Matthew Richmond, 1834-1921

RICHMOND, CAVERS, GIBBS, DOWS

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/10/2011 at 19:07:58

Matthew Richmond, now living retired at Armstrong, has been a resident of Iowa for forty-eight years. A native of Scotland, he was but five years of age when his parents crossed the Atlantic with their family to Canada, in which country he was reared upon a farm, having the usual experiences of the farm lad who at an early age begins work in the fields and when crops are harvested in the late autumn finds the opportunity to attend school. He has always made good use of his time, his talents and his opportunities and thus it is that he has advanced from a humble position until he ranks with the men of affluence in Armstrong.

As previously stated, Mr. Richmond came to Iowa in 1867 and purchased a section of land in Armstrong township, Emmet county. The following year he removed his family from Ontario, Canada, to this state, a portion of the journey being made by train, while the last few hundred miles were covered by wagon. The tract which he had secured was raw land, not a furrow having been turned nor an improvement made upon the place. When he arrived with his family he learned of a farm on the river where there was timber and where a log house had been built. The farm was for sale and Mr. Richmond purchased it, the family at once moving into the little log cabin. Later he improved that place, persistently and industriously carrying on the work of development year after year until the land was brought under a high state of cultivation, yielding to him golden harvests. He added many of the modern equipments and accessories of the model farm and thereon resided until 1898. In the meantime he added to his holdings until he owned considerable land. In the early days he had to go to Algona to do his trading, for the town of Armstrong was not established until 1892. He has lived to see great changes wrought and in the development of the state along agricultural lines he has borne his full share.

In 1858 in Ontario, Canada, Mr. Richmond was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Cavers, a native of Scotland. They became the parents of six children: Jeanett, the wife of William Gibbs, a resident of Armstrong; Anna, the wife of John Dows, also of Armstrong; William, a resident farmer of Armstrong Grove; Robina E., at home; Walter A., a farmer of Emmet county; and John J., living at Swea City, Iowa.

Mr. Richmond has always voted the republican ticket since becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States. He served for nine years on the board of supervisors and was its chairman for eight years, doing effective work during all that period for the benefit and improvement of the county along many lines. He has been justice of the peace and his decisions in that office have ever been strictly fair and impartial. He has acted as trustee and director of the schools, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. Upon the organization of the Presbyterian church of Armstrong in 1881 he became a charter member and has since been one of its loyal adherents. His has been a well spent life, his fellow townsmen attesting their high regard, while the consensus of public opinion places him among the substantial and valued citizens of his adopted county. "

Contributed by: Jim Richmond. Source: Iowa: Its History and Its Foremost Citizens, Volume III, Biographical History, page 823, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1915.

Interment in Armstrong Grove cemetery
 

Emmet Biographies maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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