Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: RICHARDS, B. Franklin, M.D. (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II


p. 419-420




	B. FRANKLIN RICHARDS, M. D.

	Among the well known representatives of the medical profession in 
Denver is Dr. B. Franklin Richards, an able physician and surgeon, 
whose qualifications for professional activity have been greatly 
promoted through individual research work and private study. He was 
born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, October 16, 1851, and is a son of 
Humphrey Richards, who was a native of Wales and came to America with 
his parents in 1840, the family home being established in New York 
city, where he was educated. In young manhood he became a clerk in 
Newman's Book Store, one of the largest establishments of that 
character in New York city. He afterward removed to Pennsylvania, 
settling at Carbondale, where he followed mining, but met with an 
accident through a powder explosion when thirty-eight years of age, 
causing his death. He was a supporter of the old whig party and was a 
very devout Christian man who throughout his entire life held 
membership in the Baptist church, in which for many years he served as 
deacon, while in all branches of the church work he took a most active 
and helpful part. In early manhood he wedded Jane Davis, a native of 
Wales, who came to America with her parents from that little rock-
ribbed country when a maiden of seven summers, the Davis family 
establishing their home in Brooklyn, New York, where her father engaged 
in the dairy business. He there owned one hundred acres of land near 
where the city hall of Brooklyn now stands, but upon the advice of 
relatives he sold that land and removed to Luzerne county, 
Pennsylvania, where he and his wife spent their remaining days. Their 
daughter, Mrs. Richards, was therefore reared and educated in Luzerne 
county. She was married, however, in Brooklyn, New York, and after her 
husband's death she removed to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she made 
her home until called to her final rest in January, 1912, when she had 
reached the advanced age of ninetythree years. By her marriage she had 
become the mother of seven children, four sons and three daughters, and 
three of the sons and one of the daughters are yet living. The family 
record is as follows. William Richards, the eldest, was born and died 
in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Mary Jane, the second of the family, is 
also deceased. Humphrey is a resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Joseph 
is the next of the family. Margaret has passed away. B. Franklin is the 
sixth in order of birth. Libby is a resident of Denver, the wife of 
Eugene Stanton, an automobile dealer at No. 322 Broadway.

	Dr. Richards was educated at Scranton, Pennsylvania, and began 
his studies in one of the old-time log schoolhouses at Carbondale. He 
afterward attended college in Battle Creek, Michigan, from which he was 
graduated with the class of 1878. Following his graduation he became a 
lecturer for the Battle Creek Sanitarium on hygiene and dietetics. He 
had studied the latter science for many years and he remained in the 
lecture field until 1899. He then took a trip to Europe to study 
conditions in thirteen countries of the old world, conditions affecting 
the poor in comparison with the poor of America. He remained abroad in 
study and research work for eight months and after hie return entered 
the Medical College of San Francisco, California, and was there 
graduated in 1903. Following his graduation he served as interne in the 
San Francisco City and County Hospital and gained that broad and 
valuable experience which can never be acquired as quickly in any other 
way as in hospital practice. He afterward opened an office in San 
Francisco, where he followed his profession until 1905, when he removed 
to Denver, arriving in this city in the month of February. He has since 
continued in the general practice of medicine and surgery and during 
the intervening period of thirteen years has built up an extensive 
practice. He is a member of the State Eclectic Medical Association, the 
National Eclectic Medical Association and in the former has been 
honored with office, serving as secretary and treasurer and also as 
president of the society for two years.

	Dr. Richards was married at Cedar Springs, Michigan, to Miss 
Caras Stiles, a native of the state of New York and a daughter of 
Wright and Mary P. (Pierce) Stilea. The mother is a relative of 
President Franklin Pierce and Is still living, making her home with Dr. 
and Mrs. Richards, who by their marriage became the parents oŁ two 
sons: Vere Stiles, who was born at Cedar Springs, Michigan, in 1882 and 
is now a resident of New York city; and Wayne, who died in infancy.

	In his political views Dr. Richards is a republican, having 
always supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of 
franchise. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, 
belonging to the lodge at Topeka, Kansas. He also has membership in the 
Seventh Day Adventist church, of which he was an elder for several 
years and also acted as assistant pastor. He is the author of a volume 
entitled "Health; How to find it when lost; How to keep it when found." 
This was published by the Pacific Press Publishing Company of Oakland, 
California. While in San Francisco acting as pastor of the Seventh Day 
Adventist church, Dr. Richards had a congregation of over seven hundred 
members. During the time when he was engaged in pastoral duties he 
preached every night, doing missionary work among the poor, and at the 
same time, when fifty years of age, he took up the study of medicine 
and upon examination was one of seven who passed out of a class of 
sixty-eight. The dean of the college in his address highly complimented 
Dr. Richards on his work, which he accomplished under such conditions. 
Such a course is characteristic of the man. He has never allowed 
obstacles or difficulties to bar his path and has always been actuated 
by determined purpose and a strong desire to make his labors of the 
greatest benefit to his fellowmen. He has worked unceasingly and 
untiringly to advance both the physical and moral welfare of those with 
whom he has been associated and his labors have been far-reaching and 
resultant. He has certainly made valuable contribution to public 
welfare and the world is better for his having lived.