Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-09-02
JAMES r. RICHARD.

JAMES X. RlCkRRD.
James Richard Richard, one Of the old
est residents of this place and a familiar
figure in our town for many, many years,
respected and admired by all who knew
him, passed peacefully away about nine
o'clock last Thursday night. He died in
the house in which he was born and in
which all Of his long life had been spent.
Up TO within the past year Mr.. Richard
was one of the most robust men in town,
and though he had passed his SOth year,
was in perfect possession of all his fac
ulties. Sight and hearing and other
senses were keen, his mind was absolute
ly clear, and with sound body, except
for touch of rheumatism in his lower
limbs, he worked daily in his locksmitt's
shop as he and his father and grandfather
had done for over century. Last fall
one of his thumbs became infected in
some manner and refused to heal. ltbe-
came necessary to amputate it, and he
went to the hospital in Charles Town,
where it was removed. He submitted to
the operation with characteristic nerve,
declining to take an anaesthetic. The al
fected member refused to heal, however,
and he was obliged to give up work.
The shop was closed, and the forge fire
that had blazed for over a hundred years
was dimmed, the anvil that had sounded
its cheerful notes for so long was silent.
Several months ago, probably because OF
the insidious poison that had found its
way into his system, Mr.. Richards ap-
petite failed him, and from that time he
rapidly declined. His sturdy frame began
to shrink, his strength gave way to weak
ness, and finally, a few weeks ago, he
took to his bed, and the inevitable end
drew near. He knew that it was coming,
but with perfect trust and unfaltering pa
tience he waited the time when his Mas
ter should call him. His faith in God was
sublime, and he knew no fear, he ex-
pressed no regret. His mind was clear
to the very last, though for week ortwo
prior to his death he had no strength and
laid in silence. Truly of him it may be
said, his end was peace.
Mr.. Richard was 81 years old last Feb
ruary. He was born, as were all OF his
brothers and sisters, in the house in which
he died, on Main street-a log structure,
cased with brick. This lot was sold by
Abram Shepherd to John Blackburn in
1882. The price was two pounds in Viz
ginia currency, the conditions being that
said Blackburn should erect on the lot
dwelling house not less than 20 feet long
and 10 feet wide, and yearly at the feast
of ST. Michael the Archangel should pay
five shillings as ground rent. In l7S5
John Blackburn sold the lot to Conrad
Boyer for 20 pounds, with the same con-
ditions. In 1910 Michael Richard bought
the property from the widow of Conrad
Boyer for 2S5 pounds. Boyer had COM
piled with the conditions of the deed by
erecting comfortable Westinghouse
upon it, and adjoining the residence he
built workshop.
~ Michael Rickard was whiteSmith by
trade. A blacksmith was one whose bus
mess it was to make the ironwork for
wagons, shoe horses, and similar work.
A whitesmith was one who made locks,
hardware of various sorts, guns, small
implements, etc. Conrad Boyer was also
a whitesmith, and Michael Richard sue
ceeded him in the business, which for
probably Us years was carried on in the
same place, son following father, though
the original shop was remodeled or re-
built many years ago. The old lock on
the original Lutheran Church was made
in this shop, and the escutcheon, which
is now on the main entrance door of the
new church, bears the date 1875, and the
German inscription which translated says:
"Keep thy feet when thou goest into the
house of the Lord" Michael Richard
invented the famous screw lock, a pecu-
liar lock which can only be opened by
screwing key into place. The lock was
safe and substantial one, and became
popular all through this section. Many
thousands of them were made, entirely
by hand, in the Richard shop. When
Michael Richard died the business was
carried on by his son, Elijah Richard,
who was born in 1895 and died in 1879.
Elijah Richard and Elizabeth Levick, his
wife, were the parents of James R. Rick
ard. After his fathers death, the latter
continued the business. The locks that
at first bore the stamp Nj. R., and later E.
R., now changed to J. r. Mr.. Richard
was kept busy meeting the demand for
them. For many years they were used
by the B. & o. Railroad as switch-locks,
but as the railroads. needs increased the
idea was stolen and they were manufac-
tured by the wholesale by other parties.
As long as he could supply them they
were used by one or two southern rail-
roads, however. Mr.. Richard was avery
ingenious workman, and was always kept
busy making his locks, repairing others,
mending guns and doing the many odd
jobs in his line OF work. His cheerful
manner, his interesting conversation, his
keen intelligence, added to the quaintness
of the old workshop, made his place most
enjoyable to visitors. Many tools and
implements of olden times hang upon its
walls or stand in the corners. A tall old
grandfather's clock that still keeps cor
rect time was placed in the sitting room
by Michael Richard just about hundred
years ago. For whole century it has
licked off the moments and struck the
hours in the same corner, and of the
eight children whose birth II announced