, 1897-03-12

Connected With Pioneer Surveys in
Neutrality-suspicious. Life Re-
turn TO the Rockies.
The Midland Monthly, an excellent
magazine published Al Des Moines, Ia.
is presenting a series Of articles upon
Representative Men" and in the March
number appears an exceptionally good
biographical sketch Of the governor o:
Wyoming. Hon. W. \. Richards. from
the pen Of Leigh Leslie. 1t is cmbellish
ed by several very handsome cuts, show
ing Mr.. and Mrs. Richards. their home
N the Big Horn Basin, their three girls,
etc. The picture o. their home presents
a modest log house, which was the work
OF the governors own hands. but ii is
pretent!Ous indeed when compared with
he one alongside which they at first
occupied. The Biographical sketch is "a
follows:
In southwestern Wisconsin. near the
'hCt'lAS IDILt Oh three great states, Is q
gracious village where peace and virtue
obtain, and where nature has bestowed
some Of her choicest gifts. To the west
l few miles the mighty Mississippi rolls
silently on its way to the sea: to the
south the bluffs Of Galena rear their
ragged heads high in the air: while to
he north and to the east as far as the
eye can reach stretches a goodly pros
pect Of hills and wales and woods, Of
rich pastures and lowing herds and
ields OF r%ipening grain.
1t is here. OF a blustery day in March.
eight and fort years ago. that William
Afford Richards was born. His father,
Truman Perry Richards. was a native
Of New York. and his mosher. Eleanor
SWlnnerton, was born in Ohio. The
head OF the American branch of the
Richards family came to this ountry
in colonial days. and his progeny resid-
ed in Massachusetts and in New York
Tor many years. The parents of T'ru-
man Perry Richards and the parents of
Eleanor S~winnertOn migrated to central
Illinois in 1923. In the early '4Os Tru-
ii@n Perry RichardS,und the handsome
young woman with whom he had
welded gathered together all their
worldly possessions and set our in a
prairie schooner" for the lead mines OF
southwestern Wisconsin. locating at
Hazel Green. The husband was il
urn miner. mechanic and farmer, doing
whatever came 10 his hand, as poor
men in a new country must do; but do
ing well all that his hands found to do.
He was pious, Industrious, honest: and
all The Influences that went out from
his life were weei and er1obling. This
good MAJ ils iiled into the minds of his
children the principles of morality, and
taught them the value Of time and the
dignity and the necessity of labor.
William Afford Richards went TO the
village school and worked in the mine,
in the shop and on the farm. He was a
strong. healthy, high-spirited boy, but
49, ''t'' 'ihNA III ~ ClISdst III luOSt
sports which usually excite the ardor of
youth. A. the age of II he plowed 40
acres Of land in order that a younger
brother might remain at school. When
ne was IA years Old he left home to join
his elder brother Alonzo in the army Of
the Potomac; but on his arrival at the
front. he was denied enlistment on ac-
count Of his age. This was a sore dis
appointment to him, but he made up his
mind not to return home. He sought
and obtained a position as ambulance
driver.
AT the age of II this sturdy, am
bilious youth was teaching a countr
school in Wisconsin. He had been a
diligent student and was a successful
teacher. He continued to teach school
for three years. spending his vacations
in The harvest field. His parents mean
time had moved TO Galena, and there in
1869, he made the acquaintance OF Cen
eral Grant, the great soldier, afterward
becoming II of his warm personal
friends.
In 1869 the pioneer spirit he had in
herited impelled him westward. He first
stopped ut Omaha, where he procured
employment in a lumber yard piling
lumber. Omaha was then overcrowded
with men, and it was no easy task for
one to get work OF any kind. The faith
fulness with which young Richards did
his work o for him the firm friend
ship OF his employer, who is now one of
the o extensive lumber dealers in
the United States. In the campaign OF
1894 this gentleman, although of oppo-
site political faith, wrote a letter OF COM
mendation which aided greatly in max
ing his former employee a governor.
Before the close of the year Mr.. Rich
ards had Joined a government survey
ing party and gone farther west. For
surveying work he was particularly
well fitted by nature, being strong of
body. clear-headed and absolutely hon
est and impartial in dealing with men.