Sarah Ann Richards was born 29 January 1859, at Pontypridd, Llanwonno, Glamorganshire, Wales. She was the daughter of John Thomas Richards and Jeanette Thomas Morgan Richards. She was the eleventh and last child born to this union. Her family consisted of five brothers who died in infancy in England, and one sister who also died in England. One brother, Edmund Thomas Richards and her three sisters, Catherine, Margaret and Mary, came to this country with their parents.
After arriving in this country, the family continued to travel westward despite the many hardships that confronted them as they traveled. They stopped in Pennsylvania, where they found work for a while and rested before continuing their journey.
They later came to Samaria, Idaho, where they made their home. They had a very happy home life as children.
Sarah Ann later married Daniel Hughes of Samaria, Idaho in January, 1877, when she was 18 years of age. They continued to make their home in Samaria where their children were born. Her family was: James, Jeanette, John, Margaret, Daniel and David Le Roy.
Daniel, her husband died eight years after their marriage, leaving her with her children and one baby about to be born. She endured many hardships the next few years, but was able to rear her family to the best of her ability. She never complained or asked for help from others. She would always say, “We are doing fine,” when asked if they could help. Her home was always immaculate as was herself. On arising in the morning she combed her hair first thing, then made her bed before she appeared to fix breakfast for her family. The family was asked to do the same, and a respected family grew up by the example she set before them. She later moved from Samaria to Malad City, with her family.
She loved to read and was known to stay up at all hours of the night just to finish a book she had borrowed, before returning it. At all times, she kept her promise, if she made one to her friends.
She loved her family, and after they were married she still helped them now and then, with her help in nursing them and giving money she had worked hard for. She loved to help every one in trouble, and in sickness. She would go at any time to the homes that called for her assistance. She pursued this art when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent out a call for sisters to train in nursing, to care for mothers, at the Salt Lake City Nursing School, in the year 1900.
She went to this school, and passed with high honors and returned to her home and family in Malad in 1903, to begin the practice of helping people and doctors.
She became a wonderful mid-wife and nurse, whose duty was to assist at the birth of babies born. She was given a blessing which promised help in this duty, an excerpt of which appears later in this article.
Many times she cared for mothers and babies without the assistance of a doctor. She was loved by the town of Malad, and became known as Aunt Sarah to everyone who knew her. She made a good living, but was never known to over-charge for her services. For 10 days she would visit the mother and baby each day taking care of them, and was paid $1.00 per day.
When she could, she walked to the homes to perform her services. Other times when they lived too far away, the family was obliged to call for her with transportation. Many days she would have more than one home to visit, but nothing was too much for her to do.
When her family grew, she later married John McCallister. No children were born to this union. She helped John raise and educate his family. They were very happy. Out of this family she sent three girls to nursing school. They have much to thank her for. They became very professional and were able to have a very useful life.
She and John were later divorced. She still continued her labors of nursing until the last three years of her life. In that time she pursued her reading, crocheting, knitting and hand sewing for her friends.
She died on 31 October, 1937, having lived a very helpful, successful life serving her fellowmen. She was buried at Samaria, Idaho beside her beloved husband and two sons.
She was baptized 28 February 1941, endowed 7 March 1941 and sealed to her husband 25 January 1956 in the Logan Temple.
At the time of her death, she had a ledger filled with the names of babies she had helped deliver into the world. The bills for her services for many of these remained unpaid, but it showed a life filled with blessings from the Lord and happiness in that she was able to accomplish so much. The Lord must have said, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
Quote of part of the blessing she received June 23, 1903, by President George Reynolds in the Salt Lake Temple Annex:
“We bless you, we lay our hands upon your head and bless you that you maybe very efficient and very powerful in accomplishing the purpose of the Lord in the bringing forth of the children of men, as a mid-wife and nurse, assisting the mothers in Israel, in their delivery when the time thereof comes.
“We bless you that you may be wise with regard to medicines and with regard to the laws of the daughters of men, that you maybe able to do much good in the midst of Israel, that you may feel that the Lord is ever with you, and that you are blessed in this calling, for it is of great responsibility and one of great care in the midst of the people of the most High God.
“We bless you, dear sister, to this end, and we say unto you, ‘seek the Lord continually, that no evil may befall you nor to those who commit themselves to your hands, but that you maybe able to accomplish very much good in your labors.
“These blessings, with all blessings necessary for your good, we seal upon your head at this time in the name of the Lord Jesus and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood. Amen”
She carried always this prayer:
The Prayer of Faith
God is my help in every need,
God does my every hunger feed,
God walks beside me, guides my way,
Through every moment of the day.
I now am wise, I now am true, patient, kind and loving too.
All things I am, can do, and be, through Christ,
The truth that is in me.
God is my health, I can’t be sick,
God is my strength unfailing, quick,
God is my all, I know no fear
Since God and Love, and truth are here.
She was very artistic with her hands and knew the art of crocheting, knitting and sewing and gave these as gifts to her many friends.
Her build was medium height, 5’3”. Her hair was black. Her eyes were black but filled with happiness at all times.
She was neat, clean and dignified and able to do so many things, always sharing, giving. Anyone knowing her had to love her for her accomplishments. Thus was my beloved grandmother, my father’s mother, as I Sarabel Hughes Vaughan remember her. I write these small things about her as she is remembered in my Book of Memories in so many ways.