The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-06-07
Letter Received from Oregon

Joel H Richardson of LaGrande,
Oregon. has written the following
letter to the Independent-Repor
which will be of great interest to
many of its readers
LaGrande. Oregon, May 4, 1917
The Independent-Repor
Skowhegan, Maine.
Gentlemen
On Nov. goth last you wrote my
father in regard to sending you in
formation for an article in your pa
per about his family. He has been
ill all winter and not able to comply
with your request, but from such in
formation as he is able to give me
l am enclosing an article, and you
may use all or such parts of 1t as
may be of interest to you and your
readers.
You speak of the late Joel Richard
son. | do not know whether you
mean my uncle or my great-grand
father, probably the latter; II so we
cannot give you much information
about him, and some Of the children
of Alonzo or Elbridge Richardson
could probably give you much bet
ter article.
Joel Richardson was reared in the
town of West Waterville, but spent
the latter years of his life in the town
of Canaan. He was a farmer, in
politics, Democrat. He held sew
eral town offices. He raised fam
lily of nine children, five boys and
four girls. The boys were Stephen,
who died in California, leaving a fam
lily of three sons; Miller, who died in
Burnham. leaving large family; Joel
who died in East Corinth. leaving a
large family; David and Bryant who
died in Hartland leaving four child
rem.
Bryant Richardson, son Of Joel
Richardson, was born in Canaan. He
married Rachel Goodwin of Hartland
and after residing In Canaan several
years moved to Hartland where he
continued to reside until the time of
his death in about 1868. He left a
widow and four children, Josephine,
Joel, Stephen and Eugene Rachel
Richardson died in 1892 at the home
OF her daughter In Oregon
Josephine Richardson married Wes-
ley c. Wheeler and lived for time In
Maine, then moved to Wisconsin, and
later to Oregon where they resided
until their death, Mr. Wheeler dying
in 1904 and Mrs. Wheeler in 1907
One son survived them. Eugene Wes
ley, who Is now engaged in stock
raising in Union County, Oregon.
Joel Richardson was reared In Ca
naan and Hartland. When a young
man he went West and engaged in
mining in Montana and Idaho for sew
eral years. He then returned to
Maine and married Mary Page of
Hartland. He returned West and en-
tered the lumber business in Wiscon-
sin. After the death of his wife he
again went to Montana and re-en-
gagged in mining and continued to re-
side there until the time of his death
which occurred about 1900 He left
one son, John B., now residing in
Montana.
Stephen F Richardson was born in
Canaan in 1912, and with his parents
moved to Hartland when about seven
years old. When about % years old
he went West with his brother Joel
to Montana and there worked in the
mines for about three years. He then
returned to Hartland, bought farm
and engaged in farming In 1870 he
was united in marriage to Miss Lila
Burrill, youngest daughter of George
and Olive Upper Burrill of Canaan,
and until 1877 resided in the town of
Hartland during which time he held
several town offices and served one |
term in the State Legislature In
1877 he moved to Wisconsin and there |
engaged in numbering and general
business, being one OF
the pioneer Iumbermen of Western
Wisconsin. About 1883 he again |
moved westward and settled in East
ern Oregon and since then has been |
engaged extensively In numbering in |
Oregon and Idaho, and has also at |
different times engaged In farming, |
stock raising and the mercantile bust |
ness. In 1909 he served a term in !