WI BIO - Green Co - RICHARDS, John

History of Green County, Wisconsin. Springfield IL: Union, 1884, p 1021

John RICHARDS, who was for some years manager of the Grange store, was born 
08 February 1849 in Cornwall, England, a son of James and Elizabeth (BARTLE) 
RICHARDS, who emigrated to America when John was but a few months old. They 
settled in Iowa County, Wisconsin, where the subject grew to manhood, 
receiving his education in the district school. His mother [Elizabeth 
(BARTLE) RICHARDS] died when he [John RICHARDS] was eleven years old 
[assuming the birthdate given for John is correct, between 08 February 1860 
and 08 February 1861], and six years later [about 1866 or 1867] his father 
removed to Mount Pleasant [meaning Mount Pleasant Township in Green County, 
Wisconsin].

John RICHARDS resided with his father until 1870, when he was married to 
[Miss] Martha J. LEWIS, who was born in Green County, Wisconsin, daughter of 
Nathan and Sarah (SMITH) LEWIS, old settlers of Green County. John and 
Martha J. (LEWIS) RICHARDS are the parents of three children: Alice Blanche, 
S. Earl, and Dane C.

After marriage, Mr. [John] RICHARDS went to Exeter [Exeter Township, Green 
County, Wisconsin; adjacent to and north of Mount Pleasant Township] and 
engaged in farming for six months, and then returned to Mount Pleasant, where 
he farmed until 1877. John RICHARDS then became manager of the Grange store 
at Monticello [Mount Pleasant Township], conducting business successfully 
until April 1884, when he resigned, having engaged as traveling salesman for 
Jacob Wellaner & Company, of Milwaukee [Milwaukee County, Wisconsin], and 
also as agent for Power, Bayard & Company, commission dealers in produce at 
Chicago [Cook County, Illinois].

Submitted by Cathy Kubly