Evening star., 1926-03-06
F. A. RICHARDSON,
WRITER, IS DEAD
Veteran Journalist and d.
rector of The Star Sue
cumbs to Pneumonia.

Francis Asbury Richardson. veteran
newSpa per writer. former head of the
| Baltimore Sun Bureau here. director
of The Evening Star Newspaper Com
! pany. and prominent resident of this
! city for many years. died early toda y
at his home at the Cosmos Club. a
victim of pneumonia. He was in his
S9th year. He became i'll with a heavy
cold the first part of this week.
| The funeral will be from the resi-
| dence of Beale r. Howard, at II
/ O'Clock, Monday morning. Interment
| will he private in St. James Cemetery
| My Lady's Manor. Baltimore Coun
/ ty. Md.
Mr.. Richardson was married Janu
| airy Is. 1861. to Miss Margaret Howard
/ daughter Of Charles w. and Amanda
s. Howard. of Hartford County. Md
His surviving relatives are two sis
ters. Mrs Thomas NJ Kent and Mrs
! Eliza beth r. Burgess, who reside in
Baltimore, Md: Mrs. G. Warfeld
Hobbs of New York. Mrs. Arthur
Burgess Of Newark, \. j., and Mrs.
Robert Lee Allen of California. nieces
and the following nephews: James A.
Burgess. Frank K. Burgess and Frank
r. Kent, all of Baltimore, Md; Beale
Howard Richardson OF New Orleans,
I
inGton. y. {.
Native of Baltimore.
rancis Asbury Richardson was born
in Baltimore. Md. January 10. 1898.
He was descended from an English
family which came to this country in
the year 1910 and settled in that sec
ton of Maryland which afterward be
came known as Hartford County. Re
manning in the possession of the fam
lily for about 200 years. the original
estate was sold in lS47 by Mr..
Richa ardson'S grandfather, Rev. Ben
jamin Richardson, who was anxious
to follow his sons, who had moved TO
Baltimore.
Mr.. Richardson was the son Of
Bea le Howard Richardson and Mary
, Peters Richardson.
His father. Beale Howard Richard.
son. early displayed literary tastes.
At the age of Is he commenced to
write for magazines and newspa pers,
and continued to do so almost to the
time of his death. at the age of IS
years After period devoted to mer-
camille pursuits, he was editor
of the Baltimore Republican and
Argus the Democratic organ of the
State Of Maryland. He acquired a
proprietary interest in the paper IN
1S49 and few years later became
sole owner. lie was regarded as one
of the Democratic leaders of the State.
having a wide acquaintance with the
prominent men of Maryland and of the
country. Mr.. Richardson father rep
resented the city Of Baltimore in the
Legislature of Maryland at A time
when il was only entitled to two men,
berS.
He was appointed by Senator Will
liam Pinkney Whyte of Maryland
clerk of the United States Senate
committee on printing and editor OF
the Congressional Directory 1879 to
1881. He was chairman of the press
committee at both inaugurations of
Grover Cleveland.
Editor at Age of %.
Deriving his inspiration from such
father. Francis Asbury Richardson
chose journalism for his profession.
Graduating from Baltimore City Col
leCe then known as the High School,
he entered the office of the Baltimore
Republican and Argus. In keeping
with rhe wish of his father, his own
inclinations and ambition to be a
thoroughly equipped newspaper man,
he served alternately ira various de-
partments--the composing room,
the preSSrOOm, the cOuntlnSTOOm
and the editorial rooms. He was APP
pointed managing editor when he was
o3 wears of age. In 1861 when,
the Civil War started, the Rich
ardsons. who were in sympathy with
the South. arrayed themselves and
their paper on that side. They had
many exciting experiences. Their es
tablishment was several times mobbed,
thev were frequently summoned be-
fore the United States military com
manders and warned and finally, in
September. 1868. the ~'rr,sjor general
commanding the department gum
marily suppressed the paper and
banished the father and son beyond
the lines to the south. At that time
Mr.. Richardson's father was 64 years
of age He proceeded to Montgomery,
Ala. became editor of a newspaper
there and expressed his Southern SEN
timents without interference. lie re-
turned to Baltimore after the war ano
died there in 1877.
Francis Asbury Richardson. acting
Oontinued on Page 4, Column 90