Richardson, Samuel A.

RICHARDSON

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 1/14/2008 at 16:51:07

Jackson Sentinel
January 15, 1903

DIED

RICHARDSON – At his home, Union Center, Fairfield township, Friday morning January 9, 1903, of uremic poisoning, Samuel A. Richardson, aged 82 yrs., 1 month, 19 days.

Another one of Jackson county’s sturdy pioneers has passed away. In the biographical album of the county we find the following: A native of Ulster county, N. Y., he was born near the town of Peterboro, Nov. 20, 1820, but two years later was taken by his parents to Keene, N.H. Later however, they returned to New York State, settling near Woodstock, Ulster county, and from there subsequently removed to Sand Lake, ten miles east of the city of Troy. They lived there four years, then returned to Woodstock, where they sojourned two years and next going into the Dominion of Canada, settled near Chatham, where they resided fourteen years. At the expiration of this time, they set out for Iowa, and located in Fairfield township, this county, at the time when there were no settlers between Deep Creek and the present site of Maquoketa. The father put up the first house of logs, which was covered with clapboards, and hung the door on wooden hinges. The little lumber which they obtained, had to be hauled a long distance, and then brought up the Maquoketa river in a canoe or dugout. They took up a claim of 160 acres of prairie land, to which Mr. Richardson added later, making his present fine farm a half section in extent. He assisted in the organization of the township, and was one of the first trustees, which office he held three terms, and has been the incumbent of all the other township offices.

Mr. Richardson, while a resident of Canada, came to Michigan, and was married January 11, 1844, to Miss Lois G. Hull, daughter of Benjamin F. Lucy (Walt) Hull, of Franklin county, Vt., the father being a farmer by occupation. To Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, there were born four children, of whom only two are living, William E. and Albert W. The first mentioned married Miss Clara Bell Blakely, of Union Center, and occupies himself as a farmer and stock raiser in Fairfield township. He has two children, Helen S. and Mary E. He is a prominent and highly respected citizen, and bids fair to follow in the footsteps of his honored father. Albert W. was first married to Miss Helen J. Blakely, of Union Center, who died leaving one child, Kathie, now deceased. He was then married to Agnes E. Blakely; they have one child, Ruby Marie, and live at the homestead. The wife of the deceased died August, 10, 1882.

The funeral, largely attended by neighbors and friends, took place from the house 11 a.m. Sunday, Rev. R. M. Reeder, of Preston, officiating. Chas. Wyckoff also spoke of his work, the virtues and excellent qualities of deceased. The remains were laid to rest in the Union Center cemetery.