WI BIO - Dane Co - RICHMOND, Ezra W.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 277-279

Ezra W. RICHMOND is a successful farmer and stock raiser of York Township, 
Dane County, Wisconsin, who makes a specialty of the breeding of Galloway 
cattle. He is the son of Peres B. RICHMOND, and the grandson of Brightman 
RICHMOND, the latter a farmer, late of Livingston County, New York, and a 
native of Massachusetts. Brightman had been educated for the law, and been 
admitted to the bar, but bucolic [rural] life had greater charms for him. He 
[Brightman RICHMOND] married Lucy OSBORNE, who bore him five children, 
namely: (1) Peres B., the father of our subject; (2) Lucia, wife of Daniel 
BOSLEY, deceased, lives in Livingston County, New York; (3) Caroline M., 
wife of Nathan PLATT, living at Hornellsville [Steuben County], New York; (4) 
Edwin R., married, deceased; and (5) Elizabeth, wife of A. SPINNINGS, 
living near Mt. Morris, Livingston County, New York.

Peres B. RICHMOND [the father of the subject] was born in Livingston County, 
New York, 30 May 1809; received a good education, having a common school and 
academic training; was reared a farmer, made two trips to Ohio, and then 
located some land, which he subsequently sold. Peres B. RICHMOND was 
married, 12 March 1835, to Miss Harriet WARNER, of Lima [Livingston County], 
New York, and in the following year removed to Allegany County, New York, 
where he bought 100 acres of land; improved it to some extent, with [p 278] 
orchards, good buildings, etc.; lived upon it for eleven years, meeting with 
fair success; then, in 1847, he sold it and went to Milwaukee [Milwaukee 
County, Territory of Wisconsin], by canal to Buffalo [Erie County, NY] and by 
the lakes for the remainder of the distance, leaving his family behind, as he 
was only prospecting [looking for land on which to locate]; visited a brother 
in Milwaukee, and then went to York Township, Dane County, Wisconsin, where 
he bought 400 acres of Government land on sections 3 and 4, less forty acres, 
which were unimproved; this being the same farm that is now occupied by our 
subject [Ezra W. RICHMOND], and the one upon which his father afterward 
settled. He [Peres B. RICHMOND] also bought forty acres in Portland 
[probably Portland in Jefferson County, Territory of Wisconsin], and as many 
more near Waterloo [Jefferson County, Wisconsin Territory], his total 
investment being about $1,800. This was in June 1847, [WI not a state until 
29 May 1848], and as soon as he had completed his purchase he returned to New 
York; in the fall [of 1847] came to Milwaukee [Milwaukee County, Wisconsin 
Territory], and was in the merchandise business with his brother in the 
winter of 1847-1848.

In the spring of 1848 he [Peres B. RICHMOND] bought a pair of horses and a 
wagon, with which he drove across the country to New York, taking with him a 
crazy woman and a child, whom he left at an asylum in New York, and arrived 
after thirty days, about 01 April 1848, at his home. He started on his 
return trip in September, accompanying the family, by the canals and the 
lakes, and upon arrival at Milwaukee, took the family to York Township, 
having for their occupancy a house of hewn logs, one of the best at that time 
in the county. The date of their settlement was October 1848. Promptly the 
work of improvement went on; crops raised, wheat being the principal grain; 
barns and other outhouses and fences had to be built. Considerable teaming 
was done, no less than seven trips to Milwaukee having been made the first 
winter, sleds being used; wheat bringing from forty to fifty cents per bushel.

The family of the father of our subject occupied the log house until 1862, 
when he built the present comfortable frame residence. In 1882 he moved into 
Columbus [Columbia County, WI]; poor health causing him, in 1887, to go to 
New York, but he [Peres B. RICHMOND] returned the following year, 23 August 
1888, and died in the old home, and was buried 03 October 1888, in the 
cemetery at Columbus. The mother of our subject [Harriet nee WARNER] died 24 
August 1884, at Red Cloud [Webster County], Nebraska, while on a visit, her 
body being brought back and interred in the cemetery at Columbus. She was 
the mother of seven children, namely: (1) Lucy B., wife of O. A. SOUTHMAYD, 
living at Helena [Lewis and Clark County], Montana [Montana organized as a 
territory in 1864; became state in 1889]; (2) Ezra W., our subject; (3) 
Caroline M., married Samuel C. SMITH, was a widow and died; (4) Daniel B., 
died at six months old, in New York; (5) George B., married Alice POLLEY, 
living at Phoenix [Maricopa County], Arizona [a territory in 1863; a state in 
1912]; (6) Edward A., married Carrie McGUIRE, now at Sabetha [Nemaha 
County], Kansas, he dying at Genda Springs, Kansas, 20 September 1869; and 
(7) Fred O., married Hattie MILLETT, living at Sabetha, Kansas.

Our subject [Ezra W. RICHMOND] was born in Granger, Allegany County, New 
York, 11 September 1837; was brought up on the farm and came West with the 
family in 1848; went to school in New York, and was taught by a master at 
home; was a pupil in the old log cabin on section 4, York Township [Dane 
County, WI], and attended college one year. After this he taught school in 
the town of Columbus [Columbia County, WI], when twenty years old, and later, 
in Missouri--twelve terms altogether; while teaching at the former place he 
[Ezra W. RICHMOND] formed the acquaintance of Eliza BOWEN, whom he married on 
28 November 1861. She was a native of Ithaca [Tompkins County], New York, 
born 09 August 1841; her people natives of New Jersey, and her ancestors 
being from France and England. Her parents removed to [the Territory of] 
Wisconsin [p 279] in 1842, settling near Janesville [Rock County], and now 
live near Columbus, Wisconsin.

Mr. [Ezra W.] RICHMOND taught school for three winters after his marriage, 
making his home at Columbus [Columbia County, WI]; then lived there for five 
years, moved on a farm in York Centre [means York Center, Dane County], 
bought 160 acres there, on section 15, which he improved and settled upon in 
the fall of 1866, continued there until March 1867, and then sold out. This 
step proved to be a profitable one, as he made $700 profit, the farm being an 
improved one. He next bought sixty-five acres in the town of Sun Prairie 
[Dane County, WI], on section 24, the same being improved; and here he made 
his home about fourteen years, his farming proving quite profitable. Then he 
came to the old homestead, consisting of 287 acres, his father having removed 
to Columbus, and farmed it under a lease until he came into ownership from 
the state. Mr. [Ezra W.] RICHMOND has kept the farm up in excellent shape, 
doing general farming until 1883, when he bought a herd of seven Galloway 
cattle, one male and six females, imported, which he has kept pure; has 
registered and selected the best for breeders; has sold a great many, and now 
has a great, fine herd of fifty recorded animals, one of the very best in the 
country.

Mr. and Mrs. [Ezra W.] RICHMOND have five children, all living, as follows: 
(1) Mabel, born 30 May 1869, at home; (2) Hattie, born 15 May 1873; (3) 
Bradford B., born 23 February 1875; (4) Elizabeth, born 02 January 1877; and 
(5) Carrie A., born 10 July 1880, all living at home. Mr. [Ezra W.] 
RICHMOND has 272 acres of good, well-improved land, to which he has given 
careful and close attention, making his business steadily profitable. Henry 
SHERMAN owns the eighty acres located by his [Ezra RICHMOND's] father on 
section 4, and David LASKY owns sixty acres of the old home tract, located by 
his [Ezra's] father at an early day. Mr. [Ezra B.] RICHMOND is a Republican 
in politics, and while too busy to hold office, is ready in his loyalty to 
the party. Mr. and Mrs. RICHMOND, as well as Misses Mabel and Hattie, are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly