Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 476

HON. DEWITT CLINTON RICHMAN, late Judge of the Second Circuit of the Seventh Judicial District of Iowa, and an early settler of Muscatine, was born at Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio, Sept. 1, 1826, and is a son of the Rev. Evert and Mary ( Scott ) Richman. The family of Richman is of Holland origin, the name being originally spelled "Ryckamn," a style of orthography still preserved by one branch of the family. The great-grandfather of our subject emigrated from Holland to America about the middle of the eighteenth century, and settled in New York City. His son, John Ryckman, the grandfather of Judge D. C., was born in Hackensack, N. J., of the 11th of March, 1767, was a cabinet-maker by trade and engaged in business in New York City. He subsequently returned to New Jersey, and engaged in the tanning business at Paterson, where he owned considerable property. In the pioneer days of Ohio he removed to that State, where he lived to a ripe old age, dying near Zanesville, on the 17th of January,1842. His son Evert, the father of Judge Richman, was educated for the ministry, and for several years was engaged in that holy calling. Finding the demands of a large family greater than his income, he determined to seek a more lucrative profession, and entered upon the study of law. He served several years as Clerk of the House of Representatives, and was afterward Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Perry County, but was never admitted to the bar. He was a thorough student and possessed intellectual faculties of a high order. His interest in the current social and political events of his day led to his attaining some note as a writer for the press. He was a Knight Templar Mason and attained distinction in the order. His death occurred at Somerset, Ohio, in 1828, in the thirty-seventh year of his age, and he was buried by his brethren of the Masonic fraternity, who erected a fine monument to his memory.

The wife of Evert Richman, who was of Scotch descent, and was born in the town of Bensalem, Bucks Co., Pa., was a woman of superior intellegence and force of character, and possessed the natural peculiarities of her race--prudence, economy and religious zeal. Left a widow with a large family of young children to care for, and with but limited means, she fought the battle of life bravely, and reared her children, six sons and a daughter, to habits of industry and usefulness, giving them the best educational advantages her limited means would permit. Soon after her husbands death she removed to her native town in Bucks County, Pa., and subsequently came to Muscatine, Iowa, where her death occurred in 1873, in the seventy-seventh year of her age. She was honored and loved by all who knew her. Her memory is cherished in the hearts of her children, whom she lived to see occupy honorable and useful positions in society.

When but three years of age, having lost his father, our subject removed with his mother to the town of Bensalem, Pa., where he attended school until attaining his twelfth year. when he engaged in farm work. The succeeding four years were spent in that vocation. At the age of sixteen he engaged as merchant's clerk in a store at Philadelphia ; a year later he accepted a like position in a store at Trenton, N. J., where he remained until his eighteenth year, and in 1844 came West to seek his fortune. Coming directly to Muscatine, Iowa, he was employed in the wholesale grocery house of his elder brother, John Richman, then a prominent merchant and one of the earliest settlers of that city. This brother was never married, and his death occurred in 1850. In 1846 DeWitt returned to Trenton and resumed his clerkship at the store, where he remained until 1853, when he again sought the West and became a permanent resident of Muscatine. He had previously taken up the study of law, and on coming the second time to this city entered the office of his brother, J. Scott Richman, a leading attorney of Muscatine, since on the Iowa bench. Our subject pursued his studies under the preceptership of his brother, was admitted to the bar in 1855, and a partnership was then formed by the brothers under the firm name of Richman & Bro. An extensive and lucrative practice resulted from their joint efforts, and the connection was continued until 1863, when it was dissolved by the elder brother being appointed to the bench. DeWitt then formed a partnership with J. Carskadden, under the firm name of Richman & Carskadden. This became one of the strongest law firms in Eastern Iowa, both members being distinguished as able jurists in the State and National Courts. The connection was continued until 1878, when it was dissolved by the appointment of the senior partner to the bench of the Second Circuit of the Seventh Judicial District of Iowa. Of the career of Judge Richman on the bench, perhaps we cannot do better than to quote from the daily press at the time of his resignation. In speaking of the proposed retirement from the bench of Judge D. C. Richman, the Davenport Democrat of Dec.22, 1882 says: "It can be said of him that he has fulfilled the duties of the position in as satisfactory a manner as any Judge who has ever occupied the bench in this district, and that is pretty high praise. Judge Richman is learned in the law, spotless in character, prompt in decision on the bench and in reserved decisions, and in all ways conscientiously just. There is an air of purity and dignity in his administration of his duties that elevates his office in the eyes of men." Judge Richman was appointed to the Judgeship by Gov. Gear, March 22, 1878, which appointment was subsequently indorsed by his unanimous election to a second and third terms. Previous to the expiration of his third term, the Judge tendered his resignation, to take effect on the 1st of March, 1883. The reason given in his letter to the Governor was that he could not afford to devote any more time to the position, and hoped that a more liberal compensation might be fixed for his successors. The Governor's letter in response says: I regret your thus leaving a responsible position wherein you have given universal satisfaction, and trust in whatever business you hereafter engage, you shall meet with that certain success which I believe you merit. "Your obedient servant, "Buren R. Sherman."

