RICHARDS FAMILY OBITUARIES HOUGHTON CO., MICHIGAN Copyright © 1998 by Wes Richards. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ The following obituary was printed in the Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, 17 Dec 1946:: SAMUEL J. RICHARDS PASSES AWAY SUNDAY AT THE FAMILY HOME Samuel J. Richards, a prominently known resident of Hancock, passed away at 8:30 Sunday evening at the family home on Mill Street, at the age of 77. Mr. Richards was born in Liskeard, England, on April 4, 1869, and came to the Copper Country at the age of three. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Richards, early pioneers of the district, settled at the Quincy Mine location, where Mr. Richards was reared. Mr. Richards was employed by the Quincy Mining Co. and for a number of years at the Michigan Smelts for the Copper Range Mining Co. He retired several years ago. Mr. Richards was married on June 27, 1893, by the Rev. Mr. Walker at the Hancock Methodist Church, to Miss Clara Steimle of Hancock and the couple in June, 1943, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary. Mr. Richards was a member of the First Congregational Church of Hancock. Mrs. Richards and the following children survive, Mrs. N. A. Eilertsen and Miss Elva Richards of Hancock; Mrs. Walter T. Palmer of Shinglehouse, Pa., and Harold E. Richards of Hancock. There are three grandchildren and also surviving are three brothers and a sister, Richard S. Richards of Calumet; William Richards of Zion, Ill.; Edwin S. Richards of Hancock; and Mrs. James Williams of Detroit. Burial will be in the family lot in Forest Hill Cemetery, Houghton. ----------------------------------------------------------- The following obituary appeared in the Daily Mining Gazette on Saturday, March 15, 1947: MRS. C. RICHARDS, 73, PIONEER OF HANCOCK, PASSES Mrs. Clara Richards, 73 years old, a pioneer resident of Hancock, died at her home, 103 Mill Street, at 2 o'clock this morning. She had been seriously ill for the past two weeks. Mrs. Richards, the former Clara Steimle, was born in Hancock. Her parents were among the earliest residents of the city. Her husband, Samuel, died three months ago. Miss Clara Steimle and Samuel J. Richards were married at Quincy June 27, 1893, by the late Rev. Mr. Walker, then pastor of the Hancock Methodist Church. The deceased was a member of the Congregational Church of Hancock and was a tireless worker in the interest of the church for more than 50 years. She was a member of both the Ladies Industrial Society and the Missionary society of that church. She also was an active member of the Alfred Erickson post of the American Legion auxiliary of Hancock. Mrs. Richards is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Nils A. Eilertsen of Parisburg, Va., Mrs. Walter T. Palmer of Shingle House, Pa., and Elva at home; a son, Harold, of Hancock; three sisters, Mrs. Paul Schwhee of Hancock, Mrs. Emil Beehler of Houghton, and Mrs. Barbara Schubert of Hancock; a brother, William Hecker of Hancock, and three grandsons. The body is at Memorial Chapel, where it will remain until funeral ??? which will be announced on receipt of word from out-of-town relatives. -------------------------------------------------------------- (NOTE: Elsie Richards, my aunt, was reputedly the first white child born on Isle Royale, as noted in obituary). The following obituary notice appeared in the Daily Mining Gazette Thursday, Aug. 17, 1950: MRS. E. S. RICHARDS PROMINENTLY KNOWN RESIDENT PASSES Mrs. Edwin S. Richards, a prominently known resident of Hancock, passed away early this morning in St. Joseph's Hospital, where she was admitted on Tuesday as a patient. The unexpectedness of Mrs. Richards' death after a brief illness has come as a shock to the many family friends in the Copper Country. Mrs. Richards, the former Miss Elsie Coughlin of Hancock, was the daughter of the late John Coughlin, an early pioneer of this area and one of the earliest cruisers to visit Isle Royale. Mrs. Richards had the distinction of being the first white child to be born on Isle Royale. Her birth took place at Washington Harbor, where her father was located as a clerk and lumber cruiser for the Windego Mining Co. Mrs. Richards was graduated from the Hancock Public Schools and attended Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio. She was a devoted wife and mother and an active participant in the activities of her church, the Calvary Baptist. Surviving are her husband, a daughter, Miss Esther Richards at home; a son Frank Richards, at home; a sister, Mrs. Claude Gray of L'Anse; a brother, Thomas Richards of Utica, Mich.; and an aunt, Mrs. Ella Pearce, of Houghton. The body is at the Hillside Mortuary. Arrangements for the funeral will be announced later. -------------------------------------------------------------- The following obituary appeared in the Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, July 3, 1982 Mrs. Nils A. Eilertsen HANCOCK: Mrs. Nils A. Eilertsen (Blanche Richards), 88, a resident of Jasberg Street in Hancock, died Monday at her home. She had been in ill health for the past three