Ricks, Joel, 1858-1944

Joel Ricks Jr. (1858-1944) was born in Farmington, Utah. He signed the Utah State Constitution, was a pioneer railroader and telegrapher, and spent much of his time in genealogical research and a study of Book of Mormon geography. He made several trips to Southern America for his research and authored five books and a number of maps and pamphlets. One of his books was titled The Geography of Book of Mormon Lands.

From the description of Joel Ricks papers, 1874-1940. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367762076

Joel Ricks Jr. (1858-1944) was born in Farmington, Utah. He signed the Utah State Constitution, was a pioneer railroader and telegrapher, and spent much of his time in genealogical research and a study of Book of Mormon geography. He made several trips to South America for his research and authored five books and a number of maps and pamphlets.

From the description of Addition to the Joel Ricks papers, 1877-1939. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367837603

Ricks was a railroad agent, politician, an amateur archaeologist, and a compiler of autobiographies and journals.

From the description of Early recollections of Logan, 1890?-1920? (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122550200

From the guide to the Early recollections of Logan, 1890-1920, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Born July 21, 1858 to Sarah B. Ricks and Joel Ricks in Farmington, Utah.

From the description of Diary of Joel Ricks from several books, beginning August 1874. [19--] (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 52332828

Joel Ricks was born in Farmington, Utah, on July 21, 1858, to Joel Ricks, Sr. and Sarah Beriah Fiske Allen Ricks. The Ricks family moved to Cache Valley, in 1859, to settle in Logan. In 1881, Joel, Jr. married Susette Cardon with whom he had eight children. He spent his working life as a telegrapher for the Utah Northern Denver, Rio Grande Western, and Union Pacific Railroads. He also served as the station agent at many of his posts. While living at Castle Dale, Utah, in 1895, he was elected to represent the people of Sevier County as one of the 105 delegates to the first Constitutional Convention of the new State of Utah. Mr. Ricks made a lifelong study of the Book of Mormon. He traveled through Arizona to Mexico, in 1893, to explore the possible geographical sights of the Book of Mormon lands. In addition, he made the first of four trips to Columbia, South America, in 1903, for the purpose of conducting personal research. He was the author of four books and several pamphlets on Book of Mormon subjects and had published several maps on what he believed to be significant material relating to them. He was a historian of great ability. Later in his life, Joel, Jr. worked as a genealogist for his family for the Utah Genealogical Society, extracting thousands of marriage bonds in Virginia. He collected and wrote stories of the living pioneers in Cache Valley in 1923-1924. These stories were printed in the local newspaper. Joel Ricks, Jr. died in River Heights, Utah, on November 23, 1944, and is buried in the Logan City Cemetery.

From the description of South American Book of Mormon lands photographs, ca. 1900. (Brigham Young University). WorldCat record id: 52868089

Joel Ricks, Jr. (1858-1944). A Mormon author and politician. He authored The Geography of Book of Mormon Lands and signed the Utah State Constitution.

Joel Ricks, Jr. (1858-1944) was born in Farmington, Utah. He signed the Utah State Constitution, was a pioneer railroader and telegrapher, and spent much of his time in genealogical research and a study of Book of Mormon geography. He made several trips to Southern America for his research and authored five books and a number of maps and pamphlets. One of his books was titled The Geography of Book of Mormon Lands .

Joel Ricks was born July 21, 1858 in Farmington, Utah to Joel Ricks Sr. (1804-1888) and Sarah Beriah Fiske (1819-1891). In 1859 his parents moved to Logan, Utah to help settle that area. He was married to Susette Cardon (1861-1919) in 1881.

Ricks was secretary to the Utah State Constitutional Convention and signed the state's constitution. He authored five books, including The Geography of Book of Mormon Lands, and a number of maps and pamphlets, many detailing his beliefs about where the Book of Mormon people were located on the Southern and Northern American continents. He took several trips to South America to conduct research for these publications. He died in Logan, Utah on November 23, 1944.

From the guide to the Joel Ricks papers, bulk 1874-1940, bulk 1874-1940, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)