Georgia: Morgan County: Tribute to John C. Richter 8 November 1907 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: John R. Clarke jclarke@rose.net ==================================================================== The “Madisonian,” Madison, Georgia, November 8, 1907, Page 1 Tribute from Z. I. Fitzpatrick Mr. Editor – Please allow me space in your columns to pay a feeble but heartfelt tribute to the memory of my childhood friend, the lamented John C. Richter, whose mortal remains were placed this week beneath the sod in the city, wherein he was born, reared and educated and which he loved so well. Our departed friend was truly one of Morgan’s Captains of Industry. I first met John Richter when I was a mere green country lad in 1858, a half century ago. He was my senior by two years. In those early ante-bellum days we were pupils in the far famed private school, presided over by that talented, educational genius, Mrs. Cook and her accomplished daughter, Miss Battle. Those two noble women, now gathered to their fathers, did a grand and lasting work for the moral and intellectual training of the youth of Madison and the entire section. In those long bygone days, John was a bright, sprightly, jolly fellow, a good and obedient pupil and most popular boy. In school hours he was an apt student and at recess he was a leader in the “town hall” “bull pen” and all of the prevailing athletic sports. Ah! those happy, blessed days! We next hear of our friend as a patriotic soldier, who, at a tender age, shouldered his musket, and answered his country’s call in defense of Southern rights and honor. He was a member of the battalion of Georgia Cadets and was one of the mess- mates of my greatly loved elder brother, Calvin, along with such splendid boys as Mat Richter, A. W. Foster, John McHenry, and others, all of whom were so well served and cared for by that prince of old time darkies and honest man, Uncle Jordan, my brother’s war servant, who followed and fed those royal and gallant young patriots in their retreat to Savannah and Carolina before the invading hosts of Sherman in his celebrated “March to the Sea.” After folding his tent and putting aside his musket, John returned to his native hearth with nothing else left, after the tearful ravages of war, save honor, a brave and dauntless heart and a nervous, strenuous and invincible energy. Like all of those “magnificent boys in gray,” John not knowing the meaning of the words, “Give up.” or “fail,” at once set out to win his fortune. His worldly possessions consisted only of brawn and brain and a grit and determination to succeed. He wisely chose a vocation the grandest of all callings that of the tillage of the soil. The greatest of Latin poets tells us: “Poeta nascetis non fit.” We might well substitute the word “Agricola” in the place of “Poeta.” John Richter was a born agriculturist and horticulturist. His fields were made fertile and yielded excellent crops. His vegetables were always the earliest and best. His fruit trees, too, were of the finest variety and bore abundantly and his grapes were luscious and each free to his friends. In all these lines of business activity, our friend, as all must admit, was an eminent success. He was equally successful as a merchant and managed the large mercantile business, well. Great credit must be given to Mr. Richter, also for rearing and educating a large family. Our illustrious President maintains, and justly too, that the noblest citizen of all is he who carefully brings up his progeny to be useful and worth denizens of this mighty Republic. Our deceased friend left behind to mourn his irreparable loss, a devoted wife, a daughter, Mrs. H. H. Fitzpatrick, of this city, and three sons, Mr. William Richter of Waco, Texas, Mr. Russell Richter of Godfrey and Master J. C. Richter, Jr. To these sorrowing and heartbroken ones, we all extend our most sincere sympathy and condolence as well as to his devoted brothers and sisters and relatives generally. And now in conclusion, concerning our life long friend, Mr. John C. Richter, the faithful husband, fond parent, cheerful, sunshine giving friend, brave soldier, upright citizen and successful man of business we utter from the inmost recesses of our heart this fervent prayer “Requiescat in Pace in Coelo.” Z. I. FITZPARICK I certify this to be a true and accurate transcription of the tribute to John Clarke RICHTER written by Zeno I. Fitzpatrick, Jr. as published in the Madison, GA Madisonian on the date referenced – John R. Clarke, Thomasville, GA, 14 Jun 2002.