RICHARDSON, George 1819 - 1890

RICHARDSON, WHITFIELD

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/4/2006 at 21:12:04

"The Fairfield Ledger"
December 3, 1890
Page 3, Column 3

Death of George RICHARDSON

George RICHARDSON died at his home in this city Friday evening about 5 o'clock after an illness of a week, from acute bronchitis. He was on the street last (sic - week) to cast his ballot for the new courthouse and was then suffering from a severe cold. Mr. RICHARDSON was in the seventy-second year of his age. He was born at Glasgow, Scotland, where he grew to manhood, coming to the United States in 1841, at the age of twenty-two. He was married in Maryland, his wife dying here a little less than a year ago. Mr. RICHARDSON was a miner in the old country and he followed that occupation in the coal mining states of the east until 1852, when he removed to this county. With a small sum of money which he had saved out of his wages in Pennsylvania he purchased twenty acres of coal lands two miles west of this city at the place now known as the "west banks". A little coal had been taken out here, but the workings were of a very crude character, the water being removed from the mines by dog power. In company with his brother John, Mr. RICHARDSON developed the mines, put machinery that was first class for that day in Iowa into them and operated them quite successfully until 1869. For several years it is quite probable that these works were among the largest in the state. They were probably the only ones along the line of what was then the B. & M. road, and the coal was of such a superior quality that it was hauled by wagon as far as Davenport. After disposing of this property Mr. RICHARDSON lived on a farm west of the city for several years, and of late he has spent much of his time in town. He was the father of thirteen children, eleven of whom are now living, among them James S., Annie, Effie, and John in this place. Deceased was the youngest and last of eight brothers, four of whom, John, James, Archibald and George, died here and now lie side by side in the City Cemetery. Mr. RICHARDSON was a man of kindly manner, and although of a reticent disposition had many warm friendships in this community where he had lived so many years. As husband and father he was tender and affectionate, and the death of his aged wife was a blow from which he never recovered. The remains were interred in the City Cemetery Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Rev. J. F. Magill conducting the funeral services.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: George's wife was Agnes WHITFIELD, born August 14, 1826, and died December 22, 1889. She is buried in the (Old Fairfield) City Cemetery with him in Lot 26.