Rich, Samuel J.

The following data is extracted from Illustrated History of the State of Idaho.

A representative of the legal fraternity and a well known business man of Idaho Falls, Samuel J. Rich has spent his entire life in the west and is thoroughly identified with its interests and progress. He was born in Centerville, Davis county, Utah, May 1, 1860, his parents being Charles C. and Emeline (Grover) Rich, natives of Kentucky and New York, respectively, and pioneers of Utah of the year 1847. In 1864 they removed from Utah to Bear Lake county, Idaho, I Mr. Rich being the pioneer and first while settler in Bear Lake valley.

In the common schools of Bear Lake County, Idaho, Samuel J. Rich acquired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by a two-years college course in Provo City, Utah. On completing his literary education he took up the study of law, in 1886, and after familiarizing himself with many of the principles of jurisprudence was admitted to the bar in 1889. The following year he was appointed county attorney of Bear Lake County, serving until 1893, and at the same time was identified with the industrial interests of that locality. In connection with others of the family he built the first roller mill in Bear Lake County, and was the general manager of the enterprise until his removal from the county, in 1893. In the fall of that year he took up his residence in Cache County, Utah, and was elected county attorney in 1894, serving two years.

In January 1899, Mr. Rich came to Idaho, locating at Blackfoot, where he engaged in the practice of law until March, when he was appointed receiver for the Idaho Canal Company, with headquarters at Idaho Falls. He is also the owner of a large ranch on Snake River in Bingham County, and is engaged in the cattle business and is also engaged in mining, having mining interests in both Utah and Idaho. He is a man of marked executive force, of sound judgment and indefatigable energy, and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In this connection it should be mentioned that the canal system of the Idaho Canal Company is the most extensive in the state, and probably in the entire west, there being more than one hundred miles of canal, constructed at a cost of three hundred thousand dollars.

In April 1884, Mr. Rich was united in marriage to Miss Anna Page, of Payson, Utah, the wedding being celebrated in Salt Lake City. They now have an interesting family of six children, namely: S. Grover, Page, Wanita, H. Walker Smith, Roscoe Clarence and Irene. In his political views Mr. Rich has always been an ardent Democrat and has figured conspicuously in Idaho and Utah politics, exerting a wide influence in state politics. He is a successful lawyer of pronounced ability, and the important nature of the legal business entrusted to his care indicates his talent and his success.

Source: Illustrated History of the State of Idaho

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