![<p xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Contributed by Joseph Trevor Antley to <a href="https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/28665502?p=10440065&returnLabel=Benjamin%20Erastus%20Rich%20(KWZR-BZX)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffamilysearch.org%2Ftree%2F%23view%3Dancestor%26person%3DKWZR-BZX%26section%3Dmemories">FamilySearch</a>.</p> <p xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Contributed by Joseph Trevor Antley to <a href="https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/28665502?p=10440065&returnLabel=Benjamin%20Erastus%20Rich%20(KWZR-BZX)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffamilysearch.org%2Ftree%2F%23view%3Dancestor%26person%3DKWZR-BZX%26section%3Dmemories">FamilySearch</a>.</p>](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/QR/390x520/benjamin-erastus-rich-1955-fs2.jpg)
Benjamin Erastus Rich
Born in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States
1855 November 7
Mother
Sarah De Armon Pea
Father
Date Details
Occurred On 1855 November 7
Baptized by Charles Coulson Rich
1865 November (Age 9)
Married Diana Farr
1877 December 27 (Age 22)
Served in British Mission
1881 April 7 – 1883 June 3 (Age 25) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Priesthood Office
Elder
Residence When Called
Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory, United States
Set Apart By
John Henry Smith
Location Served
Manchester Conference
Date Details
Started On 1881 April 7
Set Apart
Ended On 1883 June 3
Arrived at Home
Married Laura Bowring
1898 April 13 (Age 42)
Called as President to Southern States Mission
1898 June 10 – 1902 July 3 (Age 42) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Priesthood Office
Seventy
Residence When Called
Rexburg, Madison, Idaho, United States
Set Apart By
John Henry Smith
Served With
Date Details
On 1898 June 9
Called
Started On 1898 June 10
Set Apart
On 1898 July 1
Officially Took Charge Of The Mission
On 1902 May 22
Called
Ended On 1902 July 3
Arrived at Home
Images
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/A/john-seymour-allen-1870-fs-3.jpg)
Newly Arrived Elders 21 June 1898
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/james-apollos-thornton-1864-fs-3.jpg)
Southern States Mission, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 19 June 1899
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/P/william-henry-petty-1874-fs-6.jpg)
Chattanooga, Hamilton, Tennessee - March 20, 1899
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/southern-states-missionaries-1900-CH55818.jpg)
Southern States Missionaries
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/elias-smith-kimball-1857-fs-4.jpg)
Southern States missionaries
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/P/william-henry-petty-1874-fs-4.jpg)
March 1899: Office Staff in Chattanooga - Southern States Mission
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/F/david-pile-felt-1860-fs-7.jpg)
1899/4: New Elders Arriving - Southern States Mission - April 17, 1899
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/C/francis-phillip-carlisle-1862-fs-6.jpg)
Mission Photo
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/dennis-samuel-dorrity-1880-fs-mj.jpg)
Southern States Mission 1906-1908
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/QR/benjamin-erastus-rich-1855-fs-3.jpg)
Mission Photo
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/W/edwin-gordon-woolley-jr-1870-fs-8.jpg)
New Elders - Southern States Mission - Feb 21, 1899
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/Southern States Mission presidency, 1898.jpg)
Southern States Mission Presidency, circa 1898
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/QR/benjamin-erastus-rich-1855-fs-6.jpeg)
Rich brothers all served in the Southern States Mission
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/john-henry-willis-1858-fs-3.jpg)
First annual conference of presidents in Southern States Mission, Chattanooga, Tennessee, May 1899
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/W/edwin-gordon-woolley-jr-1870-fs-8.jpg)
New Elders - Southern States Mission - Feb 21, 1899
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/charles-john-howard-1869-fs-2.jpg)
New Elders-Southern States Mission
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/ezra-peter-monson-1874-fs-1.jpg)
1899/3: South Alabama Conference - Southern States Mission
Married Alice Caroline McLachlan
1899 October 4 (Age 43)
Called as President to Middle States Mission
1902 July 1 – 1903 August 7 (Age 46) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Priesthood Office
Seventy
Residence When Called
Chattanooga, Hamilton, Tennessee, United States
Date Details
Started On 1902 July 1
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1903 August 7
Released
Images
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/Middle States/Middle-States-conf-pres-1903-PH2686_f0001_i0001_00001.jpg)
Middle States Mission Conference Presidents
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/Middle States/Middle-States-Mission-conf-pres-PH2373_f0001_i0001_00001.jpg)
Middle States Mission
Mission President & Wife
Called as President to Southern States Mission
1903 August 7 – 1908 August 8 (Age 47) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Priesthood Office
Seventy
Residence When Called
Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States
Date Details
Started On 1903 August 7
Called
Ended On 1908 August 8
Released
Images
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/other/United-States-Mission-Presidents-2-ca-1904-PH-2543_f0001_i0001_00001.jpg)
United States Mission Presidents
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/southern-states-mission-1904-CH81546.jpg)
Southern States Mission
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/joseph-hyrum-hardy-1871-fs-3.jpg)
Southern States Mission Presidency, 1904
Called as President to Eastern States Mission
1908 August 8 – 1913 September 13 (Age 52) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Priesthood Office
Seventy
Residence When Called
Chattanooga, Hamilton, Tennessee, United States
Served With
Date Details
Started On 1908 August 8
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1913 September 13
Released
Images
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/XYZ/frederick-eugene-yeates-1888-fs-2.jpg)
Mission Photo
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/other/pres-us-mexico-missions-oct-1910-PH2631_f0001_i0001_00001.jpg)
Mission Presidents in the United States and Mexico
Mission Photo
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/US Mission Presidents 1908.jpg)
