WI BIO - Dane Co - RICHARDS, Jeremiah
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 264-265

Jeremiah RICHARDS, a prominent and influential lumber dealer of Madison [Dane 
County], Wisconsin, was born in Exeter Township, Penobscot County, Maine, 04 
July 1826, son of Jeremiah and Bloomy F. (WING) RICHARDS. His parents were 
born, reared and married in Kennebec County, Maine, their ancestors being of 
English descent, and among the early settlers of New England. The RICHARDS 
family were identified with the agricultural interests of Maine, while the 
WINGs were lumbermen. When a boy, the subject of this sketch decided to be a 
lumberman. He spent his summers working in mills, and during the winter 
months attended the district schools, until he reached his majority. His 
whole life has been devoted to his chosen occupation. He has lived in 
various States of the Union, and now, as age advances, is still actively 
identified with business interests, and is one of the wealthy men of the city 
in which he lives. [p 265]

In the spring of 1848, Mr. RICHARDS went to Georgia, where he was for three 
years engaged in the milling business, and from there, in 1851, went to 
Florida, remaining in that State until 1861. He spent eight years near 
Tallahassee [Leon County, FL], and was afterward at Jacksonville. On account 
of the war and the loss of property by fire, he returned to his native State 
[Maine], landing there with only $10. This money was used for doctor bill 
and medicine for his sick wife, and he soon found himself in debt. There he 
obtained employment in a saw mill at $16 per month, running the same saw he 
began at when a boy. He remained in Maine and Massachusetts two years. In 
1863 he came West; lived at Lyons [Clinton County], Iowa, one year; in Dixon 
[Lee County], Illinois, one year, having charge of a lumber yard; and in 
Chippewa Falls [Chippewa County], Wisconsin, one year, where he bought a mill 
and was in business for himself. In 1866 he again went to Florida, and at 
Cedar Keys [Cedar Key, Levy County] built a mill for another party, remaining 
there one year. Next we find him at Galveston [Galveston County], Texas, 
where he established a lumber yard, and while there had an attack of yellow 
fever. Again coming North, he spent one year in Maine, one year in Lyons, 
Iowa, and from there came to Dane County, Wisconsin. He purchased a lumber 
yard in Oregon [Dane County], Wisconsin, in 1870, resided there until 
November 1881, and then came to Madison, where he has since made his home. 
Now in partnership with A. P. LOVEJOY, of Janesville [Rock County], 
Wisconsin, under the firm name of Lovejoy & Richards, he has lumber yards in 
nine different towns, and at another place has an interest in a yard, the 
firm being Lovejoy, Richards & Ringham. Mr. RICHARDS has the personal 
supervision of these ten yards, which are situated at the following named 
placed: Argyle, Blanchardville [both in Lafayette County, WI], Jonesdale, 
Dodgeville, Barneveld [those three in Iowa County, WI], Blue Mounds, Mount 
Horeb, Stoughton [those three in Dane County, WI], New Glarus, and Brooklyn 
[both in Green County, WI]. He sold his yard at Oregon [Dane County, WI] in 
May 1891, after having operated it for twenty-one years.

Mr. [Jeremiah] RICHARDS was married 20 August 1849 to Mary E. HARTT, of 
Savannah [Chatham County], Georgia. Mrs. RICHARDS [Mary E. HARTT, if HARTT 
was her maiden name] was born in New York City, but was reared in Georgia 
from her sixth year. They [Jeremiah and Mary E. (HARTT) RICHARDS] have had 
three children. (1) One daughter died in infancy. Another daughter, (2) 
Florence, died at the age of eight years. The only son (3) Walter C., is a 
resident of San Diego [San Diego County], California, engaged in raising 
lemons. Mr. and Mrs. [Jeremiah] RICHARDS have a pleasant home on Jenefer 
[Jenifer?] Street, where they are surrounded with all the comforts and 
luxuries of life. They are attendants at the Unitarian Church, and he is a 
Freemason.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly