- Alexander RICHARDSON, of the firm Richardson & Norcross,
shoe manufacturers, of
- Janesville, was born in Ediburgh, Scotland, on the 5th of
February, 1847. His parents were Alexander and Elizabeth (WITHERDEN)
RICHARDSON. The father was born in Selkirk, and was a prominate
drygoods merchant of Edinburg. He emigrated with his family
to America, in 1849, in a sailing-vessel, landed at Boston, and
came to Wisconsin in the same year, settling in the town of Porter,
Rock County, on a farm, and was killed on the 9th of January,
1853, by the upsetting of his wagon on an icy road. He was a
man of superior intelligence, high moral character, and possessed
the energetic, thrifty habits of his nation. His widow, who was
born at Dover, England, survives her husband, and resides at
Janesville, where she is highly esteemed and respected for her
many excellencies of character.
- The subject of our sketch came to Rock County with his parents
and was reared upon a farm,
- receiving his education in the district school. At the age
of eighteen he began his business education as clerk for George
F. TAYLOR, of Madison, Wis., dealer in boots and shoes. He continued
with him until 1874, when he came to Janesville and bought out
Evan THOMAS in the same line, since which time he has carried
on that business. Mr. RICHARDSON has made a marked success
from the start, opening branch houses in various cities, and
besides organized and conducted an extensive shoe manufacturing
establishment at Janesville. He has a large house at LaCrosse,
Wis., under the firm name of RICHARDSON & FREY; another at
Rockford, Ill., under the style of RICHARDSON & ARRIS; and
still another at Neenah, Wis., under the firm name of RICHARDSON
& LEPPER; while at Janesville he has the largest shoe store
in the city, under the firm name of RICHARDSON Shoe Company.
In 1885 Mr. RICHARDSON began manufacturing ladies' fine shoes
at Janesville, which he carried on successfully, and later formed
the existing partnership with Capt. Pliny NORCROSS. Their factory
gives employment to from sixty to seventy hands, and turns out
from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five pairs of shoes
daily. Mr. RICHARDSON is the largest retail shoe dealer in
the State, besides doing an extensive manufacturing and jobbing
business. In addition to the above he owns and carries on the
business of the Empire Cross Spring Company, of Janesville, which
builds all sorts of road vehicles, and gives employment to over
forty men.
- Our subject was married at Cooksville, Rock Co., Wis., on
the 29th of November, 1884, to Miss
- Helen R. PORTER, daughter of J. R. and Eliza PORTER. Mrs.
RICHARDSON was born in Massachusetts, and her family were New
England people. They have one daughter and two sons - Clara
PORTER born Nov. 25, 1885; Robert P., Feb. 25, 1887; and Alexander
in April, 1888.
- In politics Mr. RICHARDSON is a Democrat, but has little
time or inclination to serve in official
- capacities. He did, however, serve one term as Mayor of
the city, having been elected on the Democratic ticket in the
spring of 1884. In the fall of the same year he was the candidate
of his party for the Assembly, but was defeated, as the district
was strongly Republican. He has frequently taken an active part
in political campaigns, and is a popular stump speaker. He is
a member of the K. of P., Oriental Lodge, No.22, and, together,
with his wife, is a member of All Souls Church. Among the public-spirited,
enterprising and successful business men of Janesville, Mr. RICHARDSON
stands in the foremost rank. As a retail dealer in his line
of goods, he is a leader in the State, while, as manufacturers
of fine shoes, his firm has won an enviable reputation for the
qualities of their goods and their fair dealings.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 339-340.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
- Transcribed by Bill
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