The Richardson Families of Keokuk County, Iowa

JOSEPH M. RICHARDSON.

According to the best information obtainable Mr. Richardson is of Scotch descent. The great-grandfather is said to have come from Scotland. He must have lived for some time in the state of New York, for there a son, Joseph, was born. This son became one of the early settlers of Ohio, later went to Indiana and subsequently moved to Mc- Donough county, Illinois, where he died at the age of sixty-two.

Joseph M. Richardson, the subject of this sketch, was the son of Thomas and Eliza Ann (Weller) Richardson. The father was a son of the elder Joseph and was born September 8, 1809, in Ohio. He early went to Indiana and in 1836 removed to Illinois, McDonough county. He remained here until 1845, when by covered wagon he came to Iowa. This was two years after the western part of the state was opened for settlement. Thomas took up farming land from the government in Steady Run township, Keokuk county, where he lived until the time of his death, in 1872. The date of entry is fixed as 1846 and the land is still in the family. As pioneers they naturally underwent many hardships, but trials shared in common are the meeting ground for congenial people, and the steadfast, trustful nature of both man and wife secured for Mr. and Mrs. Richardson the joy of many friendships. They were parents of twelve children, namely: Lydia M.; Joseph M.; Benjamin F., of Martinsburg, Iowa; Francis P., living on the old homestead; Man- Ellen; James W., deceased; David, residing in Lewis, Iowa; Eliza Jane; Bennett J., who died; Gilbert B., of Sigourney; Harriet and Emma, who have both died. Thomas Richardson was originally a Whig but later joined the Democratic party. Both he and his wife were members of the Predestinarian Baptist church.

Eliza Ann Weller was born in Kentucky, December 30. 181 5. Her father, Joseph Weller, was a pioneer settler of Indiana, in which state he died. His wife was Margaret Fry, a native of Kentucky, whose family came originally from Pennsylvania. The Weller and Fry families are both of Dutch descent. Eliza Ann Weller was a woman of sweet yet forceful character. She died in Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1894.

Joseph M. Richardson was born on a farm in Vermilion county, Indiana, January 7, 1836. At the age of six months his parents mined to Illinois, and when only nine years old he went with them to Iowa. His life has been that of a pioneer with limited advantages for education, small leisure and plenty of hardship, privation and strenuous labor. He was reared on the farm and the ordinary common schools were his means of instruction, save those sure and more effective means which try the settle and prepare admirably for life; we mean the struggle with pioneer difficulties, the revelations of and communion with nature and the actual contact with real men. He early went to work for strangers, on the farm as the all-around hand and in the country store as clerk. Up to his twentieth year his wages went to his parents. At that time, in 1856, he married and settled on a farm in Lancaster township. There he lived until 1869, devoting his time chiefly to farming and carpentering. In April, 1869, lie moved to Ioka, Iowa, where he opened a general store, which he conducted for fourteen years. He spent one year in farming and in 1884 went into the general merchandise business at Martinsburg, Iowa. In 1885 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of county auditor. He moved to Sigourney m the spring of the following year. In the fall of 1887 he was re-elected by his party and at the expiration of his second term, in the spring of 1890, he moved to a farm near Martinsburg, which he had received in exchange for his general store. In 1891, in February, he sold this farm and returned to the merchandise business, this time at Sigourney, which city he has since made his home. He conducted this general store for nine years, sold out and after a lapse of one year bought a half interest in a retail hardware business. After one year he sold his share in that store and now he is living a retired life, enjoying the rewards of years of labor.

On October 9, 1856, Mr. Richardson married Miss Emily, daughter of John C. and Pamela Jacobs, who came to Keokuk county about 1846. She is a native of Indiana. The union was blessed by the birth of nine children: Henry L., deceased; Frank P.; Malissa E.; William H, who has also held office as county auditor; Edward E.; Thomas S., deceased; S. Walter; Albert L.; and Susan J. Richardson. Mr. Richardson is a splendid example of the self-made man; his life is an illustration of what industry, application and perseverance will accomplish.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANCIS P. RICHARDSON.

