NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

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

The men who succeed in any enterprise in life, the generals who win their spurs on the field of battle, the financiers who amass wealth – are the men who have confidence in themselves and the courage of their convictions. There is a time in very man’s life when he reaches the conclusion that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide, and that though the world is full of good, no good thing comes to him without self-reliance and the power to gain results. The man who trusts himself and who plans well his part on the stage of life is a success. A strong and sterling character is like an acrostic – read it forward or backward or across – it still spells the same thing. Henry RICHARDS, who is an expert mining engineer, with headquarters at Dover, has won success largely through his own well directed efforts. He is a member of the George Richards Company, of this city, and is serving on the Dover Board of Water Commissioners.

Henry RICHARDS was born at Easton, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1854, son of Henry and Jane (PRICE) RICHARDS, the former of whom came to America from England in his young manhood. He was a mining superintendent at Glendin, Pennsylvania, during his active career. He was twice married, his first wife bore him the following children:

• George;
• Robert;
• Sarah, wife of George WRIGHT;
• Caroline, wife of Robert BOLES;
• Anna, wife of George RICHARDS.

For his second wife Mr. RICHARDS married Jane PRICE, born in Durham, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Sic children:

• William; Henry, of this sketch;
• Albert, mentioned on other pages of this work;
• Mary,
• Iverness;
• Emily.

To the public schools of Easton, Pennsylvania, Henry RICHARDS is indebted for his preliminary educational training. In 1872 he was matriculated as a student in the Lehigh University, at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and in that institution was graduated as a mining engineer in 1876. His first active experience as a mining engineer was with the Glendin Iron Company, at Teabo, Morris county, New Jersey, and he remained in the employ of that concern for the ensuing fifteen years. For a time he was engaged in the work of his profession in North Carolina, and for three years he was superintendent of mines at the Musconetcong Iron Works, at Stanhope, New Jersey. Since 1911 he has maintained his home and business headquarters at Dover, where he is well known as an expert mining engineer. He is a stockholder in the George Richards Company, a mercantile concern, and owns valuable real estate in Morris county. Mr. RICHARDS is a Republican in his political convictions, and for the past few years has been a valuable member of the Dover Board of Water Commissioners. He is affiliated with Acacia Lodge, No. 30, F. and A. M., and with his family he attends the Presbyterian church.

In August 1877, occurred the marriage of Mr. RICHARDS to Clara M. BEGGS, formerly a resident of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, daughter of James and Sarah (CAMERON) BEGGS. Mr. and Mrs. RICHARDS have the following children:

• Grace E, at the parental home;
• Bertha, wife of Albert KENDIG, of New York City;
• Marion,
• Raymond,
• Edgar,
• Harold D.,
• Gladys.

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

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