My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE B. RICHARDS, an enterprising citizen of Berrien County, Mich., now conducting successfully an extensive furniture business in the village of Buchanan, is a native of his present locality and was born in the township on the 18th of November, 1859. Educated in the schools of Buchanan, he remained with his father until his twenty-first birthday, when he began life for himself as a market gardener. He followed this occupation for some time, then entered into mercantile business as a clerk, and in 1891 established himself as a dealer in furniture, and has a well-stocked store and enjoys an excellent and rapidly-extending trade. Politically a Republican, Mr. Richards is intimately identified with the local management of the leading offices of the township, and in 1890 was elected Township Treasurer, was re-elected in 1891, and in 1892 and in 1893 was elected to the responsible position of Supervisor of the township, the duties of which office our subject is now discharging to the great satisfaction of his fellow-townsmen. In 1879, George B. Richards was united in marriage with Miss Clara Roe, daughter of Jesse J. and Anna M. (Whitman) Roe, early settlers of the village, widely known and highly respected. Mrs. Richards is a member of the Christian Church and a most estimable lady, active in the social and religious life of Buchanan, One son, Robert, has blessed the home, Alfred Richards, the father of our subject, was one of the pioneer settlers of the village of Buchanan, and, born in Wilmington, Del., November 5, 1822, was a young man twenty-eight years of age when he came in the pride of early manhood to seek his fortune in the broader fields of the West. He was the son of Henry and Sarah (Bergh) Richards, who early in life made their home in Delaware, but were both natives of England. Henry Richards, emigrating to America in 1818, settled in Delaware, and there married, but later returned to his native land, where he died. His wife, Sarah Bergh, was the daughter of George Bergh, who left England in 1820 and located in Philadelphia, but later made his home in Wilmington, Del., dying in the latter State. He and his good wife reared six or seven children, who located in and about Philadelphia, being among the family of Friends in that part of the United States. George Bergh, the maternal grandfather of Alfred Richards, was a prominent member of the Quaker sect, and commanded universal esteem. Five children gathered in the home of Henry and Sarah (Bergh) Richards. Emily, the eldest-born, married Charles Gibb, of New York City; George H. is deceased; Louisa married John Grain and resides in Sing Sing, N. Y.; Mary became the wife of James Blandford, and died in Sing Sing, N. Y.; Alfred, the youngest-born, received most of his education in Sing Sing, N. Y., and resides in Buchanan.

Acquiring the trade of a carriage-maker, the father of our subject worked for some length of time in Bridgeport, Conn. Journeying to Michigan in 1848, he spent one year in Niles, and at the end of the following twelve months located in Buchanan Township and engaged in the manufacture of wagons, but few carriages being made in those days. After conducting an extensive and profitable business as a wagon manufacturer for four or five years, Mr. Richards entered into milling and lumbering on a large scale. He prospered steadily until the financial panic of 1873, when the disastrous closing of many large firms with which he did business crippled him seriously. He, however, remained in business the next ten years, but, failing to enjoy the success which had at first attended his efforts, he sold out and retired from the active cares of mercantile life. In 1847 the father and mother of our subject, Alfred and Laura E. (Martin) Richards, were united in marriage. Mrs. Richards, a devout Christian lady, and a valued member of the Adventist Church, passed away in 1887, at the age of fifty-eight years. She was the mother of six children. Emily is the wife of Charles Terriere, of Minneapolis, Minn.; Anna is the wife of Eli Eaton, of Buchanan; Laura is the widow of Frank G. Anderson; Susan is the wife of C. Roe, of Buchanan; George B. was the fifth child; and Alfred resides in Buchanan. Like his wife, Mr. Richards is a member of the Adventist Church, and has ever been active in religious and benevolent work. He is politically a Republican, and has for five years as Township Supervisor materially assisted in the promotion of needed improvements. He was Treasurer of the township for two years and served with ability as member of the Village Board of Commissioners. Surrounded by his children, all occupying positions of busy usefulness, Alfred Richards is entering upon the evening of his days among a large circle of old-time friends, by whom he is universally esteemed.