USA > New Hampshire > Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. I > Part 92
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(VI) Robert Fletcher, third child and eldest son of Zachariah and Sarah Richardson, was born in Francestown, New Hampshire, October 17, 1778, and
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removed with his father to Bath, New Hampshire, and Topsham, Vermont. He was an extensive farmer, enlisted and served to the close of the War of 1812. On his return to Topsham lie carried on, in connec- tion with his farming, a large freight business be- tween Topsham and Boston, a distance of one hun- dred and seventy-five miles. He was also engaged in the manufacture of salts. He married Betsey Harding, who was a native of Bath New Hampshire. Both were sturdy members of the Universalist Church. Their children were: Robert, Lovisa, Lut- cinda, Nelson, Dorcas, Lydia, Abigail, Dolly and Irene.
(VII) Robert, first son and oldest child of Robert Fletcher and Betsey (Harding) Richardson, was born in Bath, New Hampshire, January 8, 1805, and died in Topsham, village of Waits River, Ver- mont, April 6, 1889. He received only a common school education, and was a farmer. In religious views he was liberal, strictly a Congregationalist in belief, but united with the Universalist Church at East Corinth, as there were no Congregational Churches as near him. He was married, at South Hero, Vermont, November 20, 1831, to Rosina Healey, who was born in Haverhill, New Hampshire, November 16, 1808, and died in Topsham, Vermont, June 4, 1872. Her parents were Nathaniel and Jane (Tabor) Healey. The father was from Washington, New Hampshire. He had been a school teacher and carpenter, making the latter occupation his business the most of his life. He moved to Topsham about 1848. Joseph Warren Healey and Nathaniel Healey, brothers of Rosina Healey, were both liberally edu- cated. The former was a prominent Congregational clergyman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and San Fran- cisco, California. He held the honorary title of Doctor of Divinity. He also traveled in Europe after the Civil war in the interest of the freemen. Nathaniel Healey died while in Europe for his health. The children of Robert and Rosina ( Healey) Richardson were: Robert, Cornelius, Jane, Nathan- iel, Henry, Mary, Coralinn and Evaline.
(VIII) Robert Fletcher, first son and oldest child of Robert and Rosina (Healey ) Richardson, was born in Topsham, Vermont, September 18, 1832. He was educated in the common schools of Tops- ham, and at the Academy, Bath, New Hampshire. At the age of twenty years he began to learn the printer's trade in Portland, Maine. After working a short time as a journeyman he was made foreman in the office of the Portland Transcript, and filled that place for five years. In 1857 he removed to Lowell, Massachusetts, and soon after to Topsham, Vermont, where he bought a farm, on which he re- sided for eight years. He then removed with his family to Washington, Vermont, where he pur- chased two farms, and has since resided carrying on dairying and sheep raising to a considerable extent. Robert Fletcher Richardson was a pioneer member of the Republican party, and cast his first vote for presidential candidate for John C. Fre- mont, in 1856. He has always been regarded as a man of superior qualifications. He has held the office of selectman in Washington for twelve years, much of the time, as chairman; justice of the peace for twenty years, and lister and town grand juror for many years. In 1888 he was elected by a larger majority than had ever been given to any man in the town. representative to the state legislature, and served in this capacity in 1888-89. Owing to an accident producing physical disability he has been exempt from military service. The church and the school are two institutions which Mr. Richardson has always regarded as prime requisites of civiliza-
tion, and the corner stones of our modern social fabric; and to each of these he has been a constant benefactor as his means permitted. To the Union Church of East Orange, Vermont, he gave quite largely, both in its support and in the construction of the new church building; he also gave liberally toward the support of the Green Mountain Semin- ary and Minard Commercial College at Waterbury, Vermont, and also aiding in building the church at West Topsham, Vermont. He took great care to educate his children, who have enjoyed unusual school privileges for a rural community in Ver- mont. Perhaps no family of equal size and dis- tance from educational centers has been better edu- cated in Vermont.
