WI BIO - Lafayette Co - RICHARDS, O. M.

History of La Fayette County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, 
p 753

O. M. RICHARDS, farmer, Section 18, Town of Elk Grove, Lafayette County, 
Wisconsin, P. O. Elmo [west of Elk Grove, in Smelser Township, Grant County, 
Wisconsin], was born 31 January 1831 in Morgan County, Illinois. At about 
the age of sixteen [by calculation, about 1847], he came with his parents to 
La Fayette County. He followed mining until about the age of twenty-one 
years [by calculation, until about 1852], and since this time has followed 
farming. He owns 240 acres of land.

In 1851 he [O. M. RICHARDS] married Miss Rachael JONES, a daughter of James 
JONES, editor of the "Miner's Journal," the first paper published in Galena 
[Jo Daviess County, Illinois]. She [Rachael JONES] was born in Vandalia 
[Fayette County], Illinois. They [O. M. and Rachael (JONES) RICHARDS] have 
seven children: Walter S., Isabella, Mary, Grant, Rachael, O. M. Jr., and 
Eva. [O. M. RICHARDS is listed (p 604) as one of two Supervisors for the 
Town of Elk Grove in 1872.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly