|
a.
|
Note: * Henry Richardson came to America with his parents when he was five years old (in about 1851). All he could remember about coming to America on the boat was that the Captain took him below deck on the ship and gave him lumps of brown sugar which he put in his little white apron. They settled in Chicago, Illinois and later moved to Earlville, Iowa. The Cornhusker State Nebraska was part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Before the 1860s most pioneers passed through Nebraska along the Platte River Valley on their way to California and Oregon. During the 1860s, homesteaders poured into Nebraska to claim free land grants; many of the first farm settlers built their homes out of sod because trees were so sparse. The major factor in organizing the territory was the building of the Pacific Railroad. Nebraska became the 37th state in 1867, shortly after the American Civil War. At that time the capital was moved from Omaha to Lancaster, later renamed Lincoln after the recently assassinated President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The population in 1860 was 28,841, the estimated population for 2005 was 1,758,787. The five largest ancestry groups in Nebraska are German, Irish, English, Swedish and Czech. * At the age of 21, on October 28, 1867 he took a homestead of 160 acres in Gage County near DeWitt, Nebraska. He first built a dugout in which he lived until some time in October or November 1869 when he moved into a farm house (12 X 16 feet) with an addition of 15 X 10 feet. Henry was a Justice of the Peace in Gage County, Nebraska. 1870 Census, unknown township, Gage County, Nebraska, enumerated August 18, 1870 Dwelling #72, Family #75, Post Office: Beatrice RICHARDSON, H., 24, m/w, farmer, $1,500/$250, Scotland, father & mother of foreign birth *1880 Census, Grant Precinct, Gage County, Nebraska, enumerated June 9 & 10, 1880 Roll 747, Dwelling #52, Family #53 RICHARDSON, Henry, w/m, 33, England, Scotland, England, farmer ___________, Julia, w/f, 24, wife, Wisconsin, New York ___________, Willis, w/m, 8, son, NE England Wisconsin ___________, Lewis, w/m, 6, son, NE England Wisconsin ___________, Jean, w/f, 4, daughter, NE England Wisconsin ___________, Arthur, w/m, 2, son, NE England Wisconsin 1885 State Census Grant Precinct, Gage County, Nebraska enumerated June 3, 1885 RICHARDSON, H., white, 34, born in England ___________, Julia, white, 24, born in Wisconsin ___________, Willis, white, 14, born in Nebraska ___________, Lewis, white, 12, born in Nebraska ___________, Arthur, white, 6, born in Nebraska ___________, Jean, white, 11, born in Nebraska ___________, Chloe, white, 4, born in Nebraska ___________, Elsa, white, 2, born in Nebraska *PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM of GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA published in1888 HENRY RICHARDSON. Perseverance and industry are necessary conditions to true success in any calling. These qualities are possessed in an eminent degree by the subject of this sketch, a thrifty and prosperous farmer and stock-raiser on section 15 of Grant Township, and owner of a very fine farming property of 160 acres through which the Soap Creek winds its way, and which Mr. Richardson secured soon after coming to the county in October, 1867. The previous owner was the venerated and beloved "Uncle Sam," who has made generous provision for thousands of his sons, and stands ready to assist thousands more. Previous to his arrival in Nebraska our subject lived in Delaware County, Iowa, where he had made his home for eighteen years. He was born in that greatest city of the world, London England, on the 8th of January, 1847; his father, James Richardson, was a full-blooded Scotchman, and was born and brought up near the city of Glasgow, upon the Clyde, removing from his Scotch home to London when about thirty years of age. After leaving school he had served a full apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner, which trade he continued to follow in London, and was looked upon as a very excellent, precise and artistic workman. Shortly after his removal to the great city he was united in marriage with Eliza Timmins, a lady of English birth and parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, Sr., became the parents of seven children, of whom our subject was the eldest. Accompanied by two of these they came to the United States, and settled at once in Chicago, where the father found employment in the car shops, in the department where the more finished and skilled work was demanded. There he continued for a number of years, and finally moved with his family to Delaware County, Iowa, locating upon a farm upon which they are yet living. The father is now about seventy-five years of age, and the mother is seventy-seven. Both enjoy excellent health, and retain their natural faculties in a remarkable degree. They come of families noted for longevity. Grandfather Richardson, who lived and died in Scotland, survived over ninety years, and the prospect, so far as it is possible to judge by appearances, is that both Mr. and Mrs. Richardson will, in all probability, likewise live to a ripe old age. Our subject received his education in the schools of Delaware County, Iowa, and after leaving his studies he devoted his attention to farming. Upon coming to Nebraska he found a great deal of hard work before him, but his father had wisely inured him for just such a life, and he was not altogether unfitted to fill the position. The success that has attended his efforts, the improvements that he has made upon his land, and the reputation he has established, all