Of his two brothers, Nathaniel has been a promi- nent furniture dealer and undertaker in Lancaster, New Hampshire, and prominent in the administra- tion of the affairs of the town. Henry C. served four years in the Eighth Vermont Regiment, and was seriously wounded on the morning of Sheri- dan's famous ride. He has been engaged in busi- ness and in farming, chiefly at Waits River, a vil- lage in the town of Topsham, Vermont, where he still resides. He also has been very prominent in the affairs of the town. Robert Richardson was married, in Lowell, Massachusetts, June 9, 1857, to Rosetta Dexter, then of Lowell, Massachusetts. She was born in Pomfret, Vermont, December 2, 1832, as the seventh daughter and ninth child of Parker and Betsey (King) Dexter. Her father was a clerk in a mercantile house in Albany, New York, for some years. Later he became a mill own- er, and also carried on extensive farming. He sub- sequently moved to Vermont, first to Pomfret, then to Topsham, where he engaged in farming and lun- bering. The present Dexter homestead in Topsham consisting of nearly one thousand acres, was largely cleared by him and his help. He was a captain in the Vermont militia, which position he held for sev- eral years. He and his wife were members of the Free Baptist Church at West Topsham, Vermont. Twelve of their children grew up and reared fam- ilies. Of these twelve all united with the same church at West Topsham. The children of Robert Fletcher and Rosetta (Dexter) Richardson are : Herbert Ellis, Eulillia Caroline, Charles Henry, Rosina Estella, and Florence Ida. All were present, with their children, at the celebration of the golden wedding of the parents, in Washington, Vermont, besides one hundred fifty other guests, neighbors and friends.
Herbert Ellis was born in Topsham, Vermont. March II, 1858, and was educated in the schools of that town, Washington, and Chelsea; he married, December 15, 1883, Ella Florence Chamberlain, of Lowell. Massachusetts. Mr. Richardson has been for thirty years a commission merchant in Lowell. They have no children now living. Two children were born to them, Maud and Robert, but each died in infancy.
Lillia Caroline was born in Topsham, Vermont, August 19, 1860, and was educated in the schools of Washington, the normal school at Randolph, and Montpelier Seminary, Montpelier, Vermont. She graduated from the normal school with the highest honors; she led all her classes at Montpelier, but before completing her course there, and while suc- cessfully engaged in teaching. she fell prey to dis- ease and died December 1, 1884.
Charles Henry is mentioned below.
Rosina Estelle was born in Topsham, Vermont, March 26, 1864. She received her education in the common schools of Washington, Barre Academy,
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and Montpelier Seminary. She married, October 10, ISSS, Herbert David Scott, a silversmith of Con- cord, New Hampshire, but now of Providence, Rhode Island, with residence at Howard, Rhode Island. They have four children: Lillian, Harold, Robert, and Royal.
Florence Ida was born in Washington, Vermont, March 2. 1875. She was educated in the public schools of Washington, Vermont. and Concord, New llampshire. She was married February 16, 1897, to James Moses Wallace, a farmer of Waterbury, Ver- mont, where they still reside. They have four chil- dren : Lelia, Robert, William, and George.
(IX) Charles Henry, third child and second son of Robert Fletcher and Rosetta (Dexter) Richardson, was born in Topsham, Vermont. Sep- tember 26, 1862. He was educated in the common schools of Washington, afterwards Montpelier Seminary, Montpelier, Vermont, where he gradu- ated with honors in 1887. The following autumn he entered Bates College. Lewiston, Maine. His licalth soon failed him, and he was forced to leave college for a time, yet he graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, with special honors in the class of 1892. In 1895 he received from Dartmouth College the degree of Master of Arts, and in 1898 the degree of Doctor of Philos- ophy. His academic degree was that of Bachelor of Arts. In 1902 he conducted research work at the University of Chicago, and in 1006 at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Professor Richardson's life has been one of great activity. While a student he successfully worked his way through the various institutions that he attended, by teaching, lecturing, canvassing, and writing life insurance. He has rounded out seventeen years as a teacher, three before his gradu- ation from college as principal of secondary schools in Vermont, three after his academic graduation as principal of Black River Academy, Ludlow. Ver- mont, and Green Mountain Seminary and Minard Commercial College. Waterbury, Vermont, ten years as fellow, assistant and instructor in Dartmouth College. first in chemistry and mineralogy, and then in geology and mineralogy. In the latter field the department was new to the college, and Dr. Richardson was quite successful in its development. lle has also been connected with the summer school at Dartmouth since its organization, and with the summer school at Syracuse University, Syracuse. New York, since 1906. Professor Richardson is now associate professor of geology and mineralogy in Syracuse University, Syracuse. New York.
