, 1903-02-23
SOLDIER
MAGAZINE HAS A SPLENDID WORD
OF PRAISE FOR A WYOMING
OFFICER.
William Afford Richards, the New
Commissioners Of the General Land
of6ee-Was Governor Of Wyo-
ming During spanish-Ameriean
War and Took Prominent Position.

War and Took Prominent Position.
The Army and Navy Magazine of
Washington, of which Herbert Cicel
Lewis is the editor. has the following
article on Ex-Governor w. A. Richards
of this state. accompanied by a splen-
did portrait Of that oficial:
Ex-Governor William Afford Rich
ards, of Wyoming, the new Commits
sioner of the land office. who has SER
we'd as assistant commissioner for the
past three years, has displayed such
ability and familiarity with the work
OF the Office that when the resignation
Of Commissioner Hermann was ten
dered. Governor Richards was the only
man thought of by the president and
secretary of the Interior to fill the
place.
The president and secretary have cer
tainly shown their usual good judg-
ment and their strict adherence to the
spirit of the civil service laws in select
ing Governor Richards to be commits.
sioner of the land office.
Without doubt Governor Richards
is as we'll fitted for this difficult posi-.
tion as any man in the United States,
owing to his familiarity with the com
plicated land laws and his ability to
sensibly construe the laws and regula.
tions pertaining to the disposition of
the public domain.
That the department entertains a
very high opinion of MI. Richards
abilities there is no doubt. He was
selected to assume entire charge Of the
disposition, by lottery. of the new lands
opened for settlement during 1901 in
the Indian Territory. This was Of
the most tremendous land operations
ever inaugurated, and was completed
to the satisfaction Of everyone con
nected Herewith, the public as well as
the department.
Mr. Richards ancestors came to this
country in 1880. and we're among the
founders of New London, Connecticut
where some of the family still reside
His grandmother a Ruth Ticknor
Of the Scituate family OF that name
His father. Truman Perry Richards
was born in Lisle, Brown county, New
York, but was taken west with the
rest OF the family IN 1898, settling ii
Illinois. where he grew to manhood
ard was married. He removed to Wi
consfn IN 1910, not far form daienA
nj, where the pressnt c6hfnfssf6ne,
Was Born IN 1919. During his resi-
denGe in this section with his father
and while yet a young man, he became
acquainted with General Grants warn
friendship ensued, which continued
during the life of the president. Mr.
Richards is in every sense of the word
a self-made man. His early education
was secured by attending school during
the winter months. During the sum
mer his time was spent in working OF
the farm and in the mines. Early IL
life he associated himself with the
prominent civil engineers Of the coun
try, and by close application became g
civil engineer Of ability. Later he was
connected with the survey, establish
ing the boundaries Of Wyoming.
In 1879, on account of his health
he removed to Colorado Springs, Colo.
where he oon became prominent III
his profession, and was chosen survey
or of Ell Paso county and chief city
engineer Of the city of Colorado
Springs. In 1884 he moved to Wyo
ming and established his residence ir
the Big Horn country. It's miles from
any railroad. He vas shortly after
wards elected county commissioner
and soon became United States Sur
veyor General of the State of Wyo
ming. In 1894 he was unanimousl,
nominated by the state convention al
the republican candidate for governor
and was elected, receiving the largest
vote ever polled in the state. He re
fused to be a candidate for reelection
From childhood he has been indenti
fed with the far west. its growth and
prosperity, and has been intimately
associated with those men who were
the prominent factors In building NJ
our western country. He is thor
oughly familiar. by long association
with all requirements and interests
of the western agriculturist. Hi
sound judgment and knowledge Of Law
will enable him to construe properly
the laws enacted by congress govern
ing the entry and sale Of our great
western territory.
The new commissioners inclination
towards a military life gave early evi
dence. At the age of fourteen he left
home to enlist in the army. Owing to
his age, however. enlistment was 70.
fused, but on account of his determined
spirit and his refusal to return home
he was given . position in the ambu.
lance corps Of the army.
Durin1 the 4nnnish-A ~nrac,~ 80.