Stanislaus
County
Biographies
THOMAS RICHARDSON
Each community is judged by the
character of its representative citizens, and its social, intellectual and
business standing is determined thereby.
The sterling worth, commercial ability and enterprise of the leading men
are mirrored forth in the public life of the town, and therefore the history of
the people of prominence is the history of the community. No account of Oakdale would be complete
without the life record of Thomas Richardson, a man whose public spirit is
manifested in his many efforts to improve the conditions and promote the
upbuilding of the town. He came to the
state in 1850 and now resides on a large farm in Stanislaus County, three miles
west of Oakdale.
Mr. Richardson was born in Bourbon
County, Kentucky, on the 28th of September, 1818, and is of English,
Scotch and Irish descent, his ancestors being among the early settlers of
Virginia and participating in the events which find mention in the annals of
the Old Dominion. One of the
representatives of the name also served in the war of the Revolution. Robert Richardson, the father of our subject,
was born in Virginia, removed to Kentucky and at the time of the War of 1812
entered his country’s service under command of General William H.
Harrison. He married Miss Catherine Bullen, who was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, a
daughter of John Bullen, one of the heroes of the war
for independence. They removed to Pike
County, Missouri, and a number of their children were born there. In 1827 they took up their abode in Pike
County, Illinois, becoming pioneer settlers of that locality, where they
secured government land, the father developing thereon a good farm upon which
he made his home until the time of his death in 1845. While in Missouri he held the office of tax
collector. Both he and his wife were
Baptists in religious faith and were upright, reliable and respected farming
people. Mrs. Richardson passed away in
the fifty-sixth year of her age. They
were the parents of eleven children, of whom all reached mature years, but only
two of the number are now living, the sister of our subject being Fammey, the wife of William Wagener, a resident of Pike
County, Illinois.
Thomas Richardson, of this review,
was eight years of age when with his parents went to the Prairie state, and in
the primitive log schoolhouse of the neighborhood he pursued his studies
through a short period each winter. At
the time of early spring planting he took his place in the fields to assist in
the cultivation of the farm and was employed with plowing, cultivating and
harvesting until after the crops were garnered in the autumn. His life was passed in the quiet routine of
the farm until 1850, when the country became stirred by news of the gold
discovery in California and he determined to make his way to the El Dorado of
the west. Accordingly he joined a
company of ninety men that secured an outfit in Pike County and started in a
train of twenty-nine wagons on the long and arduous journey across the
plains. They were well supplied with
provisions, and, as two physicians were of the party, were protected against
prolonged illness. The journey was made
by way of South Bear River, Green River and Humboldt, and they were on the
journey about six months, at the end of which period they arrived in Hangtown,
now Placerville, September 18, 1850. Although many emigrant trains suffered
greatly from cholera, only three of their party had died of the disease.
Mr. Richardson began his career as a
placer miner with pan and rocker on the American River below Coloma. He met with a fair measure of success, taking
out considerable gold, and followed mining until 1851, when he returned to his
home by the water route in order to bring his family to California, and with
them he journeyed across the plains in 1852.
On the 9th of January, 1845, he married Miss Lucinda Jane
Wagener, a native of Tennessee, and they had two children, John and Mary Jane,
ere their removal to the Pacific coast.
Their daughter has since departed this life. The son is still living and cultivates a farm
near his father. The year 1852 proved a
very disastrous one to many emigrants, the cholera being very prevalent among
those who journeyed across the plains, but the train with which the Richardson’s
traveled lost only one of their party, a woman. However, they saw many newly made graves
along the route. Mr. Richardson had the
honor of being the commander of the companies with which he traveled on both of
these journeys across the plains.
When with his wife and little family
our subject arrived in California he settled on one hundred and sixty acres of
government land that are included within the boundaries of his present
ranch. This region was then an unsettled
country and there were many Indians in the locality, but he never had any
trouble with them. He had brought with
him from Illinois forty head of cattle and horses and he engaged in stock raising. Notwithstanding
that he met with many reverses in business, he diligently prosecuted his labors
until he became the owner of nine thousand acres of land and was numbered among
the wealthiest men of Stanislaus County.
This grand old pioneer is now living retired from active business in a
large and commodious frame residence that stands on the extensive ranch which
his enterprise and industry have secured to him. He leases his land
and the rental therefrom supplies him with all of the necessaries and many of
the luxuries of life.
After their arrival in California
Mr. and Mrs. Richardson became the parents of a son, Ephraim, who is now
residing in Oakdale. There are also
eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His wife, who long shared with him the
sorrows and joys of life, traveling by his side as a faithful companion and
helpmeet on life’s journey for fifty-two years, was called to her final rest on
the 19th of January, 1897, at the age of seventy-two years, four
months and fifteen days. She was very
devoted to her family, counting no sacrifice or labor too great that would
promote the happiness or enhance the welfare of her husband or children. In return she received their deepest love and
respect, and she also enjoyed the warm regard of a large circle of friends.
For many years Mr. Richardson has
been a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity and is now a representative of
Oakdale Lodge, No. 275, F. & A. M. He
also belongs to Modesto Lodge, No. 49, R A. M.
His political support has long been given to the Democracy and at one
time he served as a justice of the peace, but has never sought or desired
office. Throughout a long and active
business career he has been known as a man of unquestioned integrity, his word
being as good as his bond. His life has
been an active and useful career, in which determined purpose has enabled him
to conquer all obstacles and advance steadily upon the path to success until he
has reached the goal of prosperity. At
the same time he has taken an active part in the work of developing the rich
lands of California, and of reclaiming the waste stretches for the purposes of
civilization. Such men
therefore wrought for the prosperity and upbuilding of the communities which
they represented.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 611-613. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.