Bio of Richards, F. S. (b.1822) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Richards, F. S., (page 939), postmaster. Mr. Richards was born in
Weatherfield, Genesse county, April 21, 1822, and came west with her
father's family, who settled at Prairie du Chien as early as 1836. In
their journey to the Mississippi they passed the present site of Chicago,
then a growing village, and Mr. Richards recalls earning some money
picking up the roots and chips of those who were grubbing where the
proudest city west of the Alleghenies now stands. In 1850 Mr. F. S.
Richards, then twenty-eight years of age, came up the Mississippi river
with a large stock of general merchandise, having a United States license
to open trade with the Indians, and settled at Read's Landing. His store
was on what is now railway property, very near the northeast corner of
Water and Richards streets. Business was successfully conducted until the
financial crash of 1858 swept him off his feet and ruined him financially.
Since then Mr. Richards was variously employed until 1870 in business-from
1860 to 1868 at Downsville, Wisconsin-since 1870 principally farming,
cutting grass on the bottom lands, taking out corkwood, etc., until he
received his second appointment as postmaster at Read's Landing. (See
article on postoffice). He was the first village president upon the
incorporation of Read's Landing in 1868, and at all times, during his
residence of over a third of a century, has taken an intelligent interest
in public affairs. Mr. Richards married Miss C. A. Moses, November 5,
1850, in Grant county, Wisconsin. They have six children, five of whom are
residents of Read's Landing: Ida, born March 15, 1856; Walter B., born
June 22, 1858; Lloyd S., born October 23, 1860; Emma May, born October 4,
1864; Ruth D., born April 5, 1867; Grace, born April 3, 1869.