NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Albert RICHARDS, who is now living virtually retired at Dover, New Jersey, was for eighteen years a prominent mining contractor at Herdtown, New Jersey, and for twelve years proprietor and manager of the Mansion House at Dover. He is a citizen whose devotion to duty and manifest interest in all matters of civic import have won him a high place among the substantial and representative business men of Morris County.

At Easton, Pennsylvania, August 11, 1855, occurred the birth of Albert RICHARDS, son of Henry and Jane (PRICE) RICHARDS, the former of whom was born in England and the latter in Morris county, New Jersey. The father immigrated to America in young manhood and his business was that of mining contractor. He and his wife are both deceased; they had six children, namely:

• William,
• Henry,
• Albert,
• Mary,
• Iverness,
• Emily.

Albert RICHARDS supplemented his primary educational discipline with a course of study in the Easton High school, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1874. He then came to Dover and here began to study law under the able preceptorship of William T. LEPORT. He only spent one year in legal preparation, however, and in 1876 opened offices as a mining contractor at Herdtown, New Jersey. For eighteen years he followed that particular line of enterprise and gained a competency therein. In 1894 he located at Dover and succeeded Isaac B. JOLLY in the conduct of the Mansion House, which gained a name, under his management, as one of the fine, modern hostelries of Morris county. He followed the hotel business for twelve years and in 1906 retired permanently from the cares of active business life. He is now enjoying to the full toll collected from former years of earnest toil and endeavor. He is one of the heavy stockholders in the George Richards Company and has money invested in other local enterprises. As a Republican he is a valued member of the board of managers of the State Hospital at Morris Plains, and for two years he served on the city council at Dover. He is affiliated with Acacia Lodge, F. and A. M.; Baldwin Chapter, R. A. M.; Ode de St. Amand Commandery, Morristown, New Jersey; Mecca Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and with the Dover branch of the B.P.O.E. The family attends the Presbyterian church.

In the year 1898 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. RICHARDS to Blanche LANTZ, a native of Sparta, New Jersey, daughter of Robert and Catherine LANTZ, whose two children were

• Robert Jr. and
• Blanche.

Mrs. RICHARDS is a woman of most attractive personality and she is known as one of the delightful entertainers of Dover. Mr. and Mrs. RICHARDS have one son, Jack, who is at the parental home and who is a student in high school.

Mr. RICHARDS is a man of fine mentality and broad human sympathy. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his family and friends. He is always courteous, kindly, and affable, and those who know him personally accord him the highest esteem.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).

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