BIOGRAPHY: Captain George B. RICHARDS, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 54-5
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CAPTAIN GEORGE B. RICHARDS, a farmer of Reade township, this county, is a son of 
George and Charlotta (Bellman) Richards, and was born at Allegheny Ore bank, 
Huntingdon county, now Blair county, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1838. 
     His father, George Richards, was a native of England, and emigrated to 
America about 1830 or 1831, and located at Carthouse, Clearfield county, 
Pennsylvania. While in his own country he learned the trade of a stone-mason, 
and acquired considerable knowledge of mineralogy, and followed this pursuit as 
a means of gaining a livelihood of his adopted county. From here he removed to 
Allegheny Ore Bank for a short time, and then located at Coalport, Clearfield 
county. His residence here was not permanent, and he soon returned to Allegheny 
Ore Bank. He finally located at Lloydsville, at that time called Richards Coal 
bank, this county, where he died in October, 1846.
     He was a member of the old line Whig party, and took a normal interest in 
all political affairs. In religious faith he was an ardent member of the 
Lutheran Church.
     His marriage with Charlotta Bellman, a daughter of Jacob Bellman, of Tioga 
county, Pennsylvania, resulted in the birth of seven children, three sons and 
four daughters: Mary Ann, deceased, who was the wife of Jacob Burgo; John, a 
veterinary surgeon of Blair county, Pennsylvania; George B.; Sarah Jane, the 
wife of James Bowman, a blacksmith, of Allmansville, Clearfield county; Hannah, 
deceased, who was the wife of Perrie Harkins; Malinda, deceased, who was the 
wife of Isaac Haines, and Emanuel, of Madera, Clearfield county.
     George B. Richards was educated in the common schools of Cambria and Blair 
counties, and, prior to the Civil War, earned a comfortable living as a day 
laborer. When the crisis of civil war threatened the dismemberment of our Union, 
he was one of the first 75,000 volunteers to respond to President Lincoln's call 
for troops. April 21, 1861, he enlisted in company "D," Fourteenth regiment, 
Pennsylvania Militia infantry, and served four months. September 14, 1861, he 
re-enlisted in company "D," Fifty-third regiment, Pennsylvania infantry, and was 
appointed first corporal, but was soon raised to the rank of sergeant, and again 
first sergeant. He received his discharge in December, 1863, and re-enlisted the 
same month in his former company, where he was promoted to the office of first 
lieutenant. His career was one of advancement; his services in behalf of his 
country received due recognition, and he was again promoted; this time he was 
raised to the rank of captain. His regiment belonged to the Army of the Potomac, 
and in all the engagements in which he participated the only injury he received 
was while at Savage Station; he suffered a sunstroke, which impaired his left 
elbow, and rendered him a cripple for life.
     After receiving his discharge from the military service, July 10, 1865, he 
purchased a farm in Reade township, this county, on which he located in August, 
1865, where he has since been actively engaged in agricultural pursuits.
     He is a member of David Truxel Post, 421, G. A. R., at Glasgow, a member of 
Washington Camp, No. 56, P. O. S. of A., of Glasgow, and of the agricultural 
order of the Grange at Mount Pleasant, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania. In 
politics he affiliates with the Republican party, and has filled some of the 
local offices.
     His marriage with Susan E. Beers, a daughter of John Beers, a carpenter and 
farmer (who served as a volunteer in the war with Mexico), of near Fallen 
Timbers, this county, was celebrated March 30, 1865.