Francis P. Richardson

As printed in 1903

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 A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa .. (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.