Stanislaus County CA Archives Biographies.....Richardson, Thomas September 28, 1818 - 
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THOMAS RICHARDSON, one of the prominent citizens of Stanislaus county, and an
old-time resident as well, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, September 28,
1818, his parents being Robert and Catharine (Bullen) Richardson. The mother was
born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and there the father, a native of Virginia,
went when a young man, and was married there. He was a soldier in the war of
1812, being in Matson's command, Harrison's army, and spiked some of the British
guns at the battle of the Thames.

   When our subject, Thomas Richardson, was but three months old the family
removed to Pike county, Missouri, and eight years later to Pike county,
Illinois, locating at Martinsburg, about six miles from Pittsfield, where he
grew up to young manhood. He next went to Iowa, and was engaged for four years
at the Government farm on the Des Moines river, where the Black Hawk Indian
agency was. Including himself there were only three or four white people there,
and all the rest were the savage Black Hawk Indians. He became well acquainted
with the chiefs of that tribe, including the sons of the noted leader Black
Hawk, one of the most celebrated of savage chieftains. From there he returned to
Pike county, Illinois, and was married in 1845. In 1850 he crossed the plains to
California with an ox team. Proceeding to the gold diggings on the American
river, he mined there about two weeks. In December of 1851 he went back East by
water, returning to California in 1852, coming across the plains and being
accompanied by his family. He was captain of the company both times. He located
on the Stanislaus river, where he now lives, and where he has 700 acres of land,
secured partly by the pre-emption and the homestead rights and partly by
purchase. Here he has done much in the way of improvement, the buildings being
very creditable, among them being a handsome and commodious residence erected in
1867. His land is of the best in California, and is devoted principally to
farming, except about eighty acres which he leases to a man who is improving it
with orchard trees, vines, etc. The whole place presents a handsome appearance
to the eye of one accustomed to the blending of the beautiful and useful in
nature. Besides his home ranch he has another ranch of ninety-six acres, a mile
and a half southeast of Oakdale, which he himself farms.

   Mr. Richardson was married in Illinois, January 9,1845, to Miss Lucinda Jane
Waggoner, a native of Tennessee. They have two children, viz.:  John J., a
namesake of General Hardin; and Ephraim. Mr. Richardson is a member of the
Oakdale Lodge, No. 275, F. & A. M., of which he is Steward, and also of Modesto
Chapter, No. 49, R. A. M. Politically, he is a Democrat, taking an active
interest as a citizen in political an public affairs, and has attended the party
conventions as a delegate. He served one term as Justice of the Peace of Oakdale.

   Mr. Richardson is a man of the highest integrity, and enjoys the respect and
esteem of all who know him.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from
Memorial and Biographical History
Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties California

Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. 1892


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