J. R. RICHARDS.

                                                           Rock Township.

1901 BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

[FEBRUARY 1871]          PAGE 244.

J. R. RICHARDS located in section 30, Rock Township, Cowley County, Kansas, in February 1871. He was born in Mount Pleasant, Jefferson County, Ohio, December 30, 1835, a son of J. W. Richards.

The father of J. R. Richards, J. W. Richards, was born in Philadephia, and his wife, formerly Mary C. Carmichael, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. J. W. Richards grew up in his native state and then moved to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he carried on farming, and followed his trade as a cooper. He went to California in 1849, returned in 1858, and died at J. R. Richards’home in January 1879. His wife died at Wyandotte, Kansas, in 1872, aged 64 years. They were the parents of 16 children, of whom three were still living in 1901: Eliza, who was the wife of Joseph Pierce, of Kansas City, Missouri; Otis C., a machinist; and J. R. Richards, subject of biographical sketch.

J. R. Richards received a public school education, and lived at home until 1854. He then went to Shasta County, California, and shortly afterward to Tuolumne County, California, where he was engaged in mining. He left California in 1858, and journeyed to the Eastern States. In 1862 he was engaged in the cattle business, and in 1863, he went to Wheeling, West Virginia. He then located at Cedron, Ohio, where he conducted a general store from 1865 to 1867. The following year he spent in farming in Fayette County, Indiana. In Jackson County, Indiana, he was engaged in store keeping for one year, and in farming, two years, and then set out for Cowley County, Kansas.

He located on his present 40 acres, in section 30, Rock Township, which consisted of raw prairie land, in February 1871. He lived for a time, in a little log cabin which stood on the place, but later built a house 14 by 20 feet in size, which was in turn replaced by a modern dwelling having dimensions of 16 by 30 feet, with a 20 by 20 foot addition.

The first year, he broke 14 acres, which he put into corn and potatoes; he lived there for two years, after which he rented the farm. From 1876 to 1878, he mined and operated a ranch near Deadwood, South Dakota. During 1897, 1898, and 1899, he was engaged in farming in Oklahoma, where he went on account of his wife’ health. He later resided on his original homestead, which was in a fine state of cultivation. He raised grain and livestock.

On September 23, 1866, Mr. Richards married Euphrasia Hoover. She was born in Ohio, and was a daughter of John G. and Eliza Hoover, the former a lifelong farmer. She died September 1, 1899. They had the following children.

1. Otis Richards, a farmer and stock raiser in Oklahoma.

2. Mary Louise Richards, who died aged fifteen years.

3. Thomas Richards, deceased.

4. John G. Richards, a farmer and stock raiser in Day County, Oklahoma.

5. Addie I. Richards, who lived at home.

6. Libbie Richards, who became a teacher in Day County, Oklahoma.

7. Fred S. Richards. [Nothing said as to what he did.]

In politics Mr. Richards was independent. He belonged to the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 508, of Udall, Kansas.

Rock Creek Township 1873:

John R. Richards, 37; spouse, Euphrasia, 28.

Sam Richards, 35. No spouse listed.

Kansas 1875 Census Rock Creek Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.

Name                     age sex color          Place/birth    Where from

John R. Richards    39  m     w            Ohio                       Missouri

E. Richards       30    f      w            Ohio                       Missouri

Otis Richards            9  m     w            Missouri                 Missouri

John Richards      11m   m      w            Kansas

Rock Township 1882: John R. Richards, 46; spouse, Euphrasia, 34.

                                               FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.

S. R. Richards...

Cowley County Censor, July 1, 1871.

Board of County Commissioners met in special session at the County Clerk’s office in Winfield, June 27th, 1871. Present: T. A. Blanchard, G. H. Norton, and E. Simpson.

Petition for the sale of the southeast quarter of Section thirty-six, Township 21, Range 4, of school land. The following appraisers were appointed by the Board: J. C. Monforte, S. R. Richards, and W. J. Orr.

[COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.]

Winfield Messenger, August 16, 1872.

The following bills were allowed for jurors. J. R. Richards, $2.00.

[FAIR NOTES.]

Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 25, 1873.

HORSES. Stallions for general purposes, over 4 years old, H. C. Fisher; over 3 years old, J. R. Richards, under 3 years old, James Renfro.

