Page County IA Archives Obituaries.....Richardson, G. William 1936
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Clarinda News
G. William Richardson
"Business Pioneer of Clarinda"
November 30, 1856 - July 14, 1936
G. William Richardson, Clarinda's oldest business man and the last of a group
who did so much to build up local institutions and boundaries, is again being
paid high tribute this Thursday afternoon following his death early Tuesday
morning. 
Funeral services are being held at 5 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the
Richardson home on north 18th street. Dr. A. B. Thutt will be in charge and
burial in the Clarinda cemetery, where his wife was laid to rest two and a half
years ago. 
All business and professional firms have been requested to close for the hour of
the funeral. Mr. Richardson had continued to visit his office until July 6th,
although not actively participating in the business for several years. The hot
days caused him to stay at home during last week, and not until Friday was his
condition other than about normal. He was stricken that evening, and passed away
Tuesday morning at 6 o'clock. 
 While Mr. Richardson was not the kind to like to get up in a crowd and speak,
his counsel and committee work is largely responsible for many of Clarinda's
better assets. He started his business career as a jewelry salesman back in
Bartlett, Ill., but came to Maryville while waiting to assume a lease on a store
in Elgin, Ill., and became interested in the lumber business. He pinch-hit as
bookkeeper for his brother-in-law, and found the lumber business much to his
liking. In 1886 he purchased the local lumber yard from George Calhoon and has
continued the business here since. Thirty years ago, his lumber interests
reached to Shambaugh and fifteen years ago to Northboro, Richardson Lumberyards
being located at both. 
Those who can remember back in the days of pioneer Clarinda can tell may things
to the credit of Mr. Richardson's community work, from member of the volunteer
fire department on up. There were always plenty to assist with the volunteer
fire department during the day, so his volunteer work was for nights. Jumping
straddle of his old horse, and with chemical tanks thrown on his back, he
enjoyed making the runs.  
His civic work has been through many channels--chautauqua board, school board,
park board, chamber of Commerce, church, Page County State Bank, building and
loan association, hospital board, etc. The boulevard system was much due to his
foresight and work with H. E. Parslow. These two first went before the council
and secured permission to have just the two blocks near their homes as
boulevard, but finally the entire 20 blocks was planned and Williow street later
followed. 
As member of the Presbyterian church, he has been member of the session since
1890. For years he was president and sponsor of the Christian Endeavor, and in
recent years has been specially valuable in the building program of the church.
He is the last to go or a one quartet of men who worked together--John Miller,
Henry Loranz, William Orr and G. W. Richardson. They are said to have started
the building and loan group. He was one to be influential in bringing Rufus Lee
to Clarinda.  
The building program has been largely fostered by him, personally financing much
of the work. After the Linderman burned years ago, he was one of the group to
back its rebuilding; and the Armory burned in 1912, and he assisted in financing
its rebuilding. An addition to Clarinda is named for him, all east of the
McKinley school, and he was interested in extending the boundaries of Shambaugh,
Ia. He was worker in getting the chautauqua auditorium built in 1908. Many homes
were planned and furnished through his cooperation, and the very first house
which he sold after coming to Clarinda was the Clements house, now used by the
Brown Hospital. 
He carried much credit for the farming communities, waiting for crops to mature
and making other allowances requested by his patrons. He was one of the
promoters to have the new addition to the Clarinda Cemetery. 
He has always been interested in young men. His work in the church was towards
the youth, and he has assisted many young men to complete their college careers
by financial assistance--sometimes without receiving return after the loan. He
was on the board of trustess for Parsons College for years. 
Mr. Richardson was member of a family of eight born to William and Susan Martin
Richardson. He was born at Ithaca, Ill., November 30, 1856, and received his
higher education at Wheaton College. He married Mary Sayre at Bartlett, Ill.,
January 8, 1880. Four children were born to them, all of whom where at home
during the final days of their father. Susan (Mrs. Leo Humphrey) of Clarinda,
Warren Sayre of Clarinda, Christel (Mrs. Lyle Cassat) of Clarinda, and Doris
(Mrs. Ralph Mutz) of Long Beach, Calif. Susan was born in Bartlett, Ill., and
the others in Clarinda. Fourteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren
survive, all of whom were of great interest to him. 
It was the pleasure of both Mr. And Mrs. Richardson to celebrate their golden
wedding anniversary in 1930. Mrs. Richardson passed away December 14, 1933, and
since that time he has continued to live at the home on north 18th street with
some of his children. 
Among business men here, Gorrells are about the only ones left who have been
here anywhere near as long as Mr. Richardson. To G. Wm. Richardson is owed a
debt from the Clarinda community as a true builder of homes, business, and
community progress. It is fitting that the Chamber of Commerce request firms to
close during the hour of the funeral service for this pioneer of 50 years
service in Clarinda.


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