Richardson Genealogy

Joseph Luther RICHARDSON was born in Nov 1832 in PA.  He died on 26 Aug 1907 in Soap Creek Twp, Davis Co, IA.  He was buried in Baer Cem, Davis Co, IA.  Information on Joseph's first families constructed from cemetery records, the 1885 and 1895 Iowa State census records, Joseph's Civil War Pension Record #471.412 and probate records in Davis Co., IA, Box 104 which lists heirs: Eva RICHARDSON, 22, Davis Co., IA, Leissa BURNS, 30, Ottumwa, IA, Minnie DRURY, 38, Ottumwa, IA.  A Wapello Co. marriage record for a "Mrs. Francis RICHARDSON," 27 to a Charley DRURY, 25 on 23 Nov 1905 gives her father as Joseph L. RICHARDSON and her mother as Rebecca DENTON. However, in Joseph's pension record, he only lists wives Martha SCARLET and Rebecka HUFFMAN, whom he married too late to be the mother of his first 3 children. A page in the pension record on 4 Jul 1898 lists his living children as: Minnie, born Aug 25, 1872, Lissa, born April 3, 1876 and Eva, born March 20, 1884.  Served in Co. D, 2nd Iowa Volunteers from 4 May 1861 to 24 May 1864.  He listed his occupation as blacksmith and farmer. Joseph died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Joseph Luther RICHARDSON married Rebecca DENTON.  Joseph Luther RICHARDSON and Rebecca DENTON had the following children:

      I. Minnie RICHARDSON was born on 25 Aug 1872 in IL.  Marriage record Davis Co., IA, Book 6, Page 247: Minnie RICHARDSON to Wilson NOEL - 3 Jun 1897 by Rev. J E Wilkins may be hers.  Marriage record Wapello Co., IA, Book 18, Page 149: Mrs. Francis RICHARDSON, 27, Father: Joseph L RICHARDSON, Mother: Rebecca DENTON to Charley DRURY, 25, Father: Elmer DRURY, Mother: Anna HERRIN. - 23 Nov 1905.  No other marriage records found in either county for her.  The parents listed on her marriage to DRURY and her name as an heir in J L RICHARDSON' s probate records confirm at least this marriage record.

      Minnie RICHARDSON and Charley DRURY were married on 23 Nov 1905 in Ottumwa, Wapello Co, IA.  Charley DRURY (son of Elmer DRURY and Anna HERRIN) was born about 1880.  Age and parents' names are taken from the marriage record in Wapello Co., IA.

      II. Romeo RICHARDSON was born on 27 Jan 1874 in IL.  He died on 11 Sep 1897.  He was buried in Baer Cem, Davis Co, IA.  WPA cemetery listings of tombstones give birth as Jan 27 1884 but the census records indicate it should be 1874.  The Richardson tombstones are no longer to be found in the Baer Cemetery.

      III. Leissa\Mollie RICHARDSON was born on 3 Apr 1876 in IL.  Marriage record in Bloomfield, Davis Co., IA, Book 6, Page 208: Lisse RICHARDSON to J. A. BRUNK on 3 Nov 1896 by H Kelsey, J.P.  It’s unknown if this is the same girl. No other marriage records for her have been found but Joseph's probate records lists an heir, Leissa BURNS, 30, Ottumwa, IA.

      Leissa\Mollie RICHARDSON married ___ BURNS. 

Joseph Luther RICHARDSON and Rebecca HUFFMAN were married on 9 Jun 1882.  Rebecca HUFFMAN was born in 1840.  She died on 8 Jun 1892.  She was buried in Baer Cem, Davis Co, IA.  Joseph Luther RICHARDSON and Rebecca HUFFMAN had the following children:

      IV. Eva RICHARDSON was born on 20 Mar 1884 in IL.

Joseph Luther RICHARDSON married Martha SCARLET on 24 Nov 1892 in Davis Co, IA.  Martha SCARLET (daughter of Henry SCARLETT and Mary KNIP) was born in Mar 1845 in KY.  She died on 30 May 1907 in Soap Creek Tp, Davis Co, IA.  She was buried in Baer Cem, Davis Co, IA.  Surname based on the birth record in Davis Co., IA for Isaac O. Smith listing father Sargus SMITH and mother Martha (SCARLET).  When Isaac married in Ottumwa, IA in 1908, he listed his parents as Sardis SMITH and Martha HULETT, but a later found Pension record for Joseph RICHARDSON gives his wife's name as Martha SCARLET.  An 1850 census record in Christian Co., KY shows a fatherless family headed by Mary SCARLETT and five small children including five year old Martha.  Our speculation, unproven as yet, is that Martha's mother married a HULETT and the children were raised as Huletts.  There was a HULETT family near Martha and Joseph Richardson in later life that seemed to have some kind of family tie.  A marriage record in Schuyler Co., MO shows a Martha SCARLET marrying Edward HARRISON on 1 Jan 1860 and then a Martha HARRISON marrying Elisha DeWITT on 29 Dec 1861. These may have been this same Martha.  Her marriage to BLANKENSHIP still hasn't been found.   Family of Sardis and Martha taken from the 1880 Federal census and the 1885 Iowa State census plus the birth record of Isaac in Davis Co., IA.   Married to Joseph RICHARDSON 24 Nov 1892, Davis Co., IA by Jas. Rouch, JP -Book 5, Page 530.  The 1900 Census shows a daughter of Joseph: Eva D. RICHARDSON, born Mar 1886 in IA plus stepsons, "Jack" and Isaac, although they aren't listed as SMITH in the census record.  Joseph's birth date was given as Nov 1832, age 57. Martha died of a gunshot wound during a struggle between Joseph and another man over a shotgun.  A few months later a despondent Joseph ended his own life with a gunshot through the heart.  (Newspaper accounts and death records in Davis Co.)

Contributed by Della Shafer

Records

Blankenship