My Genealogy Hound

W. P. Richardson, planter, miller and ginner, on starting out in life for himself, chose as his calling farming, and to this end he has since put forth all his energies, and not without substantial results. He is now the owner of 600 acres of fine land, and has it well improved. He was born in South Carolina on April 16, 1833, and is the son of Evan and Mary A. (Gee) Richardson, his father a native of North Carolina, born in 1805, and his mother born June 25, 1809. They were married in South Carolina, in 1828, by Rev. Mr. Dixon, a Presbyterian minister, and to them were born seven children— four sons and three daughters—all now dead but the subject of this sketch. The parents emigrated to Alabama in 1833, and there the father’s death occurred in 1844. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was his wife. The mother was married to her second husband, William Bobbit, in 1850. He died soon after his marriage. The subject of this sketch remained in Alabama till the second marriage of his mother, and from Alabama went to Mississippi, remaining there two years. After his mother became a widow he moved her to his home in Mississippi, caring for her and his younger brothers and sisters, the latter till they were grown, and his mother till her death, which occurred October 21, 1887, being at the time of her death seventy-eight years six months and four days old. Any one similarly situated as W. P. Richardson in boyhood, left fatherless at the age of ten, with a widowed mother to care for and several small brothers and sisters, need not become discouraged, but rely on their own energy to build themselves up. It is true such boys cannot always obtain as good an education as they perhaps might like; neither did Mr. Richardson, but he has improved his time, and today there are but few better informed men in the county than he, and not withstanding he has had some heavy losses, he is now one of the largest property owners in this part of the county. Mr. Richardson moved to Arkansas from Mississippi in 1867, but was married in Mississippi to Miss Emma M. Mathis, in 1868. She was born in that State, and died in Arkansas in 1869. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Richardson was married to his second wife, Miss Sara Linville, June 28, 1871, a native of Pike County, Ark., born in 1853, and to this union was born one child, John E. Mrs. Richardson died October 30, —, in full communion with the Methodist Protestant Church. On December 23, 1874, Mr. Richardson was married to Miss Mary A. Justus, a native of Hempstead County, Ark. She was born July 2, 1851. They are the parents of seven children—four sons and three daughters—five now living: Benjamin F., Mamie A., Bettie A., William J. and Maggie M. In 1863 Mr. Richardson enlisted in Company C (cavalry), and served in the Confederate army till the close of the war. He was captured at Franklin, Tenn., and carried to Nashville, thence to Louisville, Ky., and was retained till 1864. He then returned to his regiment. In politics he affiliates with the Democrats. Mrs. Richardson is a member of the Presbyterian Church.