testify to the fact of his enthusiastic devotion to his work. Having provided his house our subject early realized that some one was needed to make it a home, and such a one he found in Miss Julia F. Burgess, to whom he was married in Grant Township, Oct. 13, 1870. The wife of our subject is the daughter of N. E. and Sophia (Woodman) Burgess and was born in Racine County Wis., in 1856, coming to Nebraska with her parents when about twelve years of age. Her parents provided her with the opportunity to obtain a good education in the common schools, of which she took every advantage. There have come to the home of our subject and wife ten children, of whom, however, two are since deceased, viz; Pearl and Ralph. Those still living are Willis, Lewis, Jean, Arthur, Chloe, Elsie, Walter and Ida. For several years our subject has been connected with various township and district offices and is now Township and School Treasurer. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W. All his life he has been a stanch Republican, energetic in behalf of the party he admires. At the same time he is a politician only in the most exalted use of that work, and is identified with almost every good and honorable effort and project for the true progress and benefit of the community, and by his rectitude, manly character and strict business integrity, has won for himself and family the respect of all. * In 1893 he sold the south half of his homestead to his son Willis Richardson. * In 1894 he sold the north half of this homestead to his son Lewis Richardson. * In 1894 he moved his family to De Valls Bluff, Prairie Co., Arkansas (east of Little Rock). * In 1899 he moved his family to a farm west of Severy, Kansas in Greenwood County in the Twin Grove School District. *1900 Census, Paw Paw Township, Elk County, Kansas, Roll 479 RICHARDSON, Henry, head, w/m, Jan. 1847, England Scotland England, Farmer _________, Julia F., wife, w/f, Oct. 1856, WI NY NY _________, Lewis, son, w/m, Oct. 1871, NE England WI _________, Arthur, son, w/m, Mar. 1873, NE England WI _________, Elsie, daughter, w/f, Feb. 1883, NE England WI _________, Walter, son, w/m, July 1887, NE England WI _________, Gertie, daughter, w/f, Jan. 1889, NE England WI _________, Edgar, son, W M, July 1890, NE England WI _________, Henry, son, w/m, June 1892, NE England WI _________, Orvel, son, w/m, Sept. 1895, AR England WI _________, Jesse, son, w/m, Aug. 1897, AR England WI *1910 Census, Otter Creek Township, Greenwood County, Kansas, enumerated April 15, 1910 Roll 441, Dwelling #15, Family #15 RICHARDSON, Henry, head, m/w, 63, England Scotland England, farmer _________, Julia, wife, f/w, 53, WI NY NY, married 39 years, mother of 16, 13 living _________, Orville, son, m/w, 14, AR England WI _________, Jesse, son, m/w, 12, AR England WI _________, Myrl, grandson, m/w, 4, KS IL NE 1920 Census Paw Paw Township, Elk County, Kansas enumerated January 15, 1920 RICHARDSON, Julia, head, f/w, 63, WI NY NY, widow ___________, Jesse, son, m/w, AR England WI, farm laborer ___________, Myrl, grandson, m/w, 14, KS unknown NE * In 1913 he and his wife Julia moved to a farm north of Cresco Cemetery in Elk County, five miles north of Howard, Kansas. Then later their son-in-law (Wiley Friend) built them a house on his farm, with the help of some of their sons and they lived there until their deaths. * Henry taught school in this youth, but was a farmer since marriage except for 4 years when he was an implement dealer in DeWitt, Nebraska. * He and Julia Floretta Burgess were married on October 14, 1870. She was 14 and he 23 years old. They had 16 children. * Henry was first buried in Fairview Cemetery in Paw Paw Township, Elk County, Kansas, near where he lived. Later he was moved to the cemetery at Piedmont, Greenwood County, Kansas. Family members tell that Wiley Friend and some of Henry's sons moved Henry's coffin to the Piedmont cemetery in a Maxwell car owned by Wiley Friend. OBITUARY: HENRY RICHARDSON Henry Richardson was born January 8, 1847, in London, England, and died at his home in Elk County, near Howard, Kansas, June 13, 1914, aged 67 years, 5 months and 5 days. Funeral services and interment at Fairview on Paw Paw at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning. Services conducted by Rev. Weir of Baptist church at Howard. He came to America with his parents at the age of 5 years and located in Chicago, Ill., removed to Earlville, Iowa, at the age of 18 removed from there to DeWitt, Nebr., in 1867 taking a homestead there where he lived for 27 years, then removed to DeValls Bluff, Arkansas, coming from there to Greenwood County Kansas in 1899, where he resided until last spring, when he removed to Elk County. He was married to Julia Burgess October 14, 1870. To this union were born 16 children, three of whom have preceded him. The others were all present at the funeral except Willis Richardson and Mrs. Elsie Shumard of DeWitt, Nebr., Mrs. Jean Walker of Beatrice, Nebr., and Lewis Richardson of Liberal, MO. Mr. Richardson taught school in his youth but has been a farmer since marriage excepting four years when he was an implement dealer in DeWitt, Nebr. He was a good father, a loving husband and was respected by all who knew him. He leaves a wife, 13 children and 4 brothers to mourn his loss besides a host of other relatives and friends. *BIRTH RECORD from England shows that Henry Richardson was born on January 8, 1846 (not 1847). Fairview United Brethren Cemetery, Elk County, Kansas NAME BORN DIED COMMENT RICHARDSON, Henry Jan 08, 1846 Jun 13, 1914 67y5,5d, h/o Julia Floretta (Burgess) Body moved to the Piedmont, KS cem
|
