Surry-Sussex County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Richardson, Alonzo G., 1931 

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Body of Dendron 
Farmer Found 
        ______ 

Richardson Disappeared 
From Home December 13 
        ______ [handwritten in pencil "1932"] 

  [Special to The Times-Dispatch.] 
  DENDRON, VA., Feb 24 - A Negro boy, while sawing wood in the forest near 
here this afternoon, discovered the mangled body identified as that of Alonza 
G. Richardson, 57-year-old farmer who had been missing from his home here 
since the morning of December 13 last. [handwritten in pencil "1931"] 

  Clothed the same as when he first disappeared, Richardson was found 
stretched over a log, with his face buried in the ground. 

  An inquest was held by S. T. Johnston, justice of the peace, and J. H. 
Price, chief of police, among the first summoned to the scene, and it was 
announced later in the evening that Richardson "came to his death either as a 
result of taking poison or from a blow received when he stumbled over the 
log."   Authorities reported finding a sharp knot of wood near the body of the 
farmer, indicating, they stated, that he might have fallen and "cracked his 
head on the knot." 

  There was nothing to indicate signs of violence, authorities said, and they 
deemed an autopsy "unnecessary." 

  The body was found by George Harris, Negro boy.  He summoned Henry Savage*, 
the dead farmer's son-in-law, who immediately identified the body. 

  Richardson was born in Surry County, and had lived at least forty years of 
his life in Dendron.  He was a member of the Baptist Church here and also was 
a Mason.  Funeral services will be held Thursday at 3 o'clock, with burial at 
Springhill Cemetery. 

  Surviving him are his widow, Mrs. Emma Richardson; one daughter, Mrs. W. 
Henry Savage*, and one son, Winston Richardson, all of Dendron. 


Alonzo Goodson RICHARDSON, of Dendron, farmer, 
Surry Co. native, d. 13 Dec 1931, age circa 61*, 
interred in Spring Hill Christian Church Cemetery*, Sussex Co., 24 Feb 1932, 
"The Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch," Thurs., Feb. 24, 1932 

*Additional information: 

His name is spelled "Alonzo" on his marker.  A photo of his marker is posted 
   with his Find A Grave Memorial, #52731569. 
   
Find A Grave lists the cemetery as Springhill, but a photo of the church shows 
   "Spring Hill Christian Church" over the door.  [They give 1 interment in 
   "Spring Hill Church Cemetery, Dendron, Surry Co."]  The church definitely 
   lies in Sussex Co. 

Google Maps gives "Spring Hill Church," Waverly, VA 23890 at coordinates 
   37.029103, -76.997034, but they give Spring Hill Rd. (Rt. 603) the wrong 
   route number (Jan 2017 - correction requested). 

His Death Certificate, #30015, gives b. 5 Sep 1870, Surry Co.  It states, 
   "This man left home Dec-13-1931  was found dead in the woods Feb-24-1932." 
   On the reverse it states, "Miss Marks says count as Dec."  The informant 
   is given as "Mrs. W. H. Savedge" {not Savage}. 

The 1900 Census (Blackwater Dist., Surry Co., sheet 2A) also gives 
   b. Sep 1870. 

His widow's obit ("Smithfield Times," Aug. 19, 1943) is posted at: 
    http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/r263a2ob.txt 

Herma Howard Richardson m. Willie Henry Savedge, 13 May 1920 in Dendron. 
   (FamilySearch.org "Virginia Marriages") 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Carolyn Keen (VAHistoricHouses@aol.com), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/r263a2ob.txt