Biography - Daniel Richards
Daniel C. RICHARDS, farmer, P. O. Raymond. The father of this gentleman was Samuel S. RICHARDS; he was born in Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y., February 22, 1818, where he was educated and brought up on a farm. In 1836, he removed to Illinois, settled at Rockford, Winnebago County, where he has been engaged in farming and merchandising, giving his attention principally to the former; he is the owner of 160 acres of land at the present time, he having accumulated, during his life, a large tract of land, all of which he improved; he is a son of Daniel RICHARDS, a native of New Yorl, The mother of our subject was Sarah BROWN, who was born in North Carolina February 19, 1818; she was brought to Illinois by her uncle, Aaron FELTS, in 1836, and settled in Winnebago County, Ill.; she remained with her uncle, Aaron FELTS, and her brother, William BROWN, to the time of her marriage, which occurred in 1837; she is the mother of fourteen children, three of whom are now living - Daniel C., our subject; Oscar L., of Rockford, a farmer; Clara M., now at home. Mrs. RICHARDS, the mother of our subject, is the daughter of Daniel BROWN, who was a native of North Carolina, and was of German descent. D. C. RICHARDS was born in Harrison Township, Winnebago Co., Ill., August 11, 1838; his early life was spent in receiving such education as the common schools of his native county afforded, and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm, which at that time was very wild and unimproved. At the age of twenty-one, he left home and moved to Michigan, where he embarked on his career in life as a farm hand, and, during the two years' stay in Michigan, his time was divided in farming, teaching school and attending a select school taught by a Miss BROWN; the opportunity afforded him a chance to complete his education, which he improved. In the summer of 1861, he returned to his home, and taught school the following winter, when he entered the Durand Academy, at Durand, in his native county, for a period of four months, and, on the 5th of July, in 1862, he enlisted in the Seventy-first Illinois Infantry, under command of Col. GILBERT; he served in this regiment for three months, at the expiration of which time he returned home. After the battle of Stony River, he was engaged as clerk in the Quartermaster's Department, and remained in the employ of Quartermaster's Department at Murfreesboro, Nashville and Clarksville, Tenn., until about the 1st of April, 1865; he then returned to St. Louis, and subsequently to Pitman Township, Montgomery County, and settled on his present residence June 1, 1865; he remained here for about one month, and returned to his home in Winnebago County, where he remained until fall of the same year, when he located permanently on his place, October 3, 1865; here he has since remained, engaged in stock-raising and farming; in stock-raising he has been engaged quite extensively, at times keeping about two hundred head. He is now the owner of 80 acres of, but generally works about three hundred; his farm is well improved, and under a high state of cultivation. At St. Louis, October 25, 1864, he married Miss Hannah P. HOUCH, a native of Macoupin County, Ill., who as born June 14, 1839; she is the daughter of Ross and Lucinda A. (GUNTERMAN) HOUCK; he was a native of Pennsylvania; she was of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Richards are the parents of one child, Frank Claud; he was born March 9, 1882. Mr. RICHARDS is now serving the people on his second term as Justice of the Peace; he also has been School Director for a number of years. Mr. RICHARDS is a member of the fraternity of A., F. & A. M., No. 166, at Rockford; of the Grangers' Lodge, Maple Grove Grange, at Pitman Township; was Master of the same for several years, and Secretary of County Council for several years; in politics, is identified with the Republican party; he and wife are religiously connected with the Baptist Church; he has been Clerk of the Baptist Church for about nine years, since its organization. Mr. RICHARDS has been actively engaged in Sunday school work and temperance work.
Extracted 20 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 265-266.
