San
Joaquin County
Biographies
THOMAS RICHARDS
A well known and honored resident of
the vicinity of French Camp is Thomas Richards, who has continuously resided in
San Joaquin County since 1872, where ten years later he purchased his present
ranch, located on Lathrop Road five miles south of Stockton, where he owns a
large farm devoted to raising of grain.
He was born at Devonshire, England, March 9, 1847, and there received a
good education. When twenty years of age
he came to America, stopping at Genesco, New York, where he remained for four
years, coming to Stockton in 1872, where he entered the employ of the Stockton
Lumber Company, which occupied him for ten years. Desiring to better his financial condition,
he purchased 177 acres of the Trailer ranch and, in 1884, ninety-eight acres
known as the Gallagher ranch; later he bought an additional sixty-two acres of
the Gallagher ranch. Enterprise and
intelligent labor have gained for him an influential position among his fellow
citizens in San Joaquin County, and he is reckoned as one of the most substantial
men of affairs in his community.
In March, 1884, Mr. Richards married
Miss Emily Abell, a native of Wisconsin and a
daughter of George Abell of Stockton, who came west
in 1868. Her father was born in London,
England, in 1819 and married Mary Ann Marks.
Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Richard: William Arthur married
Naomi Rolerson, who died in 1915, leaving two sons,
Forest and Arthur; Oscar resides at home and conducts the home place. Mr. Richards has many warm friends in the
county, where he has established a reputation as an excellent agriculturist.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
991. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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