Untitled Document

Judge RICHARD W. RICHEY, the first child of Andrew and Polly (West) Richey, was born in Charlton, Saratoga county, New York, November 22, 1802. His father was a native of Cambridge, New York, and his mother of Connecticut. His father dying when he, Richard, was quite young, the lad received but little schooling. However, his spare time at home was well occupied in reading good books. He early worked at tanning and carpentering.

When eighteen years old he went to Cambridge, where he engaged in tanning and currying business. In 1823 he married Miss Nellie Green, at Cambridge, and. about the year following moved to Lake village, East Greenwich, New York, where he became foreman in a manufacturing establishment. There his wife died. She was the mother of five children.

In 1840 Mr. Richey married Agnes Green in Ohio and that same year emigrated to Henderson county (then Warren county), Illinois, and settled at Walnut Grove. He bought eighty acres of land on which he built a log cabin 18 X 50, three apartments and a story and a half high. It still stands. He added to his farm and also to his dwelling. It was during the Mormon disturbances at Nauvoo that Mr. Richey was summoned by Gov. Ford, of Illinois, to raise a company to assist in preserving peace.

He had already raised and partly drilled a company of militia at Olena. But leaving all, he visited the governor at Nauvoo, who requested him to take command of the militia there,. as the officer then commanding wished to be relieved. However, this officer concluding to remain at his duty, Mr. Richey-, after witnessing the Mormon atrocities, returned home. In 1S54 he was elected county judge. He then made his home in Oquawka, that he might better attend to legal duty. With the exception of four years, he held this responsible position till 1875. He was elected squire at his country home and also in Oquawka. He has served on the board of trustees of Oquawka. In 1856 he buried his companion.

In 1857 he married Mrs. Cornelia (Day) Moir. Mrs. Richey is a very early resident of Oquawka, having made her home here in 1833, as the wife of Alexis Phelps. Late years Mr. Richey has superintended his farm, but is retired from other business. In politics has been a life long democrat. He has been an elder in the Presbyterian church for many years. His life has been an active one worthy of emulation. His former wives, the Greens, were cousins to the Beveridges, of whom ex-Gov. Beveridge is one.

History of Mercer and Henderson Counties.

Illinois Ancestors