Besides teaching, Professor Richardson has been engaged in the more active occupations of business life. Ile has been employed on the geological sur- vey of Vermont for ten years: has spent several summers as an expert in the coal regions of Penn- sylvania, in the iron regions of Minnesota, in the copper fields of Michigan, and in the marble and ยท granite areas of New England. His work along these lines has been so successful that at one time he was offered by a syndicate to serve as mining expert and analyst the sum of five thousand dollars per year and all traveling expenses for a term of five years. This offer through his devotion to teaching, he declined. He has heen consulting geo-
logist for Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York for fifteen years. He is now mineralogist for the Purity Mining Company in New York, with works at Natural Bridge, that state, and castern assayer for the Torpedo-Felipse Mining Company, of Ourav, Colorado. This line of work he carries on in ad- dition to his college duties. In the lecture field
he has been in considerable demand, and somewhat popular, for he has delivered more than one thou- sand public addresses. He is the only lecturer with a popular lecture entitled "Coal Mining with a Camera," the lecture being the result of his own investigations of the coal fields, and his life with the miners themselves.
In 1887 he completed a course in divinity under five clergymen, and was ordained to the Free Baptist ministry at East Orange, Vermont, July 10; of the same year. In connection with his duties at Mont- pelier Seminary he was pastor of the church at Shady Rill in Middlesex, Vermont, for two years. In connection with his college duties at Bates he was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Bruns- wick, Maine, 1887-88. and of Summer Street Bap- tist Church in Gardiner, Maine, in 1888-89: also, while in connection with teaching he was pastor of the Union Church at Washington, Vermont, 1890-91, and while principal of Green Mountain Seminary and Minard Commercial College at Wa- terbury, Vermont, he was pastor of the Union Church at Waterbury, and at Little River, 1893- 94-95. All these pastorates were attended with large additions to the various churches.
When his life became devoted to teaching at his Alma Mater, Dartmouth, he united with the Congre- gational Church at Dartmouth College, but still con- tinued to supply neighboring churches of all evan- gelical denominations. Although a liberal Congre- gationalist himself, he is as much at home with one denomination as another when employed in their service.
As if these various means of using his energies were not enough to exhaust them, he became con- nected with life insurance work, writing while in college and for some little time afterwards oc- casional policies for the Northwestern Life Insur- ance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but in 1005 he was appointed state manager for the Equitable Life Insurance Society of New York, for New Ilampshire.
In the field of literature he has also been active. He is the author of "Biography in a Nutshell," a hook containing one hundred biographies of the Dexter Family, of which his mother was a member : "Four-Fourths of a Man." "Testimony of the Rocks." "Trees and Shrubs of Orange County, Vermont." "Anatomy and Physiology of Pinus Sylvestris," "The Calciferous Mica," "Schist of Eastern Ver- mont." "The Analysis of Washington Marbles." "Notes on the Washington Limestones," "Source of the Famous Thetford Boulders," "The Terranes of Orange County, Vermont," "The Washington Limestones and Its Associated Terranes." "The Areal and Economic Geology of Northeastern Ver- mont." "Dixie Dec," "Dixie's Easter in Vermont." and many newspaper articles and poems.
Professor Richardson is connected with many organizations for the promotion of education. cul- ture and science. He is a member of the Vermont Teachers' Association, of which he was secretary TSQ3-04-05-06. Also of the New York State Science Teachers' Association, the New England Baptist Association, of which he was a trustee for five years: and of the Vermont Botanical Club, the Dartmonth Scientific Association, the Syracuse Scientific Association, and the Onondaga Academy of Sciences. He is a fellow of the American As- sociation for the Advancement of Science, the Geo- logical Society of America, and the American Chemical Society. He was a member of the general committee of Science, Arts and Education, Paris Exposition, root, the Eighth International Geo-
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graphic Congress, 1904, and is a member of the National Geographic Society. Dr. Richardson is also a member of the following fraternities, Kai Tan Kappa, Pi Phi Chi, and Sigma Xi. He has received high commendations for his educational work. State School Superintendent Mason S. Stonc, of Vermont: "He is in every way pre-eminently well equipped for a college professorship." Similar high tribute was paid him by the trustees of Green Mountain Seminary, Vermont; Rev. E. W. Cum- mings, secretary of the trustees of the same institu- tion ; Hon. W. P. Dillingham, LL. D., member of Congress, Vermont ; Professor Charles H. Hitch- cock, Professor C. E. Bolser, Professor Edwin J. Bartlett. Dean Charles F. Emerson, Professor Rob- ert Fletcher, all of Dartmouth College: George H. Perkins, state geologist. Vermont: Professor R. I). George, University of Colorado: Professor Thomas WV. D. Worthen, Professor Herman H. Horne, Pro- fessor F. C. Lewis, Professor Charles F. Richard- son, President William J. Tucker, D. D., all of Dartmouth College.
