Richardson, George E. 1850-1917

RICHARDSON, COAD, HALE

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/4/2008 at 21:59:25

LeMars Sentinel
September 25, 1917

AFTER LONG ILLNESS
GEORGE E. RICHARDSON, LEMARS PIONEER, PASSES AWAY
PROMINENT IN BUSINESS CIRCLES
Came Here When a Young Man and Launched Business Career Which Proved Most
Successful-Had Been Ill For a Year and Half.

George Richardson, for more than thirty years a leading citizen of LeMars
and widely known in Northwestern Iowa and Minnesota, died at his home on
West Sixth street on Friday night, shortly before midnight, following a
lingering illness due to pernicious anemia. The end came peacefully.

Mr. Richardson, who lived an active and useful life, was taken sick about a
year and a half ago and although at times he was apparently better, never
regained his former health. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson returned a week prior to
his death from Gull Lake, Minn., where they went for a change and outing.
Mr. Richardson feeling better and stronger when they went north.

Friends thought that his health was improving of late and the news of his
death came as a distinct shock to many of them and to the community at
large.

Mr. Richardson was a man of strong personality, virile, vigorous and
resourceful. He was gifted by nature and a fine physician and was always
full of optimism and bubbling with cheerfulness. Of a sanguine turn of mind,
he inspired others with cheerfulness and in his younger days was the life
and soul of any gathering in which he chanced to take part or be present.
His name associated with several others, some of whom have gone and some of
whom are still here, will always be inseparably associated with the growth
and upbuilding of LeMars.

In earlier days he was in the van when the subject of public improvements
was broached and was one of the men who were successful in bringing Western
Union college to this town. As a young man, he grasped the opportunities
presented in northwestern Iowa and as a real estate man boomed land in this
section, and was instrumental in inducing many to settle on the fertile
prairies. In later years he conducted an extensive land business at Hallock,
Minn., dividing his time between the LeMars and Minnesota offices. He came
to LeMars in the heyday of his youth and vigor and without monetary capital,
but gifted with determination and a desire to work, made a success of life
and accumulated a fine fortune, being rated one of the wealthiest men in the
community.

George Ellery Richardson was born at Springfield, Mass., on May 17, 1850.
When he was three years old his parents, Joshua and Sarah Hale Richardson,
and an uncle, Benjamin Ellery Hale, moved west, locating at Batavia,
Illinois, where they engaged in the manufacture of cars. The senior
Richardson then moved to Independence, Iowa, and to Iowa Falls in 1861,
where George Richardson received his early training and attended school.

The Richardson sawmill and the old swimming hole nearby are historic spots.
George Richardson was brought up in the school of hard knocks, was subjected
to several training and early was taught to work hard and also the value of
the dollar. It is related by boyhood friends that when he could get away
from his tasks and join in games and sports, he was the merriest of the
crowd and the keenest at baseball. In swimming, hunting or other sports, and
was always in the mood for pranks and jokes.

After completing his school ____, he went to Marengo, where he engaged in
the produce business. In 1878 he came to LeMars and engaged in the land
business with Clay Bros. A few years later he embarked in business on his
own account and was soon marked as one of the successful men of the
community. He was united in marriage at Marengo, Iowa, on February 16, 1883,
with Miss -augher. To their union one daughter, Lucille, was born. She is
now the wife of W.A. Coad, of Hull, Iowa, and they have three children. Mr.
Richardson is also survived by one sister, Mrs. L.D. Clay, of Iowa Falls.
His mother died recently at the age of ninety years.

A few years ago Mr. and Mrs. Richardson built one of the finest homes in
LeMars one the place on West Sixth street, where they have lived for many
years.

The home life of Mr. Richardson was ideal. He was devoted to his wife and
daughter and his little grandchildren. The grandchildren he always wanted
around him in the closing years of his life. Mr. Richardson, always an
ardent sportsman, taking delight in shooting and fishing and other manly
sports.

He made a number of staunch friends during his lifetime and many are the
regrets heard on the news of his death. The funeral was held yesterday
afternoon at the home on West Sixth street and was largely attended. Rev.
J.J. Steele, of the First Congregational church, of which the deceased was a
member, officiated at the services. The pallbearers were Geo. McLain, Nic
Hentges, E.A. Dalton, A.J. Bowers, H.S. Martin and H. Atwood.

Among the out-of-town relatives and friends at the funeral were Mrs. L.D.
Clay and Mrs. Coon of Iowa Falls; Ed Clay of Omaha; John Kain, of
Breckenridge, Minn.

Tombstone Photo
 

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