Life Sketch of

RICHARD ALFRED TALBOT

(husband of Elizabeth Irene Griffeth)

Richard Alfred Talbot was born July 30, 1870 in Eden City. Utah. He was the seventh of eleven children born to Henry James Talbot and Livina Ann Wall. Those older were: Robert Wall Talbot, Henry James Talbot Jr., Livinia Ann Talbot, Emmeline Wall Talbot, and Mary Eliza Talbot. Annie Talbot was born May 25, 1867, and died the same day.

Richard’s family moved to Lewiston in about 1871 where they homesteaded a piece of land on the Utah-Idaho border. Little is known of Richard as a young man other than that he received his education in Lewiston and loved horses and enjoyed dancing.

At the time Elizabeth Irene Griffeth was in her teens, Richard was keeping company with a girl in Fairview, Idaho. Irene watched them together and wished she were older. At the same time, Richard was noticing what a cute little girl she was. Richard and Irene’s brother, George, were good friends. Because of this, Richard visited their home a great deal. As Irene grew older, Richard lost interest in the other girl and wanted to date Irene.

One summer Richard and George went up to Lost River, Idaho shearing sheep. Richard planned to come home and ask Irene to spend the fourth of July celebration with him. On his return, he asked a fellow if Irene was keeping company with anyone, and he replied, ‘Yes, she is my girl’. Then this fellow hurried to Irene’s home and asked her to be his girl during the celebration. Both Richard and Irene spent a miserable day because they wanted to be in each other’s company. Soon after that, Irene was on her way home after Sunday School with a friend . She thought Richard might be going up to see George, so she waited for him and when he came by, she asked him for a ride home. As they talked they discovered

the dirty trick the other fellow had played on them. After this, it did not take them long to establish a serious relationship. Irene was the only girl Richard ever loved. In return Richard was the only one for Irene, even though she was well—liked by other young men.

Richard visited Irene often at her home. They were engaged before his call came to serve on a mission for the Church in the Southern States Mission. Richard left Richmond, Utah on April 18, 1899, to begin his trek to the Southern States. Richard kept a diary of his travels and experiences on his mission. One entry dated April 19, 1899, reads as follows: ‘Arrived in Salt Lake city, at 10:00 a.m. Was stopped by an old gentleman who asked us where we were going. We told him to the Southern States, after which he said, ‘God bless you’. I was ordained by J. Golden Kimball on April 19, 1899 and on the 20th day I started on my long lonesome journey at 6:20 p.m.

Another entry dated August 31, 1899, reads: ‘Traveled a distance of about ten miles, was very tired. We sought shelter but could not get it in the place where we were, so went over to the next settlement by the name of Stella, where we stayed with Mr. Eubanks. His wife told me to eat lots of cabbage so I would be a hard shelled baptist. I did so, but it did not change my belief at all’.

On October 13, 1900, he writes: ‘Traveled canvassing all day and at night we were as usual refused entertainment several times. When we reached an old store house, where a Scandinavian man was living. We asked him if he could take care of us and his reply was he had plenty of room, but no bedding. We said a pallet on the floor would be very desirable, to which he said, I can give you that. And then for our pallet, first of all was supper, light bread which was a treat to us, after which we were shown to our bed, which consisted of two quilts and an armful of sugar cane fodder. His name was Knute Aabure. We laid and felt the floor all night, and in the morning we thanked him very kindly and went on our way rejoicing.’

The following day of October 14, 1900 was recorded as follows: “Started out with sore sides, weary limbs, on our way. It being Sunday, but no appointments for that day. We were compelled to travel of necessity, so we journeyed to the northwest where we met with dinner. Which consisted of corn bread and bisque, its Irish potatoes and sweet ones, pork and beef. On our journey we were compelled to return to our only chance for entertainment with S. A. McCoy, thus ending our more eventful week’.

Richard returned home from his mission on January 26, 1901, and he and Irene were married the following summer on June 19 1901, in the Logan Temple. They went up Logan Canyon after they were married and returned home the same day.

For a few years after their marriage, Richard and Irene lived with his parents in a part of their home in Lewiston, Utah. Richard and Irene were soon able to build their own home on part of the land which was owned by Richard’s father. Richard did a lot of work on the home himself. The home was located a short distance south of the Utah—Idaho border.

To support his family, Richard did farm work. He stacked hay worked on the threshing machine, sheared sheep, and exchanged farm work with his brothers. In later years he drove the school van for the Lewiston Elementary School.

Richard enjoyed taking his family for rides and watching the children play games and wrestle. Richard also enjoyed working with hid children in the fields.

He owned some very fine horses and loved to train them, and handled them very well. He had a grey team named Tom and Dan, a team named Mike and Mount, a horse called Dube, and a mare named Ginger which all the children loved to ride.

Richard was helpful and cheerful. He was also patient, very kind, and a hard worker. He and Irene were always there if someone needed them. Richard was a home teacher, and always made it possible for Irene and family to attend Church.

He was the father of eleven children——nine of which grew to maturity. They were: Gloyd Richard, born March 17, 1902; David Griffeth, born January 30, 1904, and died May 18, 1904; Zenath, born March 3, 1905; Orvin Griffeth, born November 17, 1906, and died January 22 1907; Denzil Griffeth, born December 30, 1907; Thyra, born August 23, 1910; Nathel, born April 26 1912; Velda, born December 31, 1913; George Andrew, born May 13, 1916, all born in Lewiston, Utah.

“ Life story compiled by Kristie T. Steadman, a granddaughter. Information furnished by Mrs. Frederick (Alice Albertie Griffeth) Griffiths and Mrs. Don C. (Velda Talbot) Hill. November 1976.”