RICHARD E. RICHARDS

RICHARDS

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 16:44:50

RICHARD E. RICHARDS, a highly respected citizen of Adams county, Iowa, was born in Warwickshire, England, February 2, 1833. His parents were William and Ellen (Steward) Richards, both natives of England. His father was a farmer and leased property then first married that remained in the family, renting from year to year for more than seventy years. He passed his life on the farm and died there March 4, 1864, at the age of sixty-nine years. His mother departed this life January 13, 1881, at the age of eighty years. Both were members of the Established Church of England. Of their nine children Richard E. was the fifth born.

At an early age the subject of our sketch, filled with the spirit of adventure, gained his parents' consent to come to America, bade them good-bye, promised to return in five years, and set out alone for this country. Arrived here he engaged as a clerk in his uncle's wholesale notion store in New York. He clerked there for nearly five years, then in the summer of 1854 came west and worked on a farm in Illinois until his five years were up, after which he returned to England. He remained at home six months and during that time reached his majority. Again he embarked for America. Each time he crossed the ocean on a sail vessel, the first voyage consuming thirty-five days, the second four weeks, and the third six weeks. His second passage was a rough one and at one time the vessel was supposed to be going under. On his last voyage they were becalmed on the banks of Newfoundland. The vessel also encountered other dangers among the icebergs and field ice.

On his return to America, Mr. Richards again came west to Illinois, and until the war came on was variously employed in that State. In August, 1862, he enlisted in company C, One-hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca and Kenesaw Mountain. At the last named place, June 27, 1864, he was wounded simultaneously in the left knee and the right heel, the same bullet doing the mischief in both places. He was yet able to walk to the ambulance half a mile away, and after reaching it was taken to the field hospital. He was wounded at nine o'clock in the morning, and he had nothing to eat or drink, nor did he receive any medical attention until the next day, on account of carelessness on the part of the regimental doctor. When he returned to Nashville gangrene set in his foot. Five times it was operated on, each operation about equal to an amputation. He was much emaciated and was thought to be near death. About this time his wife came to the hospital and was instrumental in having him removed to Louisville, and some weeks later to Chicago, arriving at the latter place in September. He remained in hospital at Chicago until March, 1865, when he was discharged from the service and went home on crutches. He was disabled for some time, the wound on his heel remaining a running sore for more than twenty years.

After trying several devices for making a living, serving in agencies, etc., he returned to farming in Peoria county, Illinois. In the fall of 1869 he came to Adams county, Iowa, and in the spring of 1870 settled where he now resides, section 14, Lincoln township. He left the farm in 1886 and moved to Corning, remaining there till the death of his wife in June, 1889. Her age was fifty-nine years. She was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a true type of the Christian wife, mother and neighbor. In the fall after her death Mr. Richards returned to the farm. Here he owns 200 acres, all enclosed. His residence is located on a half-section road. Mr. Richards is a man who has made much of opportunity, having started out a poor boy and now being well-to-do and surrounded with the comforts of life.

His marriage occurred March 24, 1856, Miss Sarah Walford the lady of his choice. For history of her parents see biography of Charles Walford in this work. Five children were born to them: W. F., T. E., Mary E., Fanny L. and Charles. T. E. married Susan Boswell and has five children, Walter H., Ethel E., Ellen G., Maggie D. and Homer O. Mary E., wife of W. H. Boswell, died at the age of twenty-one years, leaving one child, Lloyd M. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fanny L. is the wife of George A. Tenant and has one child, Edna C. Charles, the third-born, died in infancy.

Previous to his marriage Mr. Richards was a member of the Established Church of England, and at that time united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post of Corning. In politics he is a Republican and has held various township offices.