WI BIO - Dane Co - RICHARDSON, David
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 617-619

David RICHARDSON, a retired farmer of Dane County, Wisconsin, was born in 
Windsor County, Vermont, 15 February 1826, a son of Josiah and Sarah E. 
(BARKER) RICHARDSON. The father was also born in Windsor County, Vermont, a 
son of Lemuel and Mary (CHASE) RICHARDSON, natives of New Hampshire. The 
parents [Lemuel and Mary] removed to and purchased land in Vermont in an 
early day, where the father [Lemuel RICHARDSON] died at the age of 
seventy-five years, and the mother [Mary nee CHASE] aged eighty years. They 
[Lemuel & Mary] were the parents of seven children, two of whom still 
survive. When Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel RICHARDSON first settled in Vermont they 
had to cut their way [p 618] and blaze trees through fourteen miles of dense 
forest. They were among the early pioneers of Vermont, and suffered all the 
untold hardships incidental thereto. When they first located there, five 
families joined fortunes, settled side by side, there to live and develop 
what later proved to be the best part of Vermont. The RICHARDSON family came 
originally from England, three brothers of that name having first settled in 
the Northeastern States. As far as known they have been engaged principally 
in agricultural pursuits.

Josiah RICHARDSON, the father of our subject, spent most of his life in 
Vermont, but died in Middleton Township [Dane County], Wisconsin, at the age 
of seventy-six years. His wife [Sarah E. nee BARKER] was born in Alstead 
[Cheshire County], New Hampshire, a daughter of John BARKER, natives also of 
New Hampshire. The father lived with his daughter, Mrs. [Josiah] RICHARDSON, 
for some time, and then went to Michigan, where he died at the home of a son, 
David BARKER, at an advanced age. Mrs. [Sarah E. nee BARBER] RICHARSON still 
resides in Madison [Dane County], Wisconsin.

David RICHARSON, one of nine children, and the subject of this sketch, 
remained on the home farm until twenty-two years of age, and then worked by 
the month for the following two years. In April 1852 he drove a team to Lake 
Champlain, then went by boat to a small station, where they took a 
old-fashioned train to Saratoga, New York, then to Buffalo [Erie County, NY], 
next by the lakes to Detroit [Wayne County], Michigan, then by train to New 
Buffalo [Berrien County, MI], and next across Lake Michigan to Racine [Racine 
County], Wisconsin, where he bought ox teams and came direct to where he now 
lives. Mr. [David] RICHARSON immediately purchased 125 acres of land, and 
later forty more. He first erected a small dwelling, 10x10 feet, the 
following winter built a small frame house, 12x14 feet, and in 1856 again 
rebuilt. He has since sold his land, and retired from active business life. 
Politically, Mr. [David] RICHARDSON voted the Whig ticket in 1848, for 
FREEMONT [means John C. FREMONT, the Republican candidate] in 1856, and now 
affiliates with the Prohibition party. Religiously both he [Mr. David 
RICHARDSON] and his [third] wife take an active part in temperance work, and 
are attendants of the Methodist Church. Mr. RICHARDSON assisted in the 
building of that Church here, and his wife has held the position of 
Superintendent of the Sunday school for many years.

Mr. [David] RICHARDSON was first married 03 August 1852, to Lucy A. HAWES, 
who was born near Seneca lake, New York [Seneca Lake lies in Seneca, 
Schuyler, and Yates Counties], 15 September 1827, and died on the old farm in 
[Dane County] Wisconsin, 10 May 1876. She was a daughter of Samuel and 
Catherine HAWES, natives respectively of New York and New Jersey. They [Mr. 
and Samuel Mrs. HAWES] came West in about 1849 or 1850, and the mother 
[Catherine HAWES] died in 1850, and the father [Samuel HAWES] is still 
living. Mr. and Mrs. RICHARDSON [David and Lucy A. (HAWES) RICHARDSON] had 
five children: (1) Adrian M., born 14 February 1858, married Alla MILLER, 
and has three children; (2) Clara, born 29 May 1860, married William MILLER, 
and has two children; (3) Orrin C., born 16 September 1861, is at home; and 
(4) one who died when one week old. Our subject [David RICHARDSON] was 
again married, in 1877, to E. S. PLATO, who died two years later.

On 09 November 1882, Mr. [David] RICHARDSON was united in marriage with Mrs. 
Eusebia R. (DAILY) SMITH, widow of William J. SMITH. She [Eusebia R. nee 
DAILY] was born in Georgetown [probably the one in Chenango County, but could 
be Georgetown in Madison or Cortland County], New York, a daughter of 
Frederic and Betsey C. (FOSTER) DAILY. The father [Frederic DAILY] was born 
in New York in 1810, and died in Georgetown, NY, in 1872. He [Frederic 
DAILY] was a son of Peter and Lucy (BATES) DAILY, who was [were] born in the 
Northeastern States, and spent the last days [p 619] of their lives in New 
York. They [Peter and Lucy (BATES) DAILY] were the parents of three 
children. Mrs. [Frederic] DAILY was born in Pharsalia [Chenango County], New 
York, in 1812, and died in her native place at the age of forty-one years. 
She [Betsey C. (FOSTER) DAILY] was a daughter of Reuben and Lucinda (BARKER) 
FOSTER, natives of Connecticut. They [Mr. and Mrs. FOSTER] removed to New 
York in an early day, locating in Greene Township, Cortland County, where the 
father [Reuben FOSTER] followed farming, and was also a local minister in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. They [Reuben and Lucinda (BARKER) FOSTER] later 
moved to Georgetown, New York, where the mother [Lucinda nee BARKER] died at 
the age of forty-one years, and the father Reuben FOSTER] aged eighty-seven 
years. They [Reuben and Lucinda (BARKER) FOSTER] were the parents of six 
children, about three of whom still survive. One son, Ralph, died in the 
late war, and his father [Reuben FOSTER] was also a soldier in the War of 
1812. Another son [of Reuben FOSTER], Isaac C., was one of the first 
ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church in New York, and was very able 
man.

Mrs. RICHARDSON's first husband, William J. SMITH, was born in Cazenovia 
[Madison County], New York, 26 April 1830, a son of Henry and Adella 
(BEARDSLEY) SMITH, natives [respectively] of Germany and Connecticut. Both 
[Henry and Adella (BEARDSLEY) SMITH] died in Cazenovia [Madison County, NY] 
at advanced ages. William J. SMITH followed the vocation of a traveling 
salesman through life, and his death occurred at Jefferson [Jefferson 
County], Wisconsin, 13 June 1874. He and his wife [William J. and Eusebia R. 
(DAILY) SMITH] had four daughters: (1) Ida, born 20 October 1852, married 
J. LAYCOCK, and has five children; (2) Della C., born 09 June 1856, married 
A. S. PARK, [and] has one child; (3) Jettie L., born 07 November 1859, 
married E. L. BRADBURY, and died 29 May 1891, leaving one child; and (4) 
Mary E., born 05 February 1861, married Edward GUNSALOS, and has a son and 
daughter.

Mr. [David] RICHARDSON, the subject of this sketch, has suffered the 
privations of pioneer life. During the first year of his married life, only 
one-fourth of a pound of tea, a half pound of coffee and six pounds of sugar 
was all of that line of groceries used. He has lived to see this country 
blossom like a rose, and his entire life has been one of honor and 
uprightness.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly