Jonathan Franklin Richardson

As printed in 1903

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 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.