The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1920-01-24
WILLIAM J. RICHARDS AND JOHN NJ :
PARKS DIED AT FLORIDA.
RICHARDS DEATH sUDDEK
Remains of Both Men Win be Kept
at st. Petersburg For
the Present.

Crystal Falls lost two of It's mose
prominent residents during tho week
William J Richards died very sudden
ly Of heart trouble at st Petersburg
and John II Parks passed away at his
home near the same city few hours
afterwards.
The death OF Mr.. Parks, while not
expected. didn't surprise his old neigh
bors, as he had been III for some time.
but the death OF Mr.. Richards simply
stunned everyone. The deceased was
in Crystal Falls last October ana never
looked better In his life. He was
cheerful. complained OF no indIsposi-
ton and was so active with HIS PLANS
for the future that his friends who SD
recently parted with him coufana.
realize that the news was really true.
The relatives OF Mr.. Richards were
notified by wire and his son, William
j. Richards and wife, left on Tuesday
night for 81. Petersburg, accompanied
by Russell Richards OF StambaugIi.
The remains OF Mr. Richards were
placed in vault at St Petersburg and
will be brought north in the spring.
the lnal burial place being just now
undecided.
Mr.. Parks remains will be placed
In vault at st Petersburg aud
brought to Crystal Falls for burial
in the spring, along side OF those of.
Mrs. Parks in the local cemetery
John H. Parks was a real pioneer.
OF Crystal Falls He was born al
Appleton, Wis. in 1916 and took to tho
logging woods early in his life. When
the civil war broke out Mr.. Parks en-
listed and went all through the four
years of that struggle. returning to
his Wisconsin home with the muster.
ing out OF the volunteers.
lie turned his attention to logging.
which was by that time extended far
north OF the Fox River valley. He
came first to the Peshtigo river and,
soon afterwards to the Menominee and
this lead him to the present confines
OF Iron county where for many years
he logged for the sawyer-Goodman
Co.
He was In Crystal Falls before there
was any city here and when Hollister
and Runkel plated the new city he
Invested heavily In real estate, mover
his family here and continued 20 make
Crystal Falls his home until about
ten years ago when stroke Of par
alysis induced him 10 seek 2 warmer
climate for at least a part Of the year
He went 10 81. Petersburg and becam@
interested IN suburb OF that place
named Gulfport where he invested IN
real estate and made his homo there.
Mr.. Parks gradually disposed Of Isfss
Crystal Falls holdings. his last sale
being the old Hasselstrom property
made about two months ago, He has
an interest in few vacant lots and
owns some wild land and mineral
rights
Mr Parks was twice married and
has TWO childrcr who survive hln-
Rev. George Parks, who lNea in Iowa
son by his arst mnrriaae and Mrs
tym. JolliGe daughter who WIS
born and reared in Crystal Falls bur
ubo now resides n The state 81 Wash
ington
william >. Richards was horn ae
Houehton. Houelton county CITY
eight years ago. HIS parents were
Cornish people who came to the tlien
active mining region of Michigan and
from whom Mr. Richards Inherited
that mining bent that later hrought
him fame and wealth.
lis boyhood dnys were spfr
Eockland and hts education acquired
Ia tho schools ~ that place. When
ne ieft school be turned his attention
10 mining and after an nppror ueeship
Al tho copper mines he went 20 silver
Islei IN Lake Superior. the tamous sll-
YER producing islhad where thousands
of dollars Of wealth were taken our
hnforo the waves frAiiy sealed it's