Among those upon whom has fallen the mantle of the worthy pioneers who have begun to pass to their reward in another scene, and who are in every way carrying on acceptably the work of the old veterans in developing and building up Keokuk county, stands high the gentleman whose name heads this paragraph, as a leader among the ranks of our signally enterprising and capable farmers. For fifty-seven years Mr. Richardson has gone in and out among the citizens of Keokuk county, and during that time has built for himself a reputation for uprightness and probity. He it at the present time living on section 13. Steady Run township. The nativity of Mr. Richardson dates in Mc- Donough county, Illinois, the date being April 25, 1840. He is the son of Mr. Thomas Richardson and a brother of J. M. Richardson, of this county; and under a sketch of the latter in this volume will be given the ancestral history of our subject.

Francis Richardson is the fourth child and the third son of the family. He removed to Keokuk county with his parents in 1845. being at that time but five years of age. Settlement was made on the tract of land which he now cultivates, and where the primitive log house of that day was built, that interesting old relic of pioneer days still being intact. Mr. Richardson's early life consisted in the hard work and few pleasures which came to the boys of his time, but this experience grounded him well in the knowledge and principles which have made him a man of standing in his community. What hook education he received was obtained in the little log schoolhouse with its wide chimney and rough benches, three months in the winter season. He, however, improved his opportunities and was able to secure such proficiency as has enabled him to carry on business acceptably during his life-time, lie remained at home until he was nineteen years of age, when he began a farming venture for himself. The only capital which he received, as Mr. Richardson puts it, "was the year and a half which my father gave me of my lime before I was twenty-one." He continued cultivating this land until 1864, when, concluding that a little travel would broaden his views of life, he in company with Mr. Josiah Utterbach took a trip to the west, passing through Salt Lake City and on to Virginia City. They were engaged during the period of two years absence for the most part in the chopping of wood. They returned by way of Greytown and Xew York City, having seen considerable of the world during their absence. Upon his return to his native county, our subject took up the trade of carpenter and cooper, at which he continued to work for several years, but finally returned to agricultural pursuits. He rented a farm in Steady Run township for some three years, and then purchased a tract of forty acres in the same township. This body of land he cultivated for the space of one year, when he sold out and engaged with his brother. J. M., in the mercantile business at Ioka. This business he pursued successfully for five years, when he sold out his interest to his brother and purchased the interest of the heirs in the old homestead. Here he removed with his family, and has since been engaged in farming and stock raising in that locality. He has a farm here of one hundred and eighty acres, which is highly improved, and furnished with all the buildings necessary for the successful conduct of a large stock ranch. In connection with his brother, B. F. Richardson, he has since 1887 been interested in the operation of a mill in the town of Martinsburg.

In November, 1868, Mr. Richardson married Miss Louisa C. Davis, a daughter of David and Lilly (Smith) Davis. Mrs. Richardson was born in the Hoosier state and came to Keokuk county with her parents when a child. She is the mother of four children. Xora. wife of J. C. Martin of Keithsburg, Illinois; Arthur; George, at Grinnell College Iowa; and Forest, at home. In political belief Mr. Richardson favors the principles of government advocated by Thomas Jefferson, and gives his vote to the support of candidates of the Democratic party. He has no desire to be bothered with the cares of office, the only one which he ever consented to accept being that of justice of the peace, which office he resigned after being elected. Mr. Richardson is an honest, upright citizen, a man who is highly respected in the community in which he has passed his entire life-time, and we take pleasure in giving him representation among the worthy families of Keokuk county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GILBERT BEEBE RICHARDSON.

One of the leading business men of Sigourney, Iowa, dealing principally in music and musical instruments, is Gilbert Beebe Richardsoii, who was born on a farm in Steady Run township, Keokuk county, Iowa, oii April 14, 1858, and is a son of Thomas and Eliza Ann (Weller) Richardson, whose history is recorded in the biographic sketch of Joseph M. Richardson, elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Richardson was reared on a farm and obtained his education in the common schools. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching school in the rural neighborhoods and continued in this profession for three years. In 1883 he went into railroading and became agent and telegraph operator for the Burlington & Western railroad, a position he held for twelve years. Our subject then engaged for a short time in the hardware business at Martinsburg, but later sold this business and re-entered the employ of the same railroad, taking a position in the train dispatcher's office at Burlington, serving two years as assistant and one year as chief dispatcher. On account of failing health he then felt obliged to give up telegraphic work and seek some other employment. In 1901 he purchased a grocery store, in Sigourney, but he has since then changed his stock to music, this being more in accordance with his tastes.

