- WILLIAM C. RICHARDSON is engaged in farming on section 7,
Union township. We find in
- this esteemed gentleman one of the honored pioneers of Rock
County, who for the long period of forty-five years has resided
within her borders. He has shared the trials and hardships incident
to life on the frontier, and has witnessed the entire growth
of the county. He was born in Franklin County, N.Y., on the 7th
day of August, 1828, and is a son of John K. and Eunice T. (CURTIS)
RICHARDSON, both of whom were natives of Vermont.
- In 1832 John RICHARDSON removed with his family to Chautauqua
County, N.Y., where he
- continued to reside until 1844, at which time, with his wife
and children, he started for Rock County, Wis. His funds giving
out, not having enough money to convey his household goods to
their destination, he was forced to remain in Milwaukee for about
two months, while earning enough money to continue the journey.
The family moved into a little cabin, and in a very primitive
manner lived until they could proceed on their way. Our subject,
however, remained in Milwaukee but a few days, when purchasing
some cheese and crackers, he started on foot for the home of
a cousin, John WARREN, whose father kept what was then called
the Buck House Tavern, in the town of Center. On the second day
Mr. RICHARDSON's food gave out, and he was forced to stop and
earn some money. Earning fifty cents, he purchased a fresh supply
of food to last him until reaching Janesville, where he again
added to his stock and continued his walk until reaching the
home of Mr. WARREN. He immediately went to work by the day, receiving
as his compensation one bushel of wheat or two bushels of potatoes.
He worked in the harvest field, and, on the arrival of the family
some two months later, had forty bushels of wheat and twenty
bushels of potatoes. The family made their first location in
a small cabin in Center Township, and the father at once began
working at the carpenter's trade, and our subject engaged in
the cultivation of the land. The food on which the family subsisted
was mostly wild game, which was found in abundance. The first
crop harvested was two acres of beans and some small grain. For
the beans they received $2 per bushel, and, with the money secured
in this way, John RICHARDSON entered forty acres of land
on section 7, Union Township, where our subject yet resides.
In the winter of 1845 the father and son built a log cabin on
the land, and into this the family moved, living in true pioneer
style. Many happy days were there passed, for the settlers, separated
from their friends, seemed to be drawn together by ties of sympathy
and kindred feeling. In those early days a neighbor with his
wagon would drive around the settlement collecting the different
families, and they would all proceed to a school-house, where
religious services were held.
- Not long after his arrival in Rock County, our subject began
breaking prairie for the farmers,
- receiving $10 per month, and in this way also secured a yoke
of oxen, which was the first team owned by the family. The father
secured a cow by building a barn for Benjamin McMILLAN, and thus
in various ways, and by the combined efforts of the family, they
got a start in their pioneer home. Mr. RICHARDSON continued to
work at the carpenter trade for some time, while William operated
the farm, having only one yoke of oxen with which to break prairie.
However, he broke many acres of land in Rock County, and his
plow turned the furrows on the second garden on the west side
of the river, which is now in the heart of the city of Janesville.
He was one of six men who built log cabins in order to hold claims
on the site of the present village of Albany, in Green County,
and in many other ways aided in the development and growth of
the community. In 1847 he went to Janesville, where he served
an apprenticeship of two and a half years to the blacksmith's
trade. At the expiration of that time he returned to his home
with the intention of going at once to St. Louis, but, being
offered work in Albany, at $1,50 per day, he changed his mind
and accepted the position in Green County. After two months spent
in that employment, however, he was taken sick with chills and
fever, and returned to his home. His father persuaded him to
remain at home and work upon the farm, which he did for eleven
months. At the end of that time, when the crop was harvested,
he was forced to abandon farm life, and, finally securing money
enough to buy a bellows and a small stock of blacksmith's supplies,
he opened the first shop in Evansville. In the spring of 1851,
being attracted by the gold discoveries in California, he resolqed
[resolved] to make a trip to the mining districts. Loading his
blacksmith tools in a wagon, he started for the Pacific Slope
with but $15 in money. The journey across the plains, where danger
threatened on every side, was then a long and toilsome one, the
Indians causing much trouble to travelers, and often committing
barbarous massacres. Mr. RICHARDSON, after six months spent in
making the journey, reached California and opened a blacksmith
shop, which he operated for a short time. He then began working
in the mines, at which he was reasonably successful, and at the
time of his return home had saved $1,250, with which he purchased
the old homestead, comprising the forty acres originally entered,
and eighty acres which were afterward purchased. He at once began
the development and improvement of the farm, in connection with
which he worked at wagon-making for some time, and also engaged
in breaking prairie. Since becoming the owner of the old homestead,
he has extended its boundaries until it now comprises 254 acres,
and he also owns of farm of 200 acres in Dane County, making
a total of 454 acres, which pays a golden tribute to the care
and labor which he bestows upon it. Upon the farm will be found
eighty head of fine cattle, twenty-three head of horses, and,
in general, a large drove of hogs, but the past year he has suffered
great loss in the latter from cholera.
- In 1856 Mr. RICHARDSON was united in marriage with Miss May
DAVENPORTE, a native
- of Ohio, with whom he had become acquainted while she was
on a visit to her brother. By this union ten children have been
born, eight of whom are now living: May, wife of Henry DANKS,
of Mead, Kan.; Ada, wife of Charles PHELPS, a resident of Chicago;
Fred W., John C., Carrie, Charles, Warren, Neva; Eunice and Gracie,
who are now deceased. In the spring of 1881 Mrs. RICHARDSON was
called to her final home. She was a loving wife and tender mother,
and was mourned, not only by her family but by many friends throughout
the community. Mr. RICHARDSON was again married, his second union
being with Mrs. Elizabeth (VEST) DURST, a native of Galena, Ill.
Her mother was born of German parentage, her father was of English
origin, and he was a son of one of the soldier who did guard
duty on the old fort in Portage, Wis. He also served four years
in the Civil War, first enlisting in the 17th Wisconsin Infantry,
and later in the 20th Wisconsin Infantry. By her first marriage
Mrs. RICHARDSON had a family of seven children - Jehu H., Adam,
John, Mamie, Lena, Amelia and Fannie. Two children have graced
the second marriage - William and Lillie Alice.
- In politics Mr. RICHARDSON generally supports the Republican
party, but is very liberal in his
- views, voting for principle rather than to support a political
organization. Since becoming a resident of Rock County, he has
taken an active part in its upbuilding and in the promotion of
its interests. The story of his life during the pioneer days
would be an exciting and intensely interesting one. The traveler
stopping in the prosperous and thriving towns and cities, or
driving across the country where stretches out before him broad
and fertile farms, could scarcely realize that forty-five years
ago Rock County was almost an unbroken wilderness, but at that
time, when Mr. RICHARDSON first located within its borders, the
settlements were very few, the nearest neighbors were often miles
away, the prairies were still in their primitive condition, wild
game of various kinds, including deer, were in their various
haunts, and the smoke of the Indian wigwam had scarcely cleared
away. How great is the change which has been wrought in the past
half century! The pioneer homes have been replaced by substantial
and elegant residences, and where the ox team slowly plodded
over the unbroken prairie the locomotive with its palace cars
sweeps by. The little towns and villages have become prosperous
and thriving cities, and the county is inhabited by a well-educated
and contented people.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 973-975.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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