The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-12

The beginning of things are often
very interesting to those who come
after Hence the double value of
careful records. The record facilitates
current business. and there is some
thing definite for posterity to look
to, when the questions of precedents
and origins come up. Really to get
at the first beginnings of the Virginia
State fair would be a difficult matter.
We should have to examine Thomas
Jeffersons writings and George Wash
ington's writings, and the writings of
other Virginians; and 1t might be ne
cessary to go to the British Isles and
find out where the county fair began
there. and whether the British County
fair was or was not established as an
adjunct to wrestling and boxing events.
But for all practical purposes. the
investigator into the the origins of
the Virginia State fair need go no
farther than to the records of the
life of man who died after our War
Between the States. One of Vir-
ginia's very useful citizens, whose ac-
Etivities covered two eras. 1t might be
said----the era of the old times. in
part, and the modern era, in part. The
founder of the Virginia State fair was
general william II. Richardson. of
Richmond--born. lived. and died in
Richmond.
Life OF Richardson.
William Fl, Richardson was born
In 1875. the son Of Major George Rich
ardson, of the Revolution. AS a boy
he saw service in the War of 1912,
volunteer In zone of the finest com
panies" that marched down from
Richmond to Norfolk. Military SER
vice has for long time been good
recommendation, and In 1921 the
young William Richardson was elect
ed to the office of clerk of the coun-
ell of State. The old council of State
was not long afterward abolished. and
In 1893 Captain Richardson was elect
ed by the Legislature to the new of
flee Of secretary of the Common
wealth He had already been APP
pointed State librarian ex-officio, and
1t was due largely to his efforts that
the State library was organized In
1871 Captain Richardson was appoint
ed adjutant general of the State The
militia of the State was still regarded
as of Importance. and the adtutant
general Cat the same time secretary
of the Commonwealth had his hands
full of business. Long ago General
Richardson's portrait was placed by
the alumni of the Virginia Military
institute on the walls of that school,
10 which SGUQGIfu, as SlSltoE,
substantial services. 1t should be re-
membered that General Richardson
was again adjutant general of the
State during the War Between the
States and that he reorganized the
State militia between 1858 and 1860.
An Old Line Wing.
General Richardson was voted out
of office by the Democrats in 1852
he had held the post of secretary of
the Commonwealth for twenty years.
His interests had already been actively
given TO agricultural matters. About
1912 he helped tablish the Virginia
Agricultural and Horticultural So
city--succeeding as president the
energetic parson Turner-Jessee H.
Turner, of Richmond, who was very
influential in Horticultural betterments
of that time
Last Few Years.
This society went down within a
few yeaEs--just as-Iohn Taylor's yir-
glnia Agricultural society of 1918
went down. In 1916 General Rich
ardson was one of those responsible
for the agricultural convention of
that year. The State society thus
formed lanquished along. the legtsla-
ture refusing to grant II any assist
ance. IT is very possible that IL the
Democrats had not got the Wings out
of power in 1852, there would have
been no State fair before the war. for
If anything seems to be certain. 1t is
that General Richardson. being out of
Office and chosen commissioner of the
Agricultural society. was able by his
great and wise exertions to arouse the
State. so that by the fall OF 1883 de-
finite results were secured
That is 10 say, the first Virginia
State fair was held early in November,
1858, and william II. Richardson was
the man who woke the State up to
the importance Of holding a fair OF
course. the railroads were slowly
growing over the territory about
Richmond but General Richardson
was one of the first men to see how
a railroad could be used for con-
yertion The railroads then We're;