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Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa
Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887

MILTON RICHEY, at present residing on section 20, Canton Township, and a pioneer farmer, was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., July 5, 1831. His father, John Richey, was born in Albany, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1805, and removed with his parents to Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1809, where he resided until eighteen years of age, when he removed to Ross County, Ohio, where, April 3, 1828, he was married to Sarah Peck, who was a native of Virginia, born Jan. 27, 1806. In 1830, with the Kirkpatrick family, he removed to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and five years later entered Government land upon Sugar Creek, in Boone County, upon which he made his home during the remainder of his life. He departed this life Aug. 13, 1883; his wife died April 2, 1860. They were the parents of six children, one of whom died in infancy and five are now living — Milton, Margaret J., Julia A., James and Mary E.  Mr. Richey was a man of firm purpose and indomitable will, and when the Union army lay at Murfreesboro, Tenn., he succeeded in doing what very few citizens accomplished, for he managed to pass the lines, overcoming every barrier in the heart of the Federal army, and reached his son James, who was lying sick in a hospital.

Milton Richey was reared to manhood in Boone County, Ind., learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1853 united in marriage with Angelina Thomas. She is the daughter of Abram and Sarah (Bell) Thomas, and is a native of Indiana, born in Clinton County, June 13, 1834. One year after marriage, in I854, they came to Iowa and settled at Vinton, where Mr. Richey followed his trade six years, and then settled on section 20, Canton Township, where his father had, in 1853, entered 160 acres of land. Here he has since resided and given his whole attention to farming. He now owns 262 acres in Benton County and 320 acres in Clay County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Richey have had six children, of whom one died in infancy, one at the age of three years, and one daughter, Nellie, who became the wife of W. W. Boyd, died at the age of twenty-six years, leaving two little daughters — Bessie aged five, and Claudey three years. Those surviving are William A., a farmer in Clay County, Iowa; Sherman, brakeman on a passenger train on the B., C. R. & N. R. R.; and Segle, a telegraph student at Janesville, Wis.

Politically Mr. Richey affiliates with the Democratic party, and has frequently held local offices. He is a member of Benton City Lodge, No. 81, A. F. & A. M., and A. O. U. W.  He is a friend of education, believing that to be one of the most important factors in subduing the moral and social evils of the country, and is an honest citizen and good neighbor, respected and esteemed by all who know him.

Mr. Richey's portrait will he found in connection with this sketch.


Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies"  [database online]  Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 197-198.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on January 28th, 2009.  Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.


Return to: 1887 Biography Index



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