Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 552
DAVID A. RICHARDSON

Among the younger farmers of Cincinnati township, Harrison county, Iowa, is David A. RICHARDSON, who is now living on the farm where he was born more than thirty years ago. His parents were early settlers in the county, his father locating here in the early fifties and becoming one of its largest landowners. Mr. RICHARDSON has devoted himself to general farming and stock raising since reaching his majority and now owns three hundred acres of the old home farm. He is prominent in the civic life of his community and lends his hearty support to all public-spirited measures.

David A. RICHARDSON, the son of George and Ann (COULTHARD) RICHARDSON, was born March 24, 1882, on the farm where he is now living. His parents were natives of Scotland and Ontario, Canada, respectively. They came to Harrison county, Iowa, in the early fifties and located on a farm in Cincinnati township. His father bought forty acres of land from the government, for which he paid one dollar and a quarter an acre. He later added to this until at one time he owned about fourteen hundred acres of land. He is now living in Missouri Valley. Thirteen children were born to George RICHARDSON and wife, David A. being the twelfth in order of birth.

The education of David A. RICHARDSON was received in the schools of Cincinnati township. Early in life he began to help his father on the large home farm and by the time he was married at the age of twenty-three he was well prepared to take the active management of a farm of his own. He is an extensive stock raiser and sells two car loads of hogs and cattle from his farm each year. The house in which he lives was built about 1866, and was largely constructed from cottonwood sawed in the immediate vicinity. The shingles and siding were hauled from Council Bluffs by wagon, since that was many years before the railroad went through the county. The house is the oldest in the southwestern part of Harrison county and is still in an excellent state of preservation and bids fair to stand for many years yet to come.

David A. RICHARDSON was married, December 20, 1905, to Pearl OLINGER. She was born April 23, 1885, in Cincinnati township, and is a daughter of William and Marguerite (KERR) OLINGER. Her parents are natives of Pennsylvania and Canada, respectively, her mother being born near Glencoe, Ontario, Canada. Her father came to Harrison county, Iowa, when a small boy, and her mother located here when she was about twenty-one years of age. Mr. and Mrs. OLINGER were the parents of eight children, Mrs. RICHARDSON being the oldest of the family. Mr. and Mrs. RICHARDSON have four children, Harold George, born September 3, 1906; Marguerite Pearl, born August 20, 1908; Donald William, born October 23, 1912, and Harlan David, born January 21, 1914.

Mr. RICHARDSON is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has advanced to the chapter degree. In politics he gives his hearty support to the Republican party, and has been one of the leaders in his township since reaching his majority. The family are active workers in the Presbyterian church and contribute generously to its maintenance.

Return to 1915 Biographical Q-R Surnames Index

Back to 1915 Biographies Index