My Genealogy Hound

ALMER F. RICHARDSON, Town Clerk of Ware for nearly twenty years, was born there on October 21, 1847, son of Winthrop and Fannie D. (Thompson) Richardson. Willard Richardson, his grandfather, followed the occupation of a farmer, and was also a nail-maker by trade, wrought nails being then in use. He was the father of three sons and two daughters, all of whom are now dead, although they all lived to marry and rear families of children. Winthrop Richardson, who was born in Brookfield, Worcester County, Mass., in 1804, turned his attention to shoe-making, and was also the owner of a small farm. He died in 1877, seventy-three years of age. His wife, to whom he was married in March, 1832, was a daughter of Samuel Thompson. She was born in Ware in 1805. Her mother, whose maiden name was Barnes, reared a family of two sons and four daughters, all of whom have since died. Mrs. Richardson bore her husband seven children, four sons and three daughters, as follows: Theodore, who died when about eleven years old; Adeline and Laurinda, who died in childhood; Edwin E. Richardson, now residing in Ware; Laura J., who married Henry H. Bush, and died in 1888, at forty-six years of age, leaving two children; Alfred H. Richardson, living in Gilbertville, Mass., where he is engaged as the paymaster of the George H. Gilbert Manufacturing Company; and Almer F. Richardson, the subject of this sketch. The mother died in 1869, sixty-three years of age.

Almer F. Richardson spent the early years of his life on his father’s farm. At sixteen years of age he began to work out by the month on neighboring farms during the summer; but he attended school in the winter season, passing in due time from the district school to the Ware High School. In June, 1865, he obtained a position as clerk in the general store of P. D. Willis, with whom he remained two years. The following year he had a similar position in the store of Harding, Woods & Co. at Barre, Mass., the next in the clothing store of Virgil Guild in Ware, the next two years in the general store of Calvin Hitchcock, and the next two years with C. F. Hitchcock & Co., of Gilbertville. On February 20, 1874, he came to his present store, and entered the shoe business as a partner of Calvin Hitchcock & Son, which afterward became the firm of A. F. Richardson & Co. On January 1, 1883, Mr. Richardson purchased his partners’ interests, and has conducted the business alone since that time.

He was married on October 5, 1880, to Miss Amie L. Newton, a daughter of Stephen E. and Thirza L. (Pierce) Newton, of Hardwick. She died on July 26, 1881, leaving one daughter, Edith L. Richardson, who was then but three weeks old. Miss Richardson is now fourteen years old, and is her father’s constant companion.

In general elections Mr. Richardson votes the Republican ticket. He has served one term of seven years as Justice, and has been reappointed for another term. In March, 1876, he was elected Town Clerk; and he has held the office continuously since that time. Ex officio he is a registrar of voters, and has a part in the naturalization of voters. He also does some probate business, being frequently engaged in the settlement of estates; and for fifteen years he acted as the auctioneer of that section. He is a member of the corporation of the Ware Savings Bank. In both business and political life he has won the respect of his fellow-citizens.