BIO: Josiah S. RICHARDS, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 436 & 437.
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  JOSIAH S. RICHARDS, president of the board of county commissioners of 
Clearfield County, Pa., and a prominent and substantial citizen of 
Curwensville, has been identified with the lumbering interests of this county 
for a number of years.  He was born in Boggs Township, Clearfield County, Pa., 
September 5, 1850, and is a son of James and Susanna (Dixon) Richards.
  The Richards family came originally from Wales, the great-grandfather being 
its founder in America.  George Richards, the grandfather, established his 
family in Bald Eagle Valley, in Center County, Pa., and was a farmer and iron 
worker.  Of his eleven children, James, the father of Josiah S., was the 
eldest.
  James Richards worked on the home farm and also in the iron furnaces, but his 
inclinations were in the direction of agricultural pursuits and in 1838 he 
secured a tract of wild land which he converted into a productive farm and 
resided on it until 1866, when he moved to Ohio and bought a large farm there.  
He lived only three years longer, his death occurring in 1869.  His widow 
survived until 1876, her death occurring in Clearfield County to which section 
the family had returned in 1871.
  Josiah S. Richards was one of the younger members of a large family, eleven 
of whom reached maturity.  When sixteen years of age he started out to make his 
own way in the world and the best opportunity that presented itself was work in 
the lumber regions, and, without any material interruption, Mr. Richards 
continued work in the lumber regions for thirty years.  In 1880 he embarked in 
business for himself and since then has carried on both farming and lumbering.  
The business of lumbering is carried on in practically the same way in all 
lumber regions and each section has much to recommend it, not only for the 
development of manly muscle but also for the good fellowship often established 
and maintained through years.  Mr. Richards recalls many interesting 
experiences and occasionally has met with some injuries, one of these, in 1890, 
necessitating a sojourn in a hospital for a time.  He has mastered every detail 
of the work and his advice is frequently solicited concerning lumbering 
enterprises.  In 1888 he established a lumber camp on a valuable farm that he 
had purchased, and later in association with his brother, operated extensively 
on the estate of the late ex-Governor Bigler.
  From 1875 until 1887, Mr. Richards resided at Houtzdale, in Clearfield 
County, but since 1895, he has lived on his farm in Greenwood Township.  He has 
always been an active and interested citizen and has been elected to numerous 
township offices, and in 1908 was elected a county commissioner.  In this 
important office he is serving with faithfulness and efficiency and since 1909 
has been president of the board.  Mr. Richards is well qualified to be 
entrusted with public responsibilities, and enjoys the confidence and respect 
of his fellow citizens.
  In 1875 Mr. Richards was married to Miss Rachel Henry, a daughter of Jeremiah 
and Sarah (Radcliffe) Henry.  Jeremiah Henry was born in Mifflin County, Pa., 
later moved to Indiana County, and there married Sarah Radcliffe, a native of 
Ireland.  They had the following children:  Rachel, who is the wife of Josiah 
S. Richards; Emma, who married W. Smith; James; Jennie, who is deceased; 
Mollie, who married J. Colmer; William; Sarah, who is deceased; and Samuel and 
John Henry.
  To Mr. and Mrs. Richards seven children were born, namely:  John D., Edward 
G., (in U. S. Army), Naomi Grace, James S. (in U. S. Navy), Earl Daton, Harry 
L. and Elva V.  Mrs. Richards is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and 
is interested in its benevolent and missionary work.  Mr. Richards is 
identified with the Republican party.