Jacob H. Richards

As printed in 1901

JACOB H. RICHARDS.

Jacob H. Richards, who is now efficiently serving as secretary of the board of education of Cedar Rapids, is one of Linn county's native sons, his birth having occurred in Fayette township, July 17, 1850. The family to which he belongs is an old and honored one, and has been prominently identified with the agricultural and business interests of the county since pioneer days.

Daniel Richards, the father of our subject, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, June 5. 1818, and was reared amid rural scenes in that state, his education being acquired in the district schools. He early became familiar with every detail of farm work, and devoted almost his entire life to that pursuit, though he owned and operated a sawmill in connection with farming for some years. On leaving the Buckeye state he removed to Indiana, and in 1841 came to Linn county, Iowa, which at that time was very sparsely settled and most of the land was unbroken prairie. He purchased a tract of government land and began the improvement of the old homestead, which is still in possession of the family, it being owned by one cf the sons. His father-in-law, John Lewis, was one of the first settlers of the county, having located in Fayette township in 1839. He took up land and made his home there until his death in 1855. He erected the first flouring mill in the western part of the county. Daniel Richards became one of the leading farmers of his community, and took a very active and prominent part in promoting those enterprises which he believed would prove of public benefit. When the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota Railroad was being built, he with others gave five hundred dollars each to have it pass through their township. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and was strongly partisan. In religious faith he was a devout Methodist, and was one of the founders and pillars of the church in Fayette township, always taking a very active and influential part in all church and charitable work. He died January 2, 1897, and thus passed away one of the honored pioneers and highly esteemed citizens of Linn county. When he.first located here all trading was done in Dubuque and Davenport, the farmers hauling all produce overland to those cities, where il was exchanged for supplies, little money being in circulation in this region at that time. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Lewis, was born ill Virginia, June 3, 1821, and died in this county, May 14, 1896.

Of the fourteen children born to Daniel and Sarah (Lewis) Richards, one died in infancy, and two when young ladies. The others were as follows: John, who resided in Cedar Ra])ids until 1899, when he removed to western Iowa, where he died in 1900;

Elizabeth, wife of David Blackburn, of Nebraska; Alartha, wife of Clay Wilson, of the same state; Adaline, wife of Hiram Bloodgood, of North Havey, a suburb of Chicago; Jacob H., of this sketch; William, a general contractor of Cedar Rapids; Sylvester, who died in Nebraska in 1897; Nathan, a resident of Cedar Rapids, who is now attending medical college in Kansas City, Missouri; "\Ielissa, who married Lafe Hoover and died in Indiana in 1895; L. G., who lives on the old homestead in Fayette township, this county; and Webster, an architect of Cedar Rapids. All of the children were born in this county with the exception of the eldest son, whose birth occurred in Indiana in November, 1840. They all attended the public schools and completed their education at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. When the school was founded the father purchased a scholarship, and his father also purchased one, which passed to his son Daniel at his death.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

In 1875 Mr. Richards was united in marriage with Miss Martha McFarland, of Shellsburg, Benton county, Iowa, who was burn in Ohio Augu.st 17, 1852, and prior to her marriage had resided with her parents in Mt. Vernon, this county, for a time, her father,.'annie McFarland, being engaged in mercantile business there. He died in Benton county in 1886. Mrs. Richards was only four years old when her mother died. Her only sister is Emma, wife of Charles H. Taylor, of Yankton, South Dakota, but she has a half-sister, Mrs. Mary Holcomb, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. Mrs. Richards completed her education at Cornell College, and for a time successfully engaged in teaching school in Benton and Linn counties. Our subject and his wife have five children, namely: Jay J., born in 1876. is a graduate of the Cedar Rapids high school, and being a natural mechanic is now foreman in the pattern department of Carmody's foundry; Ole O., born in 1878, is also a graduate of the high school, and is a carpenter by trade; Richard Lee, born in 1881, was graduated from the high school in 1900; and Rush C, born in 1884, and Mae V., born in 1886, are still in school. They also reside at home with their parents.

Mr. Richards owned two farms in Fayette township, and for ten years after his marriage engaged in agricultural pursuits. He then sold one of these and for two years was interested in the mercantile and creamery business in Palo, being fairly successful in that business entire. On the loth of February, 1891, he removed to Cedar Rapids in order to give his children better educational advantages, and soon became identified with the interests of the city. Deciding to make this his permanent home, he sold his farm in Fayette township and purchased property in Cedar Rapids, building thereon the large modern residence which he now occupies.

The RepuljJican party has always found in Mr. Richards a.stanch supporter of its principles, and he has done all in his power to insure its success. He has been a delegate to both county and state conventions, and has been an active party worker. Since his residence in Cedar Rapids he has served as county assessor one term, and in September, 1900, was elected by the board of directors as secretary of the board of education of Cedar Rapids. The duties of this office include the supervision and care of all school Iniildings. Mr. Richards also gives his personal attention to the distribution of all supplies and attends to all repair work on the buildings in addition to the duties prescribed by law. His services are giving utmost satisfaction, and have won for him the commendation of all concerned. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, in which he has passed all the chairs, and also belongs to the Grand Lodge of the state, and the Daughters of Rebekah, of which he is a trustee. He is a member of the National Union, an insurance order; the Knights of Pythias, and the Temple of Rathbone Sisters, his wife holding membership with him in both orders to which ladies may belong.

As printed in Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.