Richey, Albert M. (1810-1888)

RICHEY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 12/9/2016 at 00:14:37

The Advocate-Tribune newspaper, Indianola, Iowa, Thursday, December 30, 1886, p.6

A GATHERING OF THE PATRIARCHS
Mine host, A. P. Keeney, of the Madison House, the oldest landlord in Indianola, had a remarkable gathering at this popular hostelry on Christmas day. He invited all the prominent old widowers of this vicinity to eat a Christmas dinner with him. The patriarchal flock that answered the summons were a most interesting group of time-worn veterans.

ALBERT M. RICHEY was born in Fayette county, Penn., Feb. 1810, making his age now almost 77. His father fell in the war of 1812, leaving him an orphan at the tender age of two years. He says he remembers distinctly his mother’s sorrow when she received the sad news of the absent soldier’s death. Mr. Richey was reared in Fayette county until eighteen years of age, when he moved to Carmichaels, Greene county. At an early age he learned the trade of manufacturing furniture. This was practically before the age of machinery, and all kinds of furniture had to be made almost totally by hand. He soon became an expert workman, added the title of dealer to that of manufacturer, and for many years conducted a furniture store in his adopted town. Here he reared quite a family; his sons all becoming experts in the furniture trade almost by intuition. In 1867 two of the sons came to Indianola and established the furniture house of Richey Brothers. The father made frequent and lengthy visits here. Others of the family came, and nine years ago he retired from active business at the old Pennsylvania home, and moved to Indianola, making his home among his sons, mostly with Walter, or Walt, as he is universally called. Mr. Richey is the youngest looking man of the company. Indeed the hand of time seems scarcely to press upon him at all, so light is its touch. His contented disposition and happy, genial nature, doubtless have much to do with maintaining this perennial youth. He seems to forget himself entirely and is always most happy when contributing to the happiness of those around him.