years. She was born Sept. 6, 1895, in Quincy Hill Location, a daughter of Clara and Samuel Richards, and was a 1913 graduate of Hancock Central High School. On June 8, 1927, she married Nils A. Eilertsen in Calumet. Her husband was an employed by the Department of the Interior, U. S. Bureau of Mines. She was a resident of Canada for 16 years, New Hampshire for a year, New York and Virginia for periods of 18 months each, Maryland for 16 years and Denver, Colo., for nine years before returning to Hancock in 1975. Surviving are her husband; two sisters, Miss Elva Richards, a patient at Cypress Manor in Hancock, and Mrs. Norma Palmer of Butler, Pa; a goddaughter, Maureen Mason, who has resided with her; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Harold (Elizabeth) Richards of Hancock; three nephews and several cousins. Services will be held at 11 AM Friday at the Memorial Chapel. The Rev. Sam Oliver will officiate and burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton. ------------------------------------------------------------- Obituary that appeared in Houghton Daily Mining Gazetter, about Nov. 29, 1985: Miss Elva Richards Miss Richards had been a resident patient at the facility for six months. Prior to that she was a resident patient at Cypress Manor for six years. She was born in Quincy Mine Location on June 24, 1899, to Samuel and Clara Richards. She moved to Hancock at an early age and made her home there for most of her life. She lived a short time in Detroit and from 1970-1975 lived in Denver, Colo. She attended Hancock schools. Miss Richards worked for the Burroughs Corp. in Detroit and for the Detroit & Northern Savings & Loan when the company's offices were in the old Scott Hotel building in Hancock. For 42 years she was the secretary to the Houghton County Commissioner of Schools at the courthouse in Houghton She was a member of the Congregational Church in Hancock and sang in the church choir for more than 50 years. Surviving are one sister, Mrs. Norma (Walter) Palmer of Butler, PA; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth Richards of Hancock; one brother-in-law, Nils Eilertsen of Hancock; three nephews; and several cousins. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. -------------------------------------------------------------- The following obituary appeared in the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette, about Oct. 12, 1984: Esther A. (Richards) Coltman LAURIUM: Esther A. (Richards) Coltman, 62, of Laurium, wife of David A. Coltman, a retired faculty member of the Calumet Laurium Keweenaw Public Schools, died Thursday at Calumet Public Hospital. She was born Sept. 11, 1922, in Hancock, a daughter of Elsie and Edwin Richards, and attended the Hancock Public Schools and Suomi College. She was a graduate of Northern Michigan University. Following graduation, she was a teacher in the elementary schools of Winona, Chassell, Houghton, and Rudyard. Aug. 26, 1950, she married David A. Coltman. For two years the couple resided in Rudyard, five years in Hancock and the past 26 years in Laurium. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Calumet and was a past pianist, organist, a Sunday Schoolteacher and secretary of the AWANA club of the church. Surviving are her husband; two sons, Mark and Ross of Laurium; two daughters, Mrs. Douglas (Beth) King of Hastings and Mrs. Dennis (Lynn) Sorvisto of Laurium; a brother, Frank Richards of Lansing; four grand daughters and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Two sons, Joel and Scott, are deceased. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery. ------------------------------------------------------------ The following obituary appeared in the Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, MI, on Oct. 28, 1981: F. Grant Richards WAKEFIELD, MICH --- F. Grant Richards, 56, of 606 Putnam Street, Wakefield, a former Hancock and Houghton resident, died Wednesday in St. Paul, Minn., following complications from a heart attack several days ago. He was born Nov. 26, 1924 in Hancock and was a graduate of Suomi College. He was a veteran of World War II. On Dec. 26, 1949 he married the Rev. Lillian Fynn in Hancock. As a resident of Houghton he was employed by Radio Station WHDF and later operated a music store in Houghton. In 1968 he moved to Ironwood and to Wakefield in June of 1976. He was self-employed as an organ and piano technician. Surviving are his wife, the Rev. Lillian Richards; four daughters, Gwen, Edyth, Mary and Kathy; four sons, Fred, Robert, John and Joe; and three grand children. Arrangements for the funeral are incomplete. --------------------------------------------------------------- The following obituary appeared in the Daily Mining Gazette about Nov. 13, 1942: FRED RICHARDS, CITY CLERK OF HANCOCK, IS TAKEN BY DEATH Prominent Resident Dies after Lingering Illness; Long in City’s Service Fred Richards, clerk of the city of Hancock, passed away at 2 o’clock Wednesday morning at his home at --- Lake Street, following a lengthy illness. Mr. Richards was prominently known in the Portage Lake community. He