Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ========================================================================== A History of the Northern Peninsula and its People, Vol. 2 Alvah Littlefield Sawyer, 1911 [950-952] WILLIAM J. RICHARDS. - Among the able and successful business men of the Upper Peninsula, special mention may well be made of WILLIAM J. RICHARDS, a prominent and valued citizen of Crystal Falls, who has a thorough knowledge of all branches of mining, and as general super- intendent of the Corrigan Kinney mines is doing much towards promot- ing the industrial interests of this section of the state. He was born, March 26, 1862, at Houghton, Michigan, a son of JOHN H. RICH- ARDS, who was born and reared in the parish of Logan, County Corn- wall, England, where his parents spent their entire lives. About 1854, JOHN H. RICHARDS, a young man of energy and ambition, came in a sailing vessel to the United States, being seven weeks in making the ocean trip. Going directly to the mining regions of Penn- sylvania, he spent a few weeks in Wilkes-Barre, from there going to Linden, Wisconsin, thence to Copper Harbor, Keweenaw county, Michi- gan, and then to Copper Falls, in each of these places being employed at a stationary engineer. From the latter place he proceeded to Cliff, thence to Houghton, where he worked as an engineer for a year. Locating then in Ontonagon county, he was employed as an engineer for ten years, after which he spent a few months at Huron, from there going to Cliff, where he resided ten years. Returning then to Onto- nagon county, he worked a short time in Rockland, and then removed to Soudan, Minnesota, where he resided until after the death of his wife. He lived retired in Philadelpha, Pennsylvania, until his death January 16, 1910. The maiden name of his wife was SELMA BAWDEN. She was born in Cornwall, England, and when two years of age came with her parents to this country. Her father, WILLIAM BAWDEN, was one of the earl settlers of Linden, Wisconsin. In the early "fifties," he removed with his family to Lake Superior, finding employment in the copper mines of that region. He spent his last years in Duluth, Minnesota. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was ELIZABETH TRENBATH, a number of children were born, among them being SELMA, who married JOHN H. RICHARDS, as previously mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. JOHN H. RICHARDS became the parents of nine children, as follows: WILLIAM J., CHARLES H., ALBERT J., SELMA M., EDWARD F., GEORGE W., ROZENA E., GUY A., and JOHN. Beginning his education in the common schools, WILLIAM J. RICHARDS attended school a short time, and at the age of eleven years commenc- ed his career as miner. Although leaving school at that early age, he continued his studies at home, gratifying his scholarly tastes by reading, and acquired a substantial business education. Beginning his labors in a minor capacity, he worked his way upward, step by step, from pick and shovel, being promoted from one position to another until he became familiar with every branch of the industry with which he has been identified during his entire life. In 1900 Mr. RICHARDS was made superintendent of the Corrigan Kinney mine, at Crystal Falls, and in that exacting position proved himself so thor- oughly capable and efficient that, two years later, in 1902, he was promoted to his present responsible position as general superinten- dent of the entire Corrigan Kinney Mining properties, the largest individual iron producers in the whole country. On October 1, 1885, Mr. RICHARDS married CLARA HARVEY, who was born in St. Agnes parish, County Cornwall, England, a daughter of THOMAS and JANE (HARRIS) HARVEY, natives respectively of St. Ives parish, and of St. Agnes parish, England. Emigrating to America in 1876, Mr. and Mrs. HARVEY located with their family at Calumet, Mich- igan, from there going to Ontonagon county, thence to Soudan, where Mr. HARVEY passed to the life beyond. Mrs. HARVEY survived him, and now resides with Mr. and Mrs. RICHARDS. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. RICHARDS six children have been born, namely: ALVIN ELMER, WILLIAM ALONZO, RUSSELL HARVEY, CLARENCE JOHN, HAROLD LELAND, and CLARA EASTER. The home is surely an oasis of Iron county, and shows plain- ly the touch of artistic hands in its appointment and furnishings. MR. RICHARDS is a stockholder in the Iron County National Bank, of Crystal Falls, and is vice-president of the Iron River National Bank, at Iron River. Politically he is a steadfast supporter of the princ- iples of the Republican party, and is now secretary of the Crystal Falls School Board, with which he has been connected by membership for a number of years, and is a member of the Crystal Falls Board of Supervisors, and chairman of the County Board of Supervisors. Fraternally MR. RICHARDS belongs to Crystal Falls Lodge, No. 385, F. & A. M.; to Crystal Falls Lodge, No. 129, R. A. M.; to Hugh McCurdy Commandery, No. 43 K. T.; to Ahmed Temple, Mystic Shrine; and to the Grand Rapids Consistory. Mr. and Mrs. RICHARDS are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, towards the support of which they con- tribute liberally. ==========================================================================