Leviticus T Richmond

Leviticus T. Richmond, an attorney at law of Albia, Iowa, is one of the younger representatives of the bar of Monroe county, but has attained a reputation that many an older practitioner might well envy. The profession of law is an open field and its favors are won not through the help of influential friends, or by purchase, but as a result of earnest application, perseverance, and the exercise of natural and acquired ability. Mr. Richmond has today a large clientage, which plainly indicates his skill and his devotion to the interests of his patrons.

Our subject was born in Monroe county, Iowa, June 11, 1860, being a son of Samuel and Sarah A. (Bell) Richmond. The father was born in Trimble county, Kentucky, in November, 1822, and was both a millwright and a farmer. Believing that he would have better opportunities of securing a good home in the new West, he came to Iowa in its Territorial days, taking up residence in Des Moines county. After a time he located in Davis county, and in the spring of 1846 came to Monroe county. Numbered among the honored pioneers, he has taken a prominent part in the development and upbuilding of the locality and is a valued citizen. He served as a member of the Board of Supervisors, and for many years held the office of Justice of the Peace. He is now living in Cedar township, Monroe county, where he successfully carries on farming and stock-raising. The Richmonds are of Irish descent. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah A. Bell, and was born in Kentucky; her father however was a native of Ireland, and her mother's birth occurred in Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Richmond were born the following named children: Byron, who died from a wound received in the battle of Marks' Mills during the Civil war; William P., who carries on farming in Monroe county; James H., who was engaged in the Government service for thirteen years, and died in Texas, in March, 1884; Cratus, a resident farmer of Monroe county; John A., who follows carpentering, and resides on a farm in Monroe county; Franklin D., who carries on agricultural pursuits in the same county; Ezra C., who makes his home with his parents; Jennie, wife of Samuel Phipps, a farmer of this county; Leviticus T., subject of this review; and Cyrus A., who owns and operates a tract of land in this locality.

In the public schools near the old farmstead Mr. Richmond began his education. After mastering the common branches, he entered the Central University, at Pella, Marion county, Iowa, where he pursued his studies from 1877 until 1880. He then engaged in teaching in this county until 1882, when, in the month of March, he took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1883. He is now one of the leading and influential attorneys of Albia, and has also been prominent in official life in Monroe county.

On the 1st of January, 1884, Mr. Richmond was appointed Deputy Sheriff, and the following year was elected Sheriff¸ in which position he served until the 1st of January 1888. Since that time he has engaged in the prosecution of the legal profession, and is certainly one of its most able representatives in this locality. He was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of the Industrial Home for the Blind at Knoxville, Iowa, by the Twenty-fourth General Assembly; for five months served as Mayor of Albia, filling out an unexpired term, and for four years has been a member of the City Council.

On the 18th of November, 1885, Mr. Richmond was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie W. Malone, a native of Maryland and a daughter of James and Mary (Coughlin) Malone, natives of Ireland. Three children have been born of their union: Francis H., born October 14, 1887; William T., born May 7, 1890; and Thomas B., born July 8, 1895. The family is one of prominence in this community, and the home is a pretty cottage on East Benton street, Albia. Our subject and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church, in which Mrs. Richmond was reared, and which her husband joined in 1885. He has acted as attorney of the Wapello Coal Company in Hiteman since 1888. He has been prominent in the public affairs of the city, and is a most wide-awake and progressive man, who in public office and in private life has been an important factor in promoting the welfare of his native county.