Richard H. Richards

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Richard H. Richards

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

As a reward of diligence and well applied energy Richard H. RICHARDS occupies a leading place among the prominent business men of Boonton, where he is proprietor of two up-to-date stores. In addition to caring for his private affairs he has served the public in the capacity of election inspector, as councilman and as surveyor of highways. His nativity occurred at Fall River, Massachusetts, July 2, 1849, son of James and Eliza Ann (MANSELL) RICHARDS, both of whom were born and reared in England, whence they came to America prior to their marriage. The father was an iron worker and for many years was employed in foundries at Fall River, Massachusetts. He removed, with his family, to Boonton in 1852, and here continued to reside until his demise in 1900 at the venerable age of seventy-seven years. His cherished and devoted wife passed away in 1890, aged sixty. To them were born the following children:

Richard H., whose name initiates this article;
Mary Elizabeth , who was the wife of Nathaniel WILDERMAN at the time of her death;
Eliza Ann, wife of Mahlon EYLER;
William, deceased;
John W.;
Frank M.;

three of the foregoing live in Boonton.

Richard H. RICHARDS was three years of age at the time of his parents’ removal to Boonton and here he completed a meager education. At a very tender age he began to work in a nail mill and subsequently he was employed in the Boonton Rolling Mill. In his eighteenth year he started to clerk in a general store and was occupied in this manner for a short time. He then took a short course in a business college at Paterson and in 1870 located at Paterson for the ensuing four years and at the expiration of that time returned to Boonton and here, on May 4, 1874, opened a general merchandise store. As time passed he increased his business and in 1887 he opened a second store in Boonton, the latter dealing exclusively in dry goods, boots and shoes. Mr. RICHARDS manages the general store and his wife, who is a decidedly capable business woman, has charge of the dry goods store. Both establishments carry a high-class of goods and cater to a very select patronage.

Mr. RICHARDS’ marriage to Jane F. McARTHUR was celebrated September 1, 1873. She was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, daughter of Collin and Jeanette (URQUHART) McARTHUR, both of whom passed their entire lives in Scotland. Mr. McARTHUR was clerk for steamboats between Liverpool and Glasgow and he is now deceased. He and his wife had four children:

John,
Jane F.,
Duncan,
William, and one of whom came to the United States.

Two children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. RICHARDS :

John Franklin, who died at the age of five years ;
William, who married Maude Elizabeth LYTLE, and they have three children: Collin Livingston, Dorothy Silverthorn, Lewis Ramsey.

In his political convictions Mr. RICHARDS is a loyal adherent of the principles put forward by the Republican party. He has been inspector of elections, served on the common council of Boonton, for several years and has also been the popular and efficient incumbent of the office of surveyor of highways. In the time-honored Masonic order he is a member of Arcana Lodge, No. 60, F. and A. M.; and he is likewise affiliated with the Boonton lodges of the I.O.O.F. and the J.O.U.A.M. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and their exemplary lives and kindly dispositions have greatly endeared them to the citizens of Boonton.

This biography was transcribed by Marlene Laing.