My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM B. RICHARDS, one of the most successful farmers and fruit growers in his section of Montgomery county, was born on the farm which he now occupies, May 16, 1854. He is the son of Samuel S. and Elizabeth W. (Justice) Richards.

Samuel S. Richards (father), was born December 10, 1822, at the old homestead in Plymouth township near Norristown. He was the son of Caleb and Jane W. (Walker) Richards. Samuel S. Richards received a common-school education and learned the trade of carpentering, which he followed until the time of his marriage. In 1853 he removed to Plymouth township and purchased the property known as the Letitia Gallinger farm, and occupied it to the time of his death. He was a member of the Society of Friends and attended worship at Plymouth Meeting. In politics he was a Republican, and gave effective support to its principles. He was a delinquent internal revenue collector under David Newport for three years during the progress of the Rebellion. On February 10, 1853, he married Elizabeth W. Justice, of Haverford, Delaware county, who was a daughter of John M. and Betsy P. Justice. John M. Justice was a great-great-grandson of John Morton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The children of Samuel S. and Elizabeth W. Richards were: William B., born May 16, 1854; Mira L., born October 1, 1856, and died August 22, 1857; J. Justice, born October 25, 1858, and died June 20, 1861; Mary J., born February 18, 1860, and died April 18, 1869; Carroll B., born February 12, 1866, now living on a farm in Whitpain township near Blue Bell. He married, February 21, 1894, Esther L. Taggart, daughter of Austin L. and Hannah Taggart. Austin L. Taggart was a well-known farmer in Upper Merion township, and represented Montgomery county in the house of representatives for several years.

Caleb Richards (grandfather), of Schuykill township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, married Jane Walker, a descendant in the fifth generation of Lewis Walker, of Chester Valley, who left Wales in 1686, arriving in Pennsylvania in 1687 after a tedious passage of thirteen months. Lewis Walker settled in Radnor, and Second-month (April) 22, 1693, he was married at Haverford Meetinghouse, to Mary Morris. Lewis was not satisfied, however, with his Radnor home, and he became the first settler of Tredyffrin township in Chester county, in 1705. Tredyffrin township lies in the great valley in the most easterly part of Chester county, adjoining Upper Merion township in Montgomery county. Lewis Walker’s children were: Daniel, Elizabeth, Joseph, Hannah, Enoch, Abel and Isaac. Isaac Walker married Sarah, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Jerman. Their children were eleven, as follows: Joseph, Mary, Lewis, Mary, Hannah, Benjamin, Azael, Rachel, Abel, Isaac and Leah. Joseph, eldest son, married Sarah Thomas. Their children, thirteen in all, were: Zillah, Isaac, Priscilla, Thomas, Joseph, Sarah, Mary, Naomi, Lewis, Joseph, Enoch, William and Jesse. Of these, Isaac married first Marp Pugh, and their children were: Sarah, Ann, Joseph, Hananiah, Asahel, Mary, Priscilla, Zillah, Jane and Rachel. The Richards family are old residents of Chester county, their ancestor having come from Wales and settled near Valley Forge on the Schuylkill river. They and the Walkers and other families of that vicinity have intermarried very frequently. The children of Caleb and Jane (Walker) Richards were as follows: John Richards, died 1875, married Mary Ann Thomas and Eliza Eastburn, their children dying young; Isaac W. Richards married Susanna W. Sands; Samuel S. Richards married Elizabeth Justice. After the death of Caleb Richards his widow married William Hallowell and had three other children, as follows: Kate Hallowell, who married William H. Jenkins; Caleb E. Hallowell, who married Hettie Yerkes; and Benjamin Hallowell. Caleb (grandfather) died Second month 2, 1824.

William B. Richards attended the neighborhood schools until he attained the age of fifteen years and then went to Treemount Seminary at Norristown for two years. He has been engaged in the occupation of farming very successfully, as has been said, ever since. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and was school director in Plymouth township for a period of five years. He is a Republican in politics, and in religious faith a member of the Society of Friends, attending Plymouth Meeting. In addition to ordinary farming he give much attention to fruits and choice vegetables, grain and hay. He also attends market in Philadelphia. He produces strawberries and other small fruits of large size and fine quality.

On November 23, 1876, he married Jane L. Cleaver, daughter of Josiah and Martha Cleaver, of Montgomery township, Montgomery county. Josiah Cleaver was born April 17, 1848, and is a farmer. The children of William B. and Jane L. (Cleaver) Richards are: J. Randolph, born December 31, 1877, married on March 31, 1902, Katie Coughlin, and is living in Philadelphia; J. Cleaver, born January 5, 1880, is at home with his father; Samuel S., born January 10, 1882, is at home with his father; Lizzie J., born October 17, 1885, and Jennie C., born September 26, 1889, are at home; and Helen, born March 30, 1893, died April 8, 1893.