Bio of Richardson, Ralph W. (b.1867) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Richardson, Ralph W. (page 577), for a number of years until 1920, vice
president of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Elgin, of which
village he is one of the leading citizens, was born June 19, 1867, in
Elgin Township, on the farm of his parents, John Q. and Cordelia (Colby)
Richardson. He acquired his education in the public schools of Elgin and
at Carleton College, Northfield, Minn. After that he followed teaching
winters and farming summers until 1895. Then in December, that year, he
rented his father's farm of 237 acres in Elgin Township, and operated it
continuously until November, 1919, when he retired and moved to Elgin
Village. While living on the farm, his father gave him three acres of it,
on which he erected a fine residence, in which he resided until his
retirement. When the creamery association was organized he became
secretary of the board, a position that he held for several years. He was
vice president of the farmers and Merchants State Bank from the time it
was organized until 1920, when he was succeeded by Thomas Richardson. For
a number of years he has been secretary of the Old Settlers' association
of Elgin. Always known as a patriotic citizen, and long recognized as an
able business man, his services were naturally called into requisition
during the recent world war, and he readily and cheerfully responded,
taking an active part in all local war work, including the war Saving
Stamps, the third, fourth and fifth Liberty Loan drives and Y.M.C.A.
drives, and being township chairman of United War Work in 1918, including
the Christmas Roll Call, the Red Cross drive in December 1918, and the
Christmas Seal Sale in December, 1919, besides other patriotic activities.
Mr. Richardson was first married, September 6, 1891, to Mary E.
Rollins, who was born on her parents' farm in Elgin Township, October 10,
1867, daughter of Irvin W. and Ellen (Keith) Rollins. She died after
months of suffering patiently endured, at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester,
Minn., on December 28, 1908. Beneath a modest, quiet demeanor, Mrs. Mary
E. Richardson concealed a force of character, a richness of mental
endowment, a capacity of doing things, and a steadiness and sanity of
religious life that were little suspected except by her most intimate
friends. The memory of her unselfish devotions, of the beauty and serenity
of her faith, of her wifely and sisterly love, will ever be to them an
incentive to Christian living, and an admonition to brave and high
endeavor.
On April 17, 1911, Mr. Richardson married, secondly, Phebe Fisk,
who was born in Kent, England, daughter of William M. and Rachel (Gower)
Fisk. She came to America in 1907 and the first four years of her
residence in this country were spent in California. It was in 1911, when
she was visiting a cousin in Elgin, that she first met Mr. Richardson, and
the attachment grew up which ended in their marriage. On February 4, 1913,
a son, John William, was born to them. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson are highly
respected in the community. During the war period she was chairman of the
Council of National Defense of Elgin village and Township. While still
residing in England Mrs. Phebe Richardson became a member of the Baptist
church. On June 4, 1920, both she and her husband united by letter with
the Methodist Episcopal church of Elgin, Mr. Richardson having formerly
been a member of the Congregational church. Their son John also joined on
the same day.