Joseph Coulson Rich (January 16, 1841 – October 17, 1908) was an American, politician, judge, and early settler of the Idaho Territory.
During that time, his father was the president of the LDS Church's European Mission, which was based in England.
Returning to Salt Lake City, Charles and Joseph Rich were recruited by Brigham Young to participate in the settlement of the Bear River Valley in Idaho Territory.
In 1868, Rich wrote an article in the Deseret News in which he claimed that a group of settlers had seen "monsters" swimming in the waters of Bear Lake.
[4] A Democrat, Rich was twice elected to represent Bear Lake County in the Idaho Territorial Legislature.