BACK TO 1888 PORTRAIT INDEX
 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON ELIAS RICHARDSON

Elias Richardson, a respected citizen of Bethel Township, is busily engaged in his business of farming and stock-raising on section 18.  He is a native-born citizen of Branch County, and a worthy representative of one of its pioneers.  He was born in 1830 in Bronson Township, and is the fourth in the family of nine children of John G. and Charlotte (Long) Richardson, natives respectively of New York and Canada.  His father was in his youth a sailor, but subsequently became a carpenter and joiner.  When a young man he came to Wayne County, Mich., at a very early day in this settlement.  From that county, shortly after his marriage there, he came with his wife to Branch County and located in Bronson Township in 1828.  In the following year ....... and at the time of his death, in 1850, had a very good farm.  His good wife survived him some years, dying in 1863, in Northern Michigan.

The subject of this sketch was reared to the life of a farmer, and his education was conducted in the district schools of Branch County.  When quite young he commenced farming for himself in this his native county.  In 1863 he was drafted to take part in the war, and became a member of the 4th Michigan Cavalry.  He was crippled, and for two years was troubled with chronic diarrhea, and the officials did not accept or make much use of him, though he was in the army for about four months.  He then returned to his farm in Branch County, and in 1864 he was married to Miss Christina Lowther.  She was a native of Ohio, born in 1847, and was the fifth of the ten children in the family of Samuel and Sarah (Sherman) Lowther, who were natives respectively of Ohio and Virginia.  At an early day they became pioneers of Morrow County, Ohio, and the father is now living at the advanced age of eighty years in Putnam County, that State.  His wife departed this life in 1866 in Columbus, Ohio, at the age of forty-seven years.

After marriage our subject and his wife lived for one year in Ohio; he then returned to his native county with her, and they have ever since resided on this place. Mr. Richardson owns forty-two acres of land in an excellent state of cultivation situated in Bethel and Bronson Townships.

To Mr. & Mrs. Richardson have been born six children, all of whom are living, and to whom their parents have given excellent chances for an education.  Their names are as follows:  Lester L., Charles Elias, Sadie A., Maggie Irene, Estella Loretta and Hattie Jane; two of them are in attendance at school.