Richard Jessop was born in Stoke Rockford, Lincolnshire, England, to Edward and Francis Millward Jessop, he and his parents joined the LDS Church in the early 1850s. He came to America with his brother, Thomas, in 1861. They found work in a broom factory in New York, and they earned money to come west.

Arriving in 1862, they were sent to Millville. Richard volunteered as a Minute Man, and he was sent back to Omaha to bring immigrants to Utah. He and Thomas established a lath and shingle mill and were involved in the first sawmill in Millville Canyon. As a United Order effort, they helped organize and build the first broom factory in Cache Valley. Richard farmed 900 acres south and east of Millville on which he raised all kinds of fruits and vegetables. He also had a large dairy operation and an apiary of fifty to sixty hives of bees. He was owner of Jessop's Grove. He helped organize and was President of the Providence-Millville Irrigation Company for twenty-five years. He was Sunday School Superintendent for twelve years, and he held many other positions of trust in both the LDS Church and the community. On his sixtieth birthday he invited the entire town to a grand parry held at the Church.

He married Mary Ellen Shaffer on November 26, 1863, one day before her fifteenth birthday. She was born November 27, 1848, at Lindon, Atchison County, Missouri, a daughter of Joseph Russell and Gilead Taylor Shaffer. Her family came west in 1852 and settled in Weber County before moving to Millville. Ellen was a kind, loving person with a quick wit and a keen sense of humor. Her life was centered around her family. Her grand children remembered stopping at her home after school for one of her delicious cookies. Ellen died January 5, 1928 in Millville.

On November 26, 1873, Richard married Ellen's sister, Jenette Leona Shaffer, as a plural wife. She was born May 11, 1858, in Salt Lake City. After her marriage to Richard, Jenette lived on the farm. She and her children took care of the large dairy herd and the honey business. She made most of her children's clothing and knit their socks; but she always had time for people in need, especially the youth. Although she had poor health, she always had a cheery nature. Jenette died April 5, 1921 in Millville.


Children of Richard and Mary Ellen are: Richard, Mary Alice (James G. Taylor), Joseph Smith (Martha Moore), Louisa Frances (Martin Olson), Nephi, Moroni (Bertha Jackson, Elva Olson), Tessie Geneva (Mr. Adams, Orson Pitkin), Lilliath Ethel (George Timothy Cummings), Ellen (Edmund E, Bailey), Gilead (William Sauery).

Children of Richard and Jenette Larona are: Sarah Katharine (Joseph Grafton Hovey), William Oscar, George Henry (Francis Stevens), Lester (Carrie Christina Anderson), Alma (Agnus Mathews Mason), Parley (Jessie Johnson), Agnes Merle (Edward Hanson) and Jennet (Royce Hill).