My Genealogy Hound

A. L. Richmond is numbered among the substantial residents of Little Rock, and as a person of means and influence is well known. He was born in Caswell County, N. C., in 1833, being a son of Lee Richmond, a grandson of his mother's master. His mother was quarter white. When A. L. Richmond was born, her master was "Billy" Richmond, who at his death gave his slaves to his son. They then emigrated with their master to Mississippi in 1843, the mother subsequently marrying Robert Stevens, a colored man; she died in Mississippi, having five children by this marriage. A. L. Richmond came west in 1848, having become the property of Nat Richmond, whom he accompanied to Arkansas, locating in Dallas County, at Princeton, where they remained four years. Camden, Ouachita County, was their stopping place for two years, when A. L. was sold to Parson A. R. Winfield, in March, 1856. He then moved to Little Rock, Ark., remaining two years (until May, 1858), then to Pine Bluff, where in December, 1859, he was sold, to C. C. McAlmont. He was freed by the Union army upon its entrance into Little Rock, September 10, 1863. Mr. Richmond had learned the carpenter's trade during his servitude and for twelve years previous to the war had been allowed his own time, paying his master $40 per month for same. His wonderful business tact necessitated his employing both white and colored men to work for him as carpenter and contractor, he having saved $1,200 for the purpose of buying his freedom. Since the war he has continued in his business as contractor, and has been very successful. He owns thirty-three houses in Little Rock which bring him $200 per month rent. He was married at the age of eighteen to Miss Mary Brown, a native of Virginia, who is one-fourth white. They are the parents of eight children: Alice (who was Mrs. Handy, and died the mother of three children), Augustus, (who is a clerk in the post-office at Little Rock), Rachel (deceased), William (deceased), John (a Methodist preacher at Newport), Mary (deceased), Annie (now Mrs. Childress) and Asa, Jr. Mr. Richmond has given all of his children a good education. He is one of the wealthiest colored gentleman of Little Rock, and highly respected.