BIOGRAPHY: Edard Israel Rich; Ogden, Weber co., Utah

Transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for The USGenWeb Archives Project
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History of Utah
The Storied Domain
A Documentary History of Utah's Eventual Career
by J. Cecil Alter
Vol. 2, published 1932 (expired copyright)
The American Historical Society, Inc.

Edard Israel Rich, Ogden physician and surgeon, a man of distinguished
attainments and service in his profession, is a son of Apostle Charles C.
Rich, for whom Rich County, Utah, was named, and Mary Ann Phelps Rich,
affectionately known as "Aunt Mary." Both parents were closely associated with
the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both came to Utah in 1847, moved to San Bernardino,
California, in 1850, and to Bear Lake Valley in 1864, as Mormon coloists under
the direction of Brigham Young.

"Aunt Mary" was the mother of ten children, six of whom grew to maturity,
namely: William Lyman Rich, president of the Bear Lake Stake of Zion; Amasa M.
Rich,Sheriff of Bear Lake County and a prominent stock man; Mary Ann, wife of
Dr. Francis A. Pomeroy, of Cheney, Washington; Minerva, wife of Hyrum S.
Woolley, of Los Angeles, Califonria; Dr. Ezra C. Rich and Dr. Edward I. Rich,
both of Ogden, Utah.

Dr. Edward I. Rich was born at Paris, Bear Lake County, Idaho, April 9, 1868,
where he attended the public schools and the "School of Hard Knocks" and
learned many valuable lessons from nature anx experience not on the regular
cirriculum, namely: a broken nose, a broken leg, a broken arm, frosted ears
and toes and a few other minor injuries, which were all treated by "the
village blacksmith" and his good mother. He learned how to work and to depend
upon himself and his own judgment - a most valuable schooling. His father died
when this son was only thirteen years old, but God had blessed im with the
best mother in the world, and through her efforts and inspiration he entered
the University of Utah in 1885, where he continued until 1888. He then taught
in the public schools of Idaho for two years and in the autumn of 1890 entered
the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and from this
splendid school he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine May 2, 1893.

On April 9, 1894, his twenty-sixth birthday, he married Miss Almira Cozzens,a
school teacher and talented musician, daughter of John and Elmira Almira
(Merrill) Cozzens, of Montpelier, Idaho. Doctor Rich and his wife located in
Ogden, Utah where they still live and enjoy the respect and confidence of the
community. Ms. Rich has been president of the Mount Ogden Stake Relief
Societies for the past ten years. Seven children have come to bless their
home. Oertel, a student of the New England Conservatory of Music, married Dr.
George Oscar Russell, head of the department of phonetics and languages at the
University of Ohio. Cleone, a student at the New England Conservatory of
music, married Royal Eccles, of Ogden Utah. Dr. Junior Edward Rich, who
married Blanche Browning, is a graduate of the University of Utah and the
Univesity of Pennsylvania, has been practicing medicine with his father for
the past six yeas. Avon married Junius H. Smart and is a graduate of the
University of Michigan. Dr. Thair Cozzens Rich married Cloteel Budge and is a
graduate of the University of Utah, also of the Univesity of Pennsylvania, and
is in Ogden, practicing medicine with his father and brother. Myrene, a
graduate of the University of Michigan, married Joseph West Brewer. Mary
Almira, a student at the University of Michigan for three yeas, married Harold
Taylor Peery, and lives in San Francisco, California. Sixteen grandchildren
are now added to this group and who can foretell the possibilities of this
family?

Doctor Rich has worked hard and witnessed many changes during his thirty-eight
years of practice. Only one of the many physicians who were in Ogden when he
located there is now alive. Roads that were at times almost impassable are now
boulevards; and trips that once took hours of exposure arenow reduced to
minutes of comfort.

Doctor Rich has had a varied experience. Besides doing a large surgical
practice he has attended with marvelous success five thousand women in
confinement. In addition to this he served as a member of the Board of
Education of Ogden City, for nine years - two years as president of the board.
He is also a director of the Ellison Milling Company of Lethbridge, Albert,
Canada, and the Ellison Ranching Company, holding extensive interests in
Nevada.

In 1901 Doctor and Mrs. Rich spent seveal months in Europe, visiting clinics
and sight seeing, and in 1908 they visited the Hawaiian Islands. At frequent
intervals since he has attended clinics and conventions in various parts of
the country. In October, 1920, at Montreal, Canada, he was made a member of
the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of the American Medical
Association and the local county and state societies. In politics Doctor Rich
is a Republican. In religion he is a high priest in the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints.