Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-31

land Office, has been the assistant COM
missioner for the past three years. and has
displayed such ability and familiarity with
the work of the office that when the resig-
nation of Commissioner Hermann was
mentioned he was the only man thought of
by the President and the Secretary of the
Interior for the place. Governor Richards
was born at Hazel Green, Wis., fifty-four
years ago. His parents had moved to that
section of the country from New York.
The head of the Richards family came to
this country in colonial times and lived in
Massachusetts and in New York for many
years. Governor Richards father, Truman
Perry Richards. moved from New York to
northern Illinois in the early '4Os and after
ward went over into Wisconsin, where lead
mines are located.
His Boyhood Days.
Gov. Richards worked on the farm, in the
mine and in the shop I'm the summers, go
Ing to school winters. At the age of eleven
years he plowed a forty-acre field In order
that younger brother might remain in
school, the boys work saving the money
that would have been spent in hiring a man
to do the job. He left his home during the
CIVIL war at the age of fourteen years and
attempted to enter the army. but was re-
fused enlistment on account of his youth.
and in order that he might not be COM
PEELED to return home he was given a posi-
ton as an ambulance driver At the age
of seventeen he became school teacher in
Eis native state and continued to teach for
three years. The elder Richards moved to
Galena, ILL.,. where the young man made
the acquaintance of Gen. Grant and af-
terward became his warm personal friend
During the same year. however. Gov. Rich
ards became dissatisfied with his surround
tngs and moved west. He stopped a short
time at Omaha, where he studied diligently
while with surveying party. and became
civil engineer of ability. He also studied
law. and for time had charge Of the
money order and registry division of the
Omaha post office. Shortly afterward he
was employed on the survey OF the bounda-
ries Of Wyoming. and after the survey had
been made became newspaper reporter.
Becomes Governor of Wyoming.
In the late seventies Gov. Richards went
from Nebraska to California. where he d.
vided his time between farming and sur
veying. In 1879 he was elect ed surveyor of
Santa Clara county. and shortly afterward
his health became so impaired that 1t was
necessary for him to move to Colorado
Springs. Colo. where he was soon promi-
nent in his profession, and was successfully
elected county surveyor of Ell Paso county
and city engineer of Colorado Springs In
1884 he left Colorado and moved to Wyom-
ing. where he took up his residence in the
Big Horn valley at point I75 miles from
any railroad. He had not been in Wyoming
long before he was elected county commits
sioner. and shortly afterward became
United States surveyor general for Wyom-
ing In 1894 he was unanimously nomi-
mated at the state convention as the repub-
lican candidate for governor and was
elected. receiving the largest vote ever
polled in the state Gov. Richards served
one term Of four years, and refused to be-
come a candidate for reelection. Shortly
after retiring from office he was appointed
assistant commissioner of the general land
office. which position he has held up to
date. Gov. Richards was married in 1874
to Miss Harriet Alice Hunt of Oakland,
Cal. and has four daughters.
New Assistant Commissioner.
The new assistant commissioner Of the
land office has served in Washington in
government offices before. He was law
clerk of the land office for four years, and
for two years was an assistant to the as
sistant attorney general for the Interior
Department. Mr.. Vandevanter. He resign
ed that position two years ago in order to
resume the practice of law in his native