Charles H. Richardson was married, June 16, 1892, at Montpelier. Vermont, to Katherine May Davis, who was born in Corinth, Vermont, July 31, 1868, the oldest daughter of George Washington and Emma (Fish) Davis. She was educated in the common schools of the town of Corinth, and at Montpelier Seminary, Montpelier, Vermont, from which she graduated with honors and the degree of Mistress of English Literature (M. E. L.) on the day of her marriage. The ceremony was solemn- ized by Professor E. A. Bishop, principal of the Seminary, and in the Band and Aesthetic Society Hall, of which societies they were members. Mrs. Richardson taught with Professor Richardson at Black River Academy, Ludlow, Vermont, and at Green Mountain Seminary, Waterbury, Vermont. They had one child-Evalyn Dee.
(X) Evalyn Dee, only child of Charles Henry and Katherine (Davis) Richardson, was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, November 22, 1898, and is now at the age of eight years in the Madison Street school of Syracuse, New York.
(V) Ebenezer, son of Robert and Deborah ( Parish) Richardson, resided in Lisbon. He was an original grantee of Bath in 1769.
(VI) David, son of Ebenezer Richardson, was born in Lisbon. January 27, 1788. He resided some years in his young manhood in Littleton, and oper- ated a clothing mill. He was afterward a farmer in Lisbon, where he died April 16, 1863. In religious belief he was a Methodist : in political faith a Whig until the Civil war and then a Democrat. He mar- ried (first), about 1813, Sally Walker, who was born in Lisbon, about 1793, and died in Lisbon in 1822. daughter of Learned Walker. He married (second), about 1823, Abigail Walker. a sister of his first wife, born in Lisbon. She died in Littleton, September 13. 1802. She was a Free Baptist. The children of the first wife were: Horace. Samuel. Isaac E. and Henry: those by the second wife were: Learned W., David Sutherland, Sally, Brewster, Martha, Rebecca, Walter W. and War- ren.
(VII) Henry, fourth child of David and Sally Walker Richardson, was born in Lisbon, March 7. 1821, and died in Littleton, July 12, 1901, aged. eighty years. He was asuccessful farmer, and was also engaged in lumbering in the towns of Lisbon, Littleton and Bethlehem. He resided in Littleton after 1866. In politics he was a Democrat. For many years he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married, December 23,
1854, Mary Jane Clark, who was born in Lisbon, January 31, 1831, daughter of James and Mary ( Coffran ) Clark, of Lisbon. Their children were; Israel Clark, Leroy, David Henry and Albert James.
(VIII) Israel Clark, eldest child of Henry and Mary Jane ( Clark) Richardson, was born in Lisbon, November 3, 1856. and has resided in Littleton since he was ten years old. He was educated in the public schools of Bethlehem. Lyndon (Vermont) and Littleton. He worked for his father on a farm two years after attaining his majority, and then bought a house and livery . stable which his father had in Littleton, and from that time has been engaged in the livery business in Littleton. He also owns and operates Richardson's grist mill in Littleton and two farms in the town. In connection with his stable he maintains during the warm season of the year a hack line known as Richardson's tourist line, which makes daily trips to and from Franconia Notch. He is a Democrat; was elected to the legislature in 1891 and served one term, and in 1887 was elected fireward. He is a member of Burns Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Little- ton: Franklin Royal Arch Chapter, of Lisbon ; Council, Royal and Select Masters; St. Gerard Commandery, Knights Templar. of Littleton: Ed- ward A. Raymond Consistory, thirty-second degree Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, of Nashua ; and Bektash Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Concord. He married. November 29, 1883. Nellie Eliza Williams, who was born in Lyndon. Vermont. November 30, 1856, daughter of Wellington and Cyrene (Coffran) Wil- liams, of Lyndon, Vermont. They have had four children : Mary Jane, Nellie, Charles Israel and Isabel Cyrene.
(VIII) Albert J., third and youngest child of Henry and Mary Jane (Clark) Richardson, was born in Lyndon. Vermont, October 29, 1866. His parents moved to Littleton the same year and he has resided in Littleton ever since. By occupation he is a farmer and is a firm believer in the Jerseys as the best breed of dairy cattle. He is a member of Burns Lodge, No. 66, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons : also a member of Mount Eustis Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. He is also a prominent granger. He was for two years master of White Mountain Grange, No. 50, and is at present master of Northern New Hampshire Pomona, and a mem- ber of the executive committee of the New Hamp- shire State Grange. He is a staunch Democrat, and has served two years as chairman of the Democratic town committee, and is at present a member of the board of selectmen. He married, October 6, 1888, Lillian May Curtis, who was born in Stratford. December 3, 1866. daughter of Freeman B. and Ellen (Bass) Curtis, of Littleton. New Hampshire. They have one child, Edith Mabelle.