In 1880 Mr. Richardson was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. McKinnis, of Keokuk county, and four children have been born to this union, namely: Pearlie L., Edna G., Jesse T. and Leona M. With wife and children, our subject belongs to the Presbyterian church. His career in this community has won for him the esteem of the citizens and he has a wide and pleasant acquaintance with the traveling public in this' locality, numbering many friends, who value him highly.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JONATHAN F. RICHARDSON, M. D.

Dr. Jonathan Franklin Richardson is a retired physician living in Keota and is a man whose upright life as well as professional ability have gained for him the respect and confidence of his fellow-men. He was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, July 30, 1836, and is the eldest in a family of thirteen children, whose parents' were Anson and LytL (Weller) Richardson. The father was born in Ohio on the 2d of December, 1814, and was a son of Joseph Richardson, whose birth occurred in England. After acquiring his education in the common schools Anson Richardson learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for many years. In 1836 he came from Indiana to Illinois and in 1845 came with his family to Keokuk county, Iowa, where he is still living, his home being now in Lancaster township. He married Lydia Weller, whose birth occurred December 2, 181 8, and was of German descent, her mother having been born in the fatherland. Mrs. Richardson lived to be about sixty-three years of age.

The Doctor was only about six weeks old when his parents removed to McDonough county, Illnois, where he remained until a youth of nine years, when the family came to Koekuk county, Iowa. Here he was reared and in the district schools he pursued his education, the temple of learning being a log building in which the furnishings were crude and the methods of instruction were also somewhat primitive. Outside of school hours, however, he has greatly broadened his knowledge by reading, experience, observation and study, and is to-day a well informed man of scholarly attainments. Wishing to devote his energies to the practice of medicine he began study for the profession under the direction of Doctor Flint, of Ottumwa, Iowa, in whose office he remained for about four years. He then began practice and in 1861 removed to Keokuk, where he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of that city, being graduated there with the class of 1864. He then took up his above in Keokuk county and in 1872 removed to Harper, this county, where he was continuously in the practice for nineteen years, enjoying a large patronage, which was accorded him by reason of his acknowledged skill and ability as a member of the medical profession. In 1891 he came to Keota, where he remained in active practice until about 1894, when he retired to private life to enjoy the rest which he has surely earned and richly deserves. During the long years of his active connection with the medical profession he kept in touch with the progress of the times through reading and study and thus continually broadened his knowledge and promoted his efficiency in the work of alleviating human suffering.

On the 20th of October, 1859, Dr. Richardson was united in marriage to Martha Jacobs, who was born in Johnson county Indiana, on the lath of June, 1839, a daughter of John C. and Permelia (Craig 1 Jacobs. Her parents were both born in Kentucky in the year 181 1 and became the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Richardson is the third in order of birth. She was brought to Keokuk county in 1846 when but seven years of age, the family becoming pioneer settlers of this portion of the state. By her marriage she became the mother of six children: Edward Lee, who died at the age of two years; Adla, at home; Robert Lee, who is engaged in the furniture business in Keota; John C, who is a printer by trade; Anson, who died at the age of nine months; and Austin, who is editor of the Eagle, a paper published at Keota.

The Doctor gave his political support to the Democracy until 1896, when his views concerning the monetary question and other important issues before the people led him to ally his forces with the Republican party. His fellow-townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, elected him to the office of mayor of Keota, but he resigned before the expiration of his term. He has served as pension examiner for twenty years and for many years he was a valued member of the County Medical Society. He is the oldest physician of the county to-day. having been here for nearly sixty years. In the early days he traveled far and wide to administer needed aid to the sick and suffering, and he won the love and gratitude of man)' a household. Few men in the county are more widely known than the Doctor and none more deserve the high regard extended to them than does this honored member of the medical profession.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Joel Richardson well illustrates that type of man who, in a new country, begins his career in a log schoolhouse as pupil, then as teacher, then as a growing factor among his fellows, and in later years holds one after another of responsible offices until he becomes a recognized leader of men. Such meteoric development we are inclined to look for in action rather than in every day life, but in him whose record follows, it is sober truth.

