The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1893-09-01
Some Interesting Facts About W. r. Rich
ardson, His Career and His Traits.
from the Sunday Repub]can.I

ardson, His Career and His Traits.
From the Sunday Republican,
The name Of William f. Richardson 10
| familiar one In this county. where there are
but few farm homes that have not been Wis
tied over and over again during the long sno
successful business career of this genial Cal,
tle.buyer and marAetmsn. Being endowed
witha cheerful disposition and an abundance
of ready wit. he is always prepared for Z
good story and is general Gu!cs to follow
with little betteA.one ia return. "Uncle
William" IS he Is Familiarity addressed here
at home, IL gladly welcomed In all circles, and
fortunate indeed 10 the society that can sue
coed In bringing him before local audience
In some humorous play like the "Deestric'
Skule" Of two Yars ago when be With
stage to the great amusement of his fellow.
towhsmen. The Richardson chase in which
the popular marketman and his estimable
wife ride In quaint costume, is one Of the In.
teresting features In the parade Of the annual
Valley fair.
Their 50th marrisge anniversary was pleas.
antly celebrated three years ago, 1t being at
tended by more than 300 of the townspeople.
Mr.. Richardson was born In West bratte.
boro In the cold summer of 1916, the summer
| In which they raised no corn 10 speak of on
account OF the FREE uent and heavy frosts. He
was the Oldest of 10 children OF Isiah and
Betsey Richardson. He remained on the old
farm till April I84l, the year after bis mar
rage to Miss Sophia X. Plummer, when they
removed to the old Stewart farm, having
bought bis grandmothers interest in the
place, and where they lived for six years.
Returning to West Brattleboro. Mr.. Richard.
SON bought Edward Crosby's soap and candle
business at Centrevlle, which be carried on
for about three years. and 1t Increased to
quite prof able proportions for those days.
He manufactured oveT 20 barrels Of soft soap
weekly, large share of which was sold TO
the asylum, the balance being peddled about
town, whence be- gathered his ashes. He sold
his business to H. F. Smith and removed to a
farm on the hill above the Carroll place,
which be subsequently swapped for the farm
now occupied by Charles Alexander In Gull
ford. Here Mr.. and Mrs. Richardson lived
till 1859, when he bought the Sim0nds meat
market IN Bake's block. There he began
what has proved to be most successful mar
ket business, he being one Of the most extern
sive cattle-5uyers in the state, and bis repu-
tati0n as a stockman is well established
throughout southern Vermont and New
Hampshire.
Subsequently he moved into Chaplin block
on the present site of The Brooks House where
he was burned out 10 the big fire Of 1869,
when the whole west side Of the street from
High to Elliot was swept by the flames. Mr..
Richardson then moved into q small building
just west of the Revere house. where Leon
ards block now stands, which he occupied
till Market block was built on the opposite
side OF the street and where he has since been
located. having bought The block few years
ago. HIS markell 2eich e 10 charge Of his
in all It's appointS IS to be found in the
state, while tho bul hess under Conservative
has indri ased ten fold since its
Mr.. Richardson buys beef
c,ttle all over Windham. Windsor, Cheshire
and Franklin counties, as we'll as veal, lamb.
pork ard poultry. He has, by careful after
ton to details, accumu lated handsome prop.
erty, and although bis home on High street is
located. Mr.. and Mrs. Richardson
lead a comparatively quiet and unpretentious
life and are everywhere esteemed. OF their
six children, five survive and beside those
with him In his business, one is in
The ice business here, while daughter Is the
wife of Merchant o. o. Ware of Wilmington.
Mr.. Richardson has four brothers. Charles j.
,f Princeton. ILL.,, DR.. John OF Medfed, Fred |
8. of Nebraska, Austin l. of Jamesburg, N. |
J., also a sister, Mrs. A. L. Tyler of Charlie
mont. He has held number OF local offices |
including chairman OF the selectmen and for
everal years has served on the board of
listers.