(IV) Captain William, youngest child of Lieu- tenant Josiah and Mercy ( Parrish) Richardson, was born in Chelmsford, September 19, 1701. In the year 1722 he settled in Pelham, New Hampshire, and cultivated a farm there. Pelham was a part of Dracut, but separated from it in 1741. when by an order of the privy council of England sixteen towns were taken from Massachusetts and annexed to New Hampshire. He was a representative in the general court of the province, and for many years captain of a military company, His will is dated April 1, 1776, and proved November 7. 1776. He died in the interval. He married about 1722, Eliza- beth Colburn, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Col- burn of Dracut. They were the parents of nine
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children : Elizabeth, Abner, Mary, William, Mercy, Asa, Sarah, Hannah, and Daniel.
(V) Captain Daniel, youngest child of Captain William and Elizabeth (Colburn) Richardson, of Pelham, formerly a part of Dracut, was born here March 11, 1749. He was prepared to enter college, but instead of a college course he settled in 1773 on a farm in Pelham, part of which belonged to his father. In 1777 he engaged in the military service of his country, continued in it until 1780, and did not return till the end of three years. He was in the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778. He also shared in the expedition of General Sullivan into the In- dian country in the summer of 1779, which extended as far west as the Genesee river. After his return home he was captain of a military company in New Hampshire. For his military services he obtained a pension under the act of congress passed in 1832. He died May 23, 1833, aged eighty-four. He mar- ried January 26, 1773, Sarah Merchant, of Boston, born 1748. They were the parents of three sons: William Merchant, Samuel Mather, and Daniel.
(VI) Hon. William Merchant, eldest son of Captain Daniel and Sarah ( Merchant) Richardson, was born in Pelham, New Hampshire, January 4, 1774, and died in Chester, March 15, 1838, aged sixty-four years. He was employed on his father's farm until he was about fifteen years old, when he met with a severe injury to one of his hands which unfitted him for a time for manual labor and caused him to turn his attention to study. He prepared himself for college, and having taken the usual course graduated from Harvard College in 1797, with high rank of scholarship. He next engaged in teaching, first in the academy at Leicester, Massa- chusetts, where his application was injurious to his health; and subsequently, after some interval of rest, as a preceptor of the academy in Groton, Massa- chusetts. While occupying these positions he de- voted himself assiduously to the cultivation of his literary powers. He there acquired the easy and graceful style which distinguished all his writings, and indulged in poetical composition, for which he had much taste and aptitude. While in Groton he accepted the invitation of Judge Samuel Dana to study law in his office. He passed his examination with credit, was admitted to practice, and at once became a partner with his preceptor, and enjoyed a husy practice from the start. He soon had an enviable reputation both as a lawyer and as a citizen. From 1804 to 1812 he was postmaster at Groton. In I811 a vacancy occurred in the office of repre- sentative in congress in the district, and he was chosen to fill it. After serving his term out he again stood for election and was again returned to con- gress, but having no fancy for political life he soon after resigned his seat and returned to the practice of his profession.
In 1814 he was appointed United States attorney for the district of New Hampshire, removed his residence to Portsmouth, and entered into practice there. He immediately took a leading position among the lawyers of the state, and on the re- organization of the courts in 1816 Governor Plumer nominated him for chief justice of the supreme court. The governor's council was politically divided and party spirit was strong; but the appointment was unanimously confirmed, and Judge Richardson soon after entered upon the discharge of the duties of the office, which he continued to hold during the re- mainder of his life, twenty-two years. He was now in a position for which his powers were peculiarly well adapted, and was at first ably supported by his associates. He devoted himself with characteristic
application to his duties; and it may have been in consequence of this that he was attacked shortly after his appointment by a dangerous illness which brought him to death's door. He slowly recovered, but the effects of the disease were visible through- out the remainder of his life. A slight lameness was one of these; his nervous system was also affected, and he was liable to periodical fits of sickness afterwards. But he never relaxed his habits of in- dustry, and nothing but absolute physical inability could keep him from his papers and his studies. The famous Dartmouth College controversy culminated in one of the earlier important causes which came before the court after Judge Richardson's appoint- ment. The weighty questions involved in it were argued by the ablest counsel, and the opinion, in which all the court were united, was pre- pared and delivered by the chief justice. Not- withstanding it was overruled by the supreme court of the United States, the decision has always been regarded as able, and by some jurists as the more correct statement of the law.
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