At the time of tendering his resignation, in Decamber, 1882, Judge Richman formed a partnership with George M. Titus in the law, real-estate, and loan business, which connection continued intil 1886, when it was dissolved, and the Judge took his son, Irving B., into partnership in the same business, under the firm name Richman & Son. The new firm is now two years old and is doing an extensive business.

The history of the financial institutions of Muscatine shows that the Judge has been prominently identified with two of the leading banking houses of the city. He was an early stockholder and director of the Merchant's Exchange Bank, and is now serving in that capacity in its successor, the First National Bank. He was the principal mover in the organization of the Muscatine Savings Bank, of which he is also a stockholder and director. Both these institutions are prosperous, and paying good dividends.

At Brooklyn, N.Y., on the 20th of September, 1855, Judge Richman was united in marriage with Miss Mary Berdine, daughter of Jacob C. and Matilda Berdine. She was born at Trenton, N. J., where her parents formerly resided. Both were natives of New Jersey, were of Revolutionary ancestry, and were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. They came to Iowa after their daughter's marriage, and for several years resided at Muscatine. They subsequently removed to Davenport, and there the mother died. The father returned to Muscatine, where he is now living. Judge and Mrs. Richman were the parents of two children : Scott Clinton, born in 1856, died in infancy ;Irving Berdine, born at Muscatine, Oct.17, 1861, was graduated from the academic department of the Iowa State University in the class of June, 1883, and entered upon the study of law in his father's office at Muscatine. In January, 1884, he was admitted to the bar and subsequently clerked in his father's office until 1886. when he was admitted into partnership, under the firm name of D. C. Richman & Son, which connection has continued until this date. Irving was married at Muscatine on the 7th of June, 1887, becoming the husband of Miss Elizabeth Green, daughter of Joseph A. Green. He has taken an active interest in political affairs, and is now President of the Young Men's Democratic Club of Muscatine. He is an energetic and promising young lawyer, whose future success is only a question of time.

In politics Judge Richman was a Whig in early life, and on the dissolution of that party joined that of the Republicans, with which he was identified many years. During the late war he labored earnestly to encourage enlistments for the army and to aid the sick and disabled soldiers and their families. He devoted time and money to a zealous and patriotic support of the Government, and was always to be relied on to do his share in every emergency in those trying times. He is not in strict accord with the tenets of the Republic party of 1888 as set forth in the National platform on the subject of the tariff, but rather favors the position taken by ex-President Cleveland in his message of December, 1887, and consequently must be classed among the independents. In his youth Judge Richman was brought up under the auspices of the Methodist Church, but as he grew older he bacame liberal in his views and affiliated with the Universalists until 1868, when, acting in concert with his estimable wife, he joined the Congregational Church, in which he is now a Deacon. He has taken especial interest in Sabbath-school work, and for many years was President of the Sabbath-school Association. He has always taken a warm interest in everything calculated to educate and improve the young.

As lawyer Judge Richman has been identified with many important cases in State and Federal Courts. His admission to the Supreme Court of Iowa dates back to the " fifties." and his admission to the Supreme Court of the United States at Washington occurred in 1869. In the history of the Iowa bar his name is entitled to rank among the foremost. He has distinguished himself not only for legal ability, but for his earnest and conscientious discharge of his duty to his clients, and his high appreciation of his professional honor. While he has made a success of his profession, his tastes have led to the more peaceful and reflective fields of literature. Meditative and imaginative, as a child he began scribbling poetry in the school-room, and no doubt indited sonnets to his first love in pinafores. As time advanced the habit grew upon him, and in later years he published a collection of his poems under the title of " The Talisman and Other Poems." In a brief biography published of the Judge in the Muscatine Journal of recent date, appears the following allusion to his literary work : " Mr. Richman in his creative modes has contributed largely to the republic of letters, the chaste rhetoric and thought of his muse in ' The Talisman and Orther Poems,' and notably in the epics he has read before the alumni of Griswold College and the State University, and in his public addresses ; but he might still interest his countryman, besides laying the youth of our land under grateful obligations, if he could find time to tell in the plainest of prose the story of his youth's discipline and acquirements." Having reached the limit of our space we will close with another extract from the same article written by a fellow-citizen. Speaking of the marriage of Judge Richman, the writer says: " The marriage of Judge Richman with Miss Berdine occurred in Brooklyn, N. Y., Sept. 20, 1855, and how fruitful it has been of happiness to both, and of good and pleasure in all its relations and influences with Muscatine life, can be attested by church and society, and by one of the most beautiful homes that crowns the most picturesque bank of out great river."


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