COL. GEORGE B. RICHARDSON , was born December 22, 1821, in Morestown, Vermont, is the son of Eri and Abigal (Bragg) Richardson, natives of New Hampshire; his father followed the carpenter and joiner's trade to some extent, but farming was his principal occupation. Mr. R. was educated in the common schools and received a fair education. When eight years of age his father moved to Cornish, New Hampshire, where he remained until eighteen years of age, following farming for his father and also contracting and building. After which he started out in life for himself, going to Boston and hiring out by the month on a farm, at sixteen dollars per month for one year, then rented a farm of one hundred acres, of David Sears, of Boston, and continued to raise vegetables on his own hook, running three market wagons the year around, he continued this business about two yeas, when the farm was laid out in town lots, and is now what is Brookline. In 1847, he commenced working by the day on what was called the Boston and Worcester Railroad, putting in switches and laying track, etc. In the spring of 1848, he went on the old Colony road following the same work, in 1849 he took charge of the work as foreman, laying a branch of the Colony road from Neponset to Milton, then went to Bridgewater and took charge of the Bridgewater branch, having every thing in his charge, acting as conductor and superintendent of the work, followed the business between two and three years. About 1853, he went to St. Louis, then came to Springfield and engaged in railroad work under T. J. Carter, on what was then called the Great Western Railroad, as the grading was not finished he was engaged in completing the grading, putting in the ties and laying the rails, also was supply agent. Being conductor on the construction train, and as that train carried the first freight and passengers, he carried the first over what is now called the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railroad, from Springfield to Danville. In the fall of 1857, he returned to St. Louis and engaged in the land business, his office was located at seventy-one Market Street, in the meantime, in 1858, he opened a wholesale general grocery and liquor store, on seventy-five Market street, and also had a half interest with his uncle, Dr. A. G. Bragg, in two saw-mills at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, engaged in getting out wood for steamers on the Mississippi and sawing lumber for Memphis, Vicksburg, St. Louis , and other principal cities, and stays to ship to New Orleans for the European market, he also dealt in stock, horses, cattle and mules, he followed these occupations until 1862, when he went to Louisiana, Missouri, and purchased a general store, where he carried on business until 1865; in the meantime he was drafted into the army, but never served any length of time, as he hired a substitute. He purchased the site of his present home in 1856, then one dense wilderness, where he has resided since 1865. He now owns five hundred and fifty-seven acres of land in Clear Lake township, valued at $40 per acre, and nine hundred and sixty acres in Missouri, also four dwelling houses in the town of Riverton. Politically he is a staunch Republican. Post Office, Riverton.