United States Mission Presidents
![](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/eastern states/john-taylor-barrett-1879-chl.jpg)
Rhode Island Conference
Died in New York City, New York, United States
1913 September 13 (Age 57)
Media
![Benjamin Erastus Rich (1855 - 1913) Profile](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/QR/benjamin-erastus-rich-1955-fs2.jpg)
Benjamin Erastus Rich (1855 - 1913) Profile
![1899/1: New Elders - Southern States Mission (23 Jan 1899)](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/bert-hoopes-1877-fs-2.jpg)
1899/1: New Elders - Southern States Mission (23 Jan 1899)
![1899/4: South Carolina Conference - Southern States Mission (6 Apr 1899)](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/eli-carlos-openshaw-1872-1-fs.jpg)
1899/4: South Carolina Conference - Southern States Mission (6 Apr 1899)
![1898/7: Southern States Mission](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/eugene-beanharnais-lewis-1878-fs-1.jpg)
1898/7: Southern States Mission
![1899/4: New Elders - Southern States Mission (24 April 1899)](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/C/john-preston-creer-1875-fs-8.jpg)
1899/4: New Elders - Southern States Mission (24 April 1899)
![1899-5: North Alabama Conference - Southern States Mission (1 May 1899)](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/geraldus-adolphus-newell-1872-fs.jpg)
1899-5: North Alabama Conference - Southern States Mission (1 May 1899)
![1898/11: New Elders - Southern States Mission (21 Nov 98)](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/charles-crawford-toyn-1880-fs-2.jpg)
1898/11: New Elders - Southern States Mission (21 Nov 98)
![1899/5: New Elders - Southern States Mission (8 May 1899)](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/isaac-bowen-evans-1867-fs.jpg)
1899/5: New Elders - Southern States Mission (8 May 1899)
![Newly Arrived Elders 21 June 1898](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/A/john-seymour-allen-1870-fs-3.jpg)
Newly Arrived Elders 21 June 1898
![Southern States Mission, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 19 June 1899](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/james-apollos-thornton-1864-fs-3.jpg)
Southern States Mission, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 19 June 1899
![Chattanooga, Hamilton, Tennessee - March 20, 1899](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/P/william-henry-petty-1874-fs-6.jpg)
Chattanooga, Hamilton, Tennessee - March 20, 1899
![Southern States Missionaries](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/southern-states-missionaries-1900-CH55818.jpg)
Southern States Missionaries
![Southern States missionaries](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/elias-smith-kimball-1857-fs-4.jpg)
Southern States missionaries
![March 1899: Office Staff in Chattanooga - Southern States Mission](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/P/william-henry-petty-1874-fs-4.jpg)
March 1899: Office Staff in Chattanooga - Southern States Mission
![1899/4: New Elders Arriving - Southern States Mission - April 17, 1899](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/F/david-pile-felt-1860-fs-7.jpg)
1899/4: New Elders Arriving - Southern States Mission - April 17, 1899
![Mission Photo](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/C/francis-phillip-carlisle-1862-fs-6.jpg)
Mission Photo
![Southern States Mission 1906-1908](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/dennis-samuel-dorrity-1880-fs-mj.jpg)
Southern States Mission 1906-1908
![Mission Photo](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/QR/benjamin-erastus-rich-1855-fs-3.jpg)
Mission Photo
![New Elders - Southern States Mission - Feb 21, 1899](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/W/edwin-gordon-woolley-jr-1870-fs-8.jpg)
New Elders - Southern States Mission - Feb 21, 1899
![Southern States Mission Presidency, circa 1898](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/Southern States Mission presidency, 1898.jpg)
Southern States Mission Presidency, circa 1898
![Rich brothers all served in the Southern States Mission](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/QR/benjamin-erastus-rich-1855-fs-6.jpeg)
Rich brothers all served in the Southern States Mission
![First annual conference of presidents in Southern States Mission, Chattanooga, Tennessee, May 1899](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/john-henry-willis-1858-fs-3.jpg)
First annual conference of presidents in Southern States Mission, Chattanooga, Tennessee, May 1899
![New Elders-Southern States Mission, 1898 December 20](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/charles-john-howard-1869-fs-2.jpg)
New Elders-Southern States Mission, 1898 December 20
![1899/3: South Alabama Conference - Southern States Mission, 1899 March 31](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/ezra-peter-monson-1874-fs-1.jpg)
1899/3: South Alabama Conference - Southern States Mission, 1899 March 31
![Middle States Mission Conference Presidents](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/Middle States/Middle-States-conf-pres-1903-PH2686_f0001_i0001_00001.jpg)
Middle States Mission Conference Presidents
![Middle States Mission](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/Middle States/Middle-States-Mission-conf-pres-PH2373_f0001_i0001_00001.jpg)
Middle States Mission
Mission President & Wife
![United States Mission Presidents](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/other/United-States-Mission-Presidents-2-ca-1904-PH-2543_f0001_i0001_00001.jpg)
United States Mission Presidents
![Southern States Mission](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/southern-states-mission-1904-CH81546.jpg)
Southern States Mission
![Southern States Mission Presidency, 1904](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/southern states/joseph-hyrum-hardy-1871-fs-3.jpg)
Southern States Mission Presidency, 1904
![Mission Photo](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/XYZ/frederick-eugene-yeates-1888-fs-2.jpg)
Mission Photo
![Mission Presidents in the United States and Mexico](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/other/pres-us-mexico-missions-oct-1910-PH2631_f0001_i0001_00001.jpg)
Mission Presidents in the United States and Mexico
Mission Photo
![United States Mission Presidents](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/US Mission Presidents 1908.jpg)
United States Mission Presidents
![Rhode Island Conference, Circa 1912](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/eastern states/john-taylor-barrett-1879-chl.jpg)
Rhode Island Conference, Circa 1912