CLARK
RICHARDS
CLARK RICHARDS is one of the progressive farmers of Eaton
County, being
the owner of a well-improved landed estate in section 1, Sunfield township. The
old Buckeye state figures as the place of his nativity, as he was born in Morrow
County, Ohio, April 5, 1845, being a son of Andrew and Rebecca (Pitman)
Richards, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Ohio.
The father died in Ohio about 1863, at the age of sixty-five years, and his
widow was seventy years of age at the time of her death. Andrew Richards was
reared to manhood in Pennsylvania, and when about twenty-six years of age he
went to Ohio, locating in Morrow county, where he secured eighty acres of land,
which he reclaimed to cultivation, making that place his home during the
remainder of his life. Following is a brief record concerning the children of
Andrew and Rebecca Richards: Benjamin, who was a sergeant in Company G,
Eighty-first Ohio volunteer Infantry in the civil war, died of typhoid fever,
July 1862, at Corinth, Mississippi, while still in the service; he was in the
battle of Shiloh and the siege of Corinth. George, now a farmer of Sunfield
township, enlisted in Company E, One Hundredth Indiana, with which he served
three years, having the rank of corporal; he participated in all the engagements
in which his regiment took part, was with Sherman in his march from Atlanta to
the sea, and after the close of the war took part in the field review of the
Army of the Tennessee, at Washington, D. C.
Mahlon, who was a soldier in Company E, Twenty-sixth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, with which he served three years, died in Ohio. Andrew died in Ohio,
November 1905. Margaret was a young woman at the time of her demise, in 1865.
Ferdinand is a resident of the state of Kansas. Clark is the immediate subject
of this sketch; Lucy A. is the wife of James Kimer and they reside in Ohio; Mary
is the wife of R. H. Graham, of the same state; Mrs. Jane Mann likewise resides
in the old Buckeye State; Sarah died in infancy. Thomas grew to manhood and died
in Ohio in the year 1882. Clark Richards passed his boyhood days on the
homestead farm, early beginning to assist in the work of the farm, including
chopping and sawing in the woods and attending the district school as
opportunity afforded. At the age of fourteen years he left the parental roof and
went to live in the home of one of his older brothers in Indiana, where he was
engaged in farm work until the civil war was precipitated upon a divided nation,
when he promptly showed his loyalty to the Union by tendering his services in
its support. November 3, 1861, having returned to Ohio for the purpose of
becoming a member of a regiment from his native state, he enlisted, at
Pulaskiville, as a private in Company G. Eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
known as one of the best from the state, serving with this command three years
and then re-enlisting as a veteran, in March, 1865, when he became a member of
the One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he
continued in active service about seven months, or until the close of the war,
having received his honorable discharge September 11, 1865, and having thus been
in active service during practically the entire course of the great conflict
between the north and the south. He took part in many of the most important
battles of the war, among the more notable of which may be mentioned the
following: Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Corinth, Iuka, Resaca, Ley's Ferry, Dallas,
Atlanta, Ezra Chapel and Lovejoy Station, and also the battle of July 22, 1864,
before Atlanta. While crossing the river in the engagement at Ley's Ferry, Mr.
Richards received a flesh wound in the back, and while the injury was not
serious it was disconcerting to have so appreciable a portion of flesh removed
from his anatomy. He was never confined to the hospital and never taken
prisoner, and as he escaped severe wounds as well he has always felt that he was
fortunate in his career as a warrior. He is one of the popular and zealous
comrades of S. W. Grinnell Post, No. 283, Grand Army of the Republic, at
Sunfield, having held every office in the post and being surgeon of the post at
the present time. He takes deep interest in this organization and has rendered
material assistance in its work and in the erection of its attractive hall, the
erecting of the flag tower and the placing of the ordinance guns donated by the
government, in position. After the close of the war, Mr. Richards returned to
Ohio, where he remained until 1867, when he came to Eaton County, Michigan and
purchased forty acres of his present homestead, the land having been covered
with a heavy growth of timber and no improvements having been made. He built a
log house, which continued to be the home of the family until 1891, when he
erected his present large and attractive brick house, one of the best in this
locality. He cleared his original forty acres, to which he has since added until
he has one hundred and thirty acres, all cleared except twenty-five acres, which
has excellent timber. All the buildings are the unmistakable evidences of thrift
and prosperity. Mr. Richards is a stanch supporter of the Republican Party and
takes a loyal interest in public affairs, but has never been afflicted with
office-seeking proclivities. He is identified with the Grange and the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a man who stands high in the esteem of
the community. On New Year's day, 1872, Mr. Richards was united in marriage to
Miss Martha Figg, daughter of Alexander Figg, one of the honored pioneers of
Sunfield township. Mr. and Mrs. Richards have two sons: Burton S., who was born
January 9, 1873, is employed in a grain elevator in the village of Sunfield; and
Claud married Miss Eunice Griffin, is associated with his father in the work of
the home farm. Mrs. Richards is a zealous W. R. C. worker and is a greatly
prized member. She fully sympathizes with Mr. Richards and gives loyal support
to all his patriot endeavors. Both have given freely of their time and money for
the promotion of the welfare of the Sunfield Post which is one of the most
patriotic and public-spirited organizations in the state and of which Mr.
Richards was a charter member. Mr. Richards has stood shoulder to shoulder with
his comrade Edwins in forwarding the interest of the G.A.R.