- HAMILTON RICHARDSON has passed his eightieth birthday, and
is spending life's closing
- years in the retirement and rest which his long and useful
life has richly earned. In the paternal line he is of Scottish
descent, and his grandfather, William RICHARDSON, who was born
in Massachusetts, was a soldier in the patriot army of 1776,
serving as an aid-de-camp on the staff of Gen Putnam. He removed
from Massachusetts to Johnstown, N.Y., where he died "full
of years and honors." He had only two children, one of whom,
William,
born in New York State, was the father of Hamilton RICHARDSON.
He married Mary
PIERSON, who was also born in the State of New York, and
was one of a family of five children born to William PIERSON,
who was of English descent. William RICHARDSON was a farmer by
occupation. He was an earnest member of the Scotch Presbyterian
Church, as was also his wife. He passed away at LeRoy, N.Y.,
in 1874, at the age of eighty-seven, and Mrs. RICHARDSON died
at the age of eighty-five years. They were the parents of thirteen
children, seven of whom are yet living: Mary, unmarried, residing
at Le Roy, N.Y.; Martha, widow of Elisha CONKLIN, of Moravia,
N.Y.; Hamilton; Richard J., a resident of Janesville; Catherine,
wife of Jerome RICHARDSON, of Suisun, Cal.; Eliza P., widow of
Thomas BUCKINGHAM, of Vacaville, in that State, and Ellen, who
married a Mr. LENT, of LeRoy, N.Y., and is now a widow.
- Hamilton RICHARDSON was born in Genesee County, N.Y., Oct.
17, 1820. He received the
- training of a farmer's boy, and attended the district schools
as opportunity afforded. In the spring of 1836 - before he had
reached the age of sixteen years - he came West, his first location
being in Genesee County, Mich., where he acquired his first business
experience as clerk in a country store and bank. In 1842 he removed
to Wisconsin, locating first in Milwaukee, whence he went to
Racine, and in 1846 to Janesville, which has been his home for
more than half a century, his residence being at No. 107 Prospect
avenue. He has always take a deep and active interest in public
affairs, being clear-sighted and of sound judgment, at once progressive
and conservative. On coming to Janesville he opened a general
store, in which, by ready judgment, good sense and practical
experience he made a success. In 1850 he fell a victim to the
California "gold fever, " and from 1851 to 1856 conducted
a mercantile business in that State. Since his return to Janesville,
in the year last named, he has resided there continuously, extensively
interested in real-estate and various manufacturing enterprises,
though he has not engaged in commercial pursuits. He has long
been a stockholder and director in the First National Bank. Before
the attempted secession of the Southern States Mr. RICHARDSON
was a Democrat, but in view of the momentous issue which then
confronted the country, he rose above partisanship being one
of the three men who raised and equipped the 13th Wis. V.I. for
the Union service. He has always taken a lively interest in public
questions, and has been an active political worker, his affiliations
since 1862 being with the Republican party. He has served one
term as postmaster of Janesville, and has represented his district
in the State Senate for three terms, which a member of that body
he was the author and one of those who carried into execution
the plan for the county care of the insane, and was one of the
recognized leaders of his party.
- On Aug. 9, 1858, Mr. RICHARDSON married Caroline A. PEASE,
a native of Connecticut,
- and daughter of Lorraine and Sarah (MARSHALL) PEASE, the
former a descendant of John PEASE, who came form England to the
American Colonies in 1630, the latter a lineal descendant of
Capt. Samuel MARSHALL, who was killed by the Indians in the battle
of Ticonda, near Fort Narragansett, in 1675. Six children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. RICHARDSON: Victor Pease, mayor of
Janesville; Sarah M.; Hamilton P., a lawyer of Milwaukee; John
P.; Marshall P., a lawyer in Janesville; and Lorrain T., a captain
in the Twentieth Infantry, U.S.A., now doing gallant service
in the Philippine archipelago.
- Our subject is a Republican in politics. He is a member of
the Western Star Lodge, No. 14, A.F.
- & A.M.; of Janesville Chapter 6, R.A.M.; and of Janesville
Commandery, K.T. Mrs. RICHARDSON is a member of the Episcopal
Church.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c)1901, pp. 44-45.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
- Portraits courtesy of Lorna,
a researcher of this family.
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