Rhoda Ann Jennetta Richards Knowlton was born 15 September 1843 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois to Willard Richards (1804-1854) and Jennetta Richards (1817-1845) and died 3 May 1882 Farmington, Davis County, Utah of unspecified causes. She married Benjamin Franklin Knowlton (1838-1901) 31 October 1863 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah.
Biography
Rhoda Ann Jennetta Richards Knowlton was the oldest surviving daughter of LDS Apostle Willard Richards (1804-1854). She traveled west to Utah in her father's 1848 Pioneer Wagon Company. However, both of her parents had died by the team she reached age 11.
Willard and Jennetta’s daughter, Rhoda Ann Jennetta Richards (1843–82), demonstrated the same great faith and determination as her parents. After both of her parents had died, her brother, Heber J. Richards, served a mission in England. There he met his mother’s wealthy relatives who, never having been reconciled to the conversion of the Richards family in America to the Latter-day Saint Church, tried to persuade him and his sister to leave the Saints in Utah and come to England where they would be provided with a governess and a college education.
Responding to this offer on 1 May 1864, Rhoda Ann Jennetta Richards wrote:
“I scarcely know how to reply to Uncle Roger’s kind and generous offer. I presume you understood the doctrine my Father taught, the system of faith and Worship he believed in and practised as long as he lived and the same my Brother is striving to teach to all who desire to learn. My religion and my faith in the principles of our gospel is and ever will be the same as theirs. You have, I believe held out the greatest inducement that could be offered to make me forget it but even that, great as it is, could not make me swerve for an instant in the course I am now pursuing.
If I could have the same Opportunities and advantages here I would embrace them gladly but as it is I can only thank you all kindly and sincerely for the good I feel you desire to do me were it in your power.”
She married Benjamin F. Knowlton and raised a family in Utah.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Wilhemena Knowlton (1865-1865) | |||
| Willard Knowlton (1865-1865) | |||
| Benjamin Franklin Knowlton (1866-1933) | |||
| Jennetta Knowlton (1868-1871) | |||
| Harriett Knowlton (1870-1898) | |||
| Sidney Richards Knowlton (1873-1876) | |||
| William Hooper Knowlton (1874-1876) | |||
| Ida Knowlton (1876-1961) | |||
| Heber John Knowlton (1878-1906) | |||
| George Quincy Knowlton (1880-1957) | |||
| Willard Richards Knowlton (1882-1884) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Heber John Richards (1839-1839) | 17 July 1839 Preston, Lancashire, England | 28 December 1839 Preston, Lancashire, England | |
| Heber John Richards (1840-1919) | 11 October 1840 Manchester, Lancashire, England | 12 May 1919 Provo, Utah County, Utah | Mary Julia Johnson (1841-1928) |
| Rhoda Ann Jennetta Richards (1843-1882) | 15 September 1843 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois | 3 May 1882 Farmington, Davis County, Utah | Benjamin Franklin Knowlton (1838-1901) |
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Willard Brigham Richards (1847-1942) | |||
| Joseph Smith Richards (1848-1913) | |||
| Sarah Ellen Richards (1850-1915) | 25 August 1850 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah | 22 March 1915 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah | Joseph Fielding Smith (1838-1918) |
| Pauline Richards (1853-1947) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Baby Boy Richards (1851-1851) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Phoebe Amelia Richards (1851-1943) | |||
| Jenetta Richards (1852-1853) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Alice Ann Richards (1849-1940) | 24 March 1849 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah | 17 June 1940 Box Elder County, Utah | Lot Smith (1830-1892) |
| Mary Asenath Richards (1850-1915) | |||
| Stephen Longstroth Richards (1853-1922) | 29 July 1853 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah | 5 July 1922 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah | Emma Louise Stayner (1857-1937) |
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Mary Ann Richards (1851-1942) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Calvin Willard Richards (1852-1926) | 7 October 1852 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, United States | 3 October 1926 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, United States | Emma Irene Walker (1854-1894) |
References
- Joseph Richards 1762 Immigrant Ancestors
- Jan 1980 Ensign: They Served - Richards Family Legacy in the Church
- Willard Richards 1848 Pioneer Wagon Company