John Richmond JOHN H. RICHMOND, Biography / Hayes Township, Clare County, Michigan Submitted for use by USGENWEB Clare County, Michigan November 2002 wilkinschw@aol.com MIGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed MIGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the MIGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan. Chicago: Record Publishing Co., 1895. JOHN H. RICHMOND, ex-County Clerk of Clare County, was elected to that position for the first time in the fall of 1890, and served two terms, on the expiration of which he refused further re-nomination and resumed his former occupation of farming. He has made his home in this county for over two decades, and has taken great interest in its increasing civilization and success. In July, 1874, he became an agriculturalist and lumberman of Somerville [sic] Township, and for the succeeding twelve years, during the winter season, was employed in cutting pine logs and placing them in the Muskegon River for market. His summers were devoted to the improvement and cultivation of his farm. The grandfather of John H., Billings Richmond, accompanied by his two brothers, Joshua and George (the latter of whom were soldiers in the War of 1812), went from Vermont to Monroe County, N.Y., at an early day and settled on farms, which they thenceforth cultivated. Our subject was born in the same county, March 6, 1851, his parents being Billings and Jane (Davis) Richmond, both natives of the Empire State. The latter died in February, 1865, leaving five children. Irvin D. is a resident of Santa Monica, Cal. Nancy M. is married and resides in Rochester, N.Y., as does also her next younger brother, Edward H. Addie L., the youngest of the family, is also married. After the death of his first wife, Billings Richmond married Catherine Warner, by whom he had two children, Luzette and Billings. In August, 1865, he settled on a farm in Van Buren County, Mich., near the village of Paw Paw, and there he died in 1871. In early life he had been engaged in the livery business. The boyhood and youth of John H. Richmond were passed in Churchville, N.Y., where he received his education for the main part, though after coming to this state he attended school for a short time. After his father's death the family scattered and John H. came to Northern Michigan. In 1884 he moved from his farm to Harrison, and, in partnership with W.W. Weatherwax, engaged in general merchandising, under the style of Weatherwax & Richmond. Selling out his interest in the concern to C.C. Chrysler in the summer of 1885, our subject then clerked in a hotel for two years, after which he spent a year in the Northwest. Coming back to this county, he resumed farming and lumbering, to which he gave his entire attention until the fall of 1890, when he chose to serve as County Clerk. In 1874 Mr. Richmond married Dell Hatfield, who died a year later. In 1877 he married Sadie Tornan. Her only son died in 1883, and the mother did not long survive, but entered the silent land in 1884. The present wife of our subject was formerly Olive Sternaman, and their union has been blessed with a daughter, Frances Addie. Both his father and grandfather supported the Democratic party, and to this Mr. Richmond also adheres. As early as 1878 he was a candidate for the office of Sheriff of Clare County, but was then defeated. He has held a number of local township offices, and has always received the approbation of his constituents. In a fraternal way he is identified with both the subordinate and encampment lodges of the Odd Fellows. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Knights of the Maccabees.