HUMPHREY RICHARDS.

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         There is perhaps no resident in Louisa county more closely in touch with current events of this section or more active in social, religious or political circles than Humphrey Richards, who is engaged in the insurance business at Cotter and is also identified with farming and other interests. He was born in Wales, September 1, 1850, a son of Lewis and Catherine (Jenkins) Richards. The father engaged in farming all of his life in that country. He died in 1864, one year . . .

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. . . after the demise of his wife, leaving a family of ten children, seven of whom grew to maturity, namely: David, who is now living at Council Bluffs, Iowa; John, a mechanic, now deceased, who made his home at Higbee, Missouri; Humphrey, of this review; Mary Ann, who married William Trentham and died in London, England; Catherine, who is now living in London, England; Lewis, a resident of Wayne county, Nebraska; and Richard, living near Birmingham, Alabama.

          Humphrey Richards was reared upon his father’s farm and received his education in the public schools, continuing at home until twenty-one years of age. In the spring of 1871, having determined to seek his fortune in the new world, he emigrated to the United States and first stopped at Watertown, Wisconsin, where he remained until the following autumn. He then came to Iowa and engaged in mining for two years at Perlee. From that place he went to Des Moines, where he continued as a miner for another period of two years. He had carefully saved his money with the object of engaging in agriculture and stock-raising and early in 1875 he arrived in Louisa county, a section which he found to be very favorable for his proposed line of business. He accordingly purchased eighty-seven acres of land on section 20, Columbus City township, and there established his home. He prospered greatly as the years advanced and made additional purchases until he is now the owner of two hundred acres of land, upon which he has made many improvements, his farm being one of the most valuable of its size in this part of the county. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers National Bank of Cotter, of which he is a large stockholder, and for the past fifteen years was engaged in the insurance business at Columbus Junction but now has his office at Cotter.

         In the spring of 1875 Mr. Richards was united in marriage to Miss Mary Williams, a daughter of Richard Williams, who was a native of Wales and came to Louisa county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. He died when Mrs. Richards was only six months old but her mother is still living having married John Richards, whose home is near Cotter, Iowa. Mrs. Richards was born in this county in 1857. In their family are five children, namely: Catherine Ann, who is the wife of William Roberts, a real-estate dealer of Washington, Iowa; Celia Jane, the wife of John O. Jones, who is engaged in farming near Royal, Clay county, Iowa; Amy, who is living at home; David John, deceased; and Edwin, also at home.

         In politics Mr. Richards is a stanch supporter of the republican party. He has twice been a nominee for representative to the state legislature, but in each instance was defeated. He assisted in organizing the town of Cotter, contributing liberally toward its upbuilding, and he served as its first postmaster. Fraternally he is quite prominent, being a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. He belongs to the blue lodge, chapter and council of the Masons and is a past grand master in the order of the Odd Fellows. He and his wife are connected with the Welsh Calvinistic church near Cotter. He is an officer of the church and was instrumental in the erection of the house of worship. He has been secretary of the District Church Association for the . . .

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. . . last fifteen years as one of the most efficient and valuable workers in the organization. For twenty-five years he has been a liberal contributor to the columns of the two Columbus Junction newspapers on subjects pertaining to this section and wherever known he is regarded as a well informed substantial citizen, in whom the utmost confidence may be placed.