was born in Hancock on Dec. 28, 1881. He was the eldest son of Richard S. Richards and Charlotte Ley who were early pioneers of Quincy and Hancock. He attended the public schools here and at Quincy and received his first employment from the Quincy Mining Co. Mr. Richards was supply clerk for the Berwick Consolidated Mining Co. at the opening of the mine. He served the city of Hancock in various posts, first as representative of the city on the Houghton county Board of Supervisors and later as city -------. He resigned his position on the county board to become city assessor. In 1924 he received to appointment of city water clerk. His election to be city clerk, a position he held at the time of his death, was in 1938. He also was secretary of the board of Public Works. A man of sterling character, Mr. Richards life was an expression of his ideals. He was long associated with the First Congregational Church of Hancock which he served as a staunch member. He sang in the church choir for 46 years and was never known to miss a rehearsal or a Sunday at church when he was able to be there He was chairman of the choir committee and also served on the board of deacons. Mr. Richards married Gwenith Dunstan on Feb. 26, 1922. Fraternally he was a member of Quincy Lodge No. --- -------. He is survived by his widow; a son, Grant; one brother, Albert S. Richards of Hancock; and two sisters, Miss Almina Richards and Mrs. William A. Lange of Ripley. Funeral services will be held in the First Congregational Church at 2:30 in the afternoon, the Rev. Wayne I. ------ officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery. ------------------------------------------------------------ The following obituary appeared in the Daily Mining Gazette on Nov. 28, 1964: HANCOCK: Harold E. Richards, 70, a resident of Mill Street, passed away this morning in St. Joseph Hospital where he had been a patient the past week. He was born in Quincy April 17, 1894, a son of the late Samuel and Clara Richards. In 1943 he married the former Elizabeth Perry. Mr. Richards was employed by I. E. Swift and Company in Houghton for 44 years before his retirement in 1959. He was a veteran of World War I. Mr. Richards was a lifelong member of the Congregational Church of Hancock and the Alfred Erickson Post No. 186, American Legion. Surviving are the widow, three sisters, Mrs. Nils (Blanche) Eilertsen of Hyattsville, Md., Mrs. Walter (Norma) Palmer Jr. of Prospect, Pa., Miss Elva at home and several nieces and nephews. The body is in the O'Neill Funeral Home where visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the funeral home. Dr. Edward W. Willcox to officiate. Interment will be in Forest Hill Receiving Vault. ------------------------------------------------------------- This obituary appeared in the Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, about Feb. 19, 1953: Richard S. Richards, 79, a well known Blue Jacket resident, passed away at his home, 790 Elm Street Wednesday morning following a lengthy illness. He was born in Quincy Mine on August 12, 1873, and moved to Calumet in 1898, making his home here since. He was employed by the Quincy Mining Co. for 10 years and the Calumet & Hecla for 38 years until his retirement in 1936. He is survived by his widow; seven daughters, Mrs. Roy Buddell, Mrs. Arthur Hypio, and Mrs. Richard Silban of Detroit; Mrs. Holmer Story of St. Ignace; Mrs. John Goraczniak and Mrs. Socrates Antioho of Calumet; five sons, William, Richard, and Gordon of Detroit; Judson of Adrian (Mich); and Stanley of Calumet; 36 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Edwin S. of Hancock and William of Zion, Ill. The body is at the Erickson Funeral Home from where funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. The Rev. Joseph D. Ryan will officiate. The remains will be placed in the Lake View receiving vault. -------------------------------------------------------------- The following obituary appeared in the Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, on April 22, 1954: EDWIN RICHARDS OF HANCOCK DIES IN HOSPITAL EARLY TODAY Edwin S. Richards, 69, of Hancock passed away early this morning in the St. Joseph Medical Center where he had been a patient for the past week. He had been in ill health for three months. He was born in Quincy and spent his life in the area, residing a short time in Champion. He resided in Hancock for the past 50 years. He was employed by the Swift Hardware Company for over 40 years as a clerk, until the time of his illness. He was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church of Hancock and was a member of the Copper Country Choral Club. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. David A. Coltman of Hancock; a son, Frank Richards of Marquette; a brother, William of Zion, Ill.; two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. The body is at the Hillside Mortuary where friends may pay their respects this evening until the services which will be announced later. --------------------------------------------------------------- This file contributed to the USGenWeb Archives by Wes Richards plh