850)
With Mary Ann Phelps (7 children)
- Laura Esphena Rich (b. Sep 25, 1848)
- Mary Ann Rich (b. May 15, 1850)
- William Lyman Rich (b. Aug 9, 1852)
- Minerva Marion Rich (b. Aug 7, 1854)
- Morris Marion Rich (b. Aug 7, 1854)
- Amassa Mason Rich (b. Oct 25, 1856)
- Paulina Phelps Rich (b. Apr 21, 1859)
With Sarah Jane Peck (6 children)
- Hyrum Smith Rich (b. Oct 8, 1846)
- Henrietta Rich (b. Jul 30, 1849)
- Orissa Rich (b. Oct 6, 1851)
- Orson Rich (b. Oct 6, 1851)
- Samantha Rich (b. Oct 18, 1853)
- Henry Benjamin Rich (b. Dec 15, 1855)
With Emeline Grover (6 children)
- Thomas Grover Rich (b. Dec 30, 1849)
- Caroline Whiting Rich (b. Jan 22, 1852)
- Nancy Emeline Rich (b. Feb 19, 1854)
- Landon Jedediah Rich (b. Mar 11, 1858)
- Samuel Joseph Rich (b. May 1, 1860)
- Heber Charles Chase Rich (b. Aug 8, 1863)