He was born in McDonough county, Illinois, on the nth day of.August, 1839. His father, Anson Richardson, claims Ohio as his natal state, whence he moved to McDonough county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, going from there to the state of Iowa and locating at Steady Run in Keokuk county, finally settling in Lancaster township in the year 1862, where he still lives at the advanced age of eighty-seven years.

His mother, Lydia Weller, came with her people from Kentucky in the early days and settled in Indiana. She also lived to the ripe old age of seventy-two years, having celebrated her golden wedding in the bosom of her family and her friends, an occasion which was made a time of great rejoicing and festivity. Sixteen children were born to her, eight of whom lived to maturity.

Of these children Joel was the third and was eight years old when he came to Keokuk county and thence went to Steady Run, where upon the rough slab benches of the old log schoolhouse he learned his early lessons and became so proficient that at the age of twenty-two years he was given the position of teacher and for eighteen years thereafter in the winter time continued his work of teaching-, doing farming and carpentering in the summer time. His first marriage in 1860 in Steady Run was to Mary C. Brown, who died leaving three children, Schuyler; Julia, wife of Perry Weller of Sigourney, a prosperous photographer; and Viola, unmarried. By his second marriage in 1876 to Mary E. Hubbard he had five children. His wife was born in Lancaster, Keokuk county, Iowa, and was the daughter of William H. and Samaria (Chastain) Hubbard, who were early settlers of Keokuk county. J "heir children were Lucia, Ralph, Carl. Ray and Frank. In 1863 he came to Lancaster township and located on the farm where he now lives. This consists of one hundred and ninety-one acres of rich bottom land running down to Skunk river, and from the porch of his house may be had a beautiful view across his highly improved fruitful land. He does a general merchandise business together with his brother George, whose history appears in this work, and combines with this very successfully the managing of his farm.

He espouses the principles of Democracy and usually cases his vote in support of the Democratic candidates. He has risen from one position to another as the years go by, having served in many township offices; he was justice of the peace for about ten years, during which time his decisions and official acts were guided by great discretion and wisdom; was also clerk of the courts for a considerable time; and during all the fifty-seven years of his residence in Keokuk county he has been intimately identified with the growth of its institutions, and has always been esteemed as one of the most influential and competent men of the county. He made use of every opportunity in life, and obstacles to him were but stepping stones to further achievements and development.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Prominent in the affairs of Lancaster township and well known to all its citizens is the firm of Richardson Brothers in Hayesville. Of the firm George Richardson is the junior partner, but active in its management and in the assumption of its varied responsibilities and innumerable duties. His history has been for many years past intimately associated with that of his brother, Joel Richardson, whose life attainments have been elsewhere recounted herein.

He was born September 19, 1848, in Steady Run township near Tick-ridge, and is the seventh child and fifth son in his family. When a youth of fourteen he moved to Lancaster township, where he received his education in the district schools, and at nineteen became, like his brother, a teacher in Lancaster township. He taught and studied during the long winter months for about eight years and employed his summers in farming and capentering.

He was united in marriage on the 24th day of October, 1875. to Anna Lister, who was born in Clark county, Indiana, April 14, 1850, and was the daughter of Abram and Lucinda Randolph. Her mother was also born in the Hoosier state and her father was born in England, whence he came to America after having passed but four summers, and was reared in Indiana as a farmer, removing to Keokuk county in 1868. He located in Steady Run township and died in the year 1894. Lucinda Randolph is still living and is the mother of seven children, five sons and two daughters, of whom Anna Lister was second daughter and third child. She received a superior education in the common schools of the township.

Mr. George Richardson came to Hayesville in 1881 and opened up business as a general merchant, in which his efforts were crowned with more than ordinary success. In 1882 President Arthur recognized his fitness for the position and appointed him postmaster, and he has continued in the same position under succeeding presidents until the present time. In 1885 he formed a partnership with his brother Joel, whom we have before referred to, and continued the business in the name of Richardson Brothers. He has been a stanch supporter of the Democratic principles and candidates, was township clerk for about two years, served as road supervisor, and in many other capacities has rendered efficient and highly acceptable services. The diversity of experience which has fallen to the lot of Mr. Richardson has been in itself an education, and coupled with the energy and ambition that have always characterized him. has given him a breadth of view and action that few possess.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.