Los Angeles County
Biographies
WILLIAM EDWARD RICHARDSON
RICHARDSON, WILLIAM EDWARD, President and General Manager of the Compania Constructora Richardson, S.A., Los Angeles, California, was born in Frederick City, Maryland, November 23, 1870. His parents were Ignatius Davis Richardson and Jane Briscoe (Ramsburgh) Richardson. He married Marion Edna Hord at Central City, Nebraska, April 4, 1903 and to them there have been born three children, William Hord, Thomas Benton Hord (deceased) and Jane Beatrice Richardson. Mr. Richardson is descended from an old Southern family, the first ancestor in America having been William Richardson, who came over from England in 1655 and settled at West River, Ann Arundel County, Maryland. The family home was in Maryland from that time until several years after the Civil War, and various members served in the several wars of the country, Captain William Richardson and Colonel John Lynn having attained distinction in the Revolution.
In the spring of 1871 Mr. Richardson’s parents moved from the old home in Maryland to Clarks, Nebraska, where they purchased a large amount of land and established a new home. There he spent his boyhood, attending the common schools of the district until he was nearly eighteen years of age.
In 1888 Mr. Richardson gave up school and entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad in a minor position. He was stationed at Clarks and Schuyler, Nebraska, at different times, and remained with the company for about two years and a half, acquiring a knowledge of telegraphy during this period.
In the spring of 1891 Mr. Richardson left the employ of the Union Pacific R. R. and went to Sonora, Mexico, joining there his elder brother Davis, who had gone to Mexico in 1889, and who was engaged in mining business in that country. During a period of eighteen years, from 1891 to 1909, the year in which the death of Mr. Davis Richardson occurred, Mr. Richardson and his brother, together with another brother, Frank, were closely associated in mining operations carried on in that part of old Mexico. These operations which were quite extensive and at times quite successful, were handled through a partnership corporation called “Richardson Brothers Company,” with offices in Los Angeles, California. During this period of eighteen years, although at all times closely interested and associated with his brothers in mining ventures, Mr. Richardson for a period of six and a half years was employed as assistant to the Mining Engineer of the La Dura Mill & Mining Company of La Dura, Sonora, Mexico.
Mr. Richardson, who had become one of the practical mining engineers of Sonora, resigned his position with the La Dura Mill & Mining Company in November, 1898, and took charge in the capacity of Vice President and General Manager, of the La Bufa Mines, a notable Sonora property, which was at that time controlled by Richardson Brothers Company, they owning a majority interest in it. Mr. Richardson was actively engaged in this capacity for nearly ten years, and until work was temporarily discontinued in the spring of 1908, on account of Yaqui Indian depredations in and surrounding Sonora.
In 1905 Richardson Brothers Company incorporated the Compania Constructora Richardson, S. A., with Davis Richardson as President and W. E. Richardson as Vice President. In 1909, following the death of his brother, “W. E. Richardson became President and General Manager of the company, which is engaged in one of the most gigantic development enterprises of the North American continent, the building of the necessary storage and diversion dams, together with the requisite canals for the distribution of water, to place under irrigation nearly one million acres of land comprising the entire area known as “Yaqui Valley,” located on the Yaqui River in the State of Sonora, Mexico.
Since 1908, the year he gave up active mining, Mr. Richardson has been the directing force in the affairs of this company, which was originated by his brother. He has come to be regarded one of the West’s great developers.
The Compania Constructora Richardson, S.A., is the operating company under which this great work is being done and which, when completed, will comprise one of the most remarkable pieces of irrigation engineering on this continent. The holding company through which the capital for this project is secured is the Yaqui Delta Land & Water Company of Delaware. Among Mr. Richardson’s associates in this great enterprise are Mr. John Hays Hammond, the greatest Mining Engineer in the world, and Mr. Harry Payne Whitney, the noted capitalist. Another great undertaking which owes its commencement to Mr. Richardson in part is the Southern Pacific West Coast Railroad of Mexico, built from Guaymas to Tepic, a distance of over 800 miles. The original concession for the building of the road was secured from the Mexican Government by Messrs. Davis and W. E. Richardson and later by them was transferred to the Southern Pacific Company under a guarantee that the road would be built. This secured a railroad for the Yaqui Valley which was of vital importance to their irrigation project.
Mr. Richard son is also interested in various important mining ventures, and is President of the Bufa Mining Company previously mentioned.
Mr. Richardson is a member of the Lawyers’, New York Athletic Club, and Rocky Mountain Club of New York, American Club of Mexico City, and the California Club of Los Angeles.
Transcribed 4-27-09
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 248,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2009 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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