[THE DISTRICT COURT: OCTOBER TERM.]

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 16, 1873.

Civil Docket. Third Day. A. V. Polk vs. John Richards; A. H. Hornemann vs. John Richards.

Winfield Courier, April 20, 1876.

J. R. RICHARDS has a fine stallion of Cowley County raising.

[TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.]

Winfield Courier, February 17, 1881.

Below we give a list of township officers elected at the February election. In some of the townships the Justices hold over.

ROCK: Trustee, J. F. Williams; treasurer, J. C. Snider; clerk, G. H. Williams, Justices, R. Booth and J. R. Richards.

Cowley County Courant, November 17, 1881.

From the Probate Court we get the following items:

Inventory filed estate of J. W. Richards, deceased.

[PROBATE COURT NOTICE.]

Winfield Courier, December 7, 1882.

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT IN PROBATE COURT IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JACOB W. RICHARDS, DECEASED. JOHN R. RICHARDS, EX.

Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.

The following petition was circulated last week by Frank Manny, taken to Topeka, and presented by him to Senator Hackney.

WINFIELD, KANSAS, January 23, 1883.

HON. W. P. HACKNEY, State Senator, Topeka, Kansas.

Inasmuch as the Prohibition Amendment, as enforced, has always resulted in injury to the material development of our town—it having signally failed to accomplish the object sought, the suppression of the sale and use of intoxicating drinks—we would respectfully urge upon you the necessity of so providing for the enforcement of the law that its application shall be uniform throughout the State. If this is impossible, don’t sacrifice our town on the altar of inordinate devotion to an impracticable principle.

J. R. Richards was one of the people who signed the petition to Hackney.

Winfield Courier, September 6, 1883.

                                                FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY.

Mr. and Mrs. Acres, Two of Cowley’s Pioneers, Celebrate Their Fortieth Wedding Anniversary, With Children, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, and Many Acquaintances  Present. The Particulars by a Spectator.

In response to invitations extended to them, a large number of the relatives, friends, and neighbors assembled at the home of Cornelius and Susan Acres, in Rock Township, on the 22nd of August to celebrate with them the fortieth anniversary day of their wedded life.

The presents were handsome and when arranged upon the table presented an attractive display. The list of gifts and names of the givers were:

Silver butter-knife and pair of slippers, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Richards, of Rock.

Winfield Courier, September 13, 1883.

Mr. J. R. Richards, of Rock Township, called on us Monday. He has several apple trees, planted in 1872, from each of which he will gather five bushels of apples this fall. Cowley’s fruit-growing proclivities are being rapidly developed.

Winfield Courier, October 11, 1883.

Report on Fruit. The following is a report on fruit exhibited at the County Fair at Winfield, Sept. 25 to 28, 1883, in Class “H.”

J. R. Richards, of Rock Township, showed 1 plate of Ben Davis, and 1 plate of an unknown variety.

Winfield Courier, September 11, 1884.

The Horticultural Society met in regular monthly session on September 6th.

Report of committee as follows: J. R. Richards has apples of the following varieties: Fall Pippin, Priors Red, Pen Red Streak, two varieties unknown; all very large and fine.

                 J. R. RICHARDS, GEO. W. ROBERTSON, A. DeTURK, Committee.

                                         STAR VALLEY. “BOBBY DUFFY.”

Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 23, 1885.

Mr. John Richards is troubled greatly with rheumatism lately.

                                         STAR VALLEY. “BOBBY DUFFY.”

Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 30, 1885.

Mr. Richards has taken his ponies to John Buhrlage’s pasture, where he will leave them for awhile.

                                                 STAR VALLEY. “DUFFY.”

Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 20, 1885.

John Richards is having the walls put into his cellar. Mr. Trip, of Winfield, is doing the mason work.

                                                 STAR VALLEY. “DUFFY.”

Winfield Courier, Thursday, November 12, 1885.

Mr. Richards is plastering his house, with Maumee, of Udall, manipulating the trowel.

Otis Richards left last week for Winfield, where he will attend school during the winter. May peace and good luck be his consistent companions.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 18, 1886.

J. R. Richards, a Rock township farmer, was in town Friday and says there is a better prospect for wheat than for three years past, being entirely free from fly, and in fine condition.