COL. GEORGE B. RICHARDSON. This gentleman is the owner of quite an extensive tract of land in Clear Lake Township, together with a number of houses and lots in the town of Riverton and valuable real estate elsewhere. He comes of old New England stock, and throughout the course of his life has displayed the energy characteristic of that people and so has prospered in worldly affairs and won good repute wherever he is known. He has been connected with the business life of this county since the last year of the Civil War, and has not only advanced his own interests by his labors here but afforded employment to others and helped to promote the prosperity of the citizens by increasing the circulation of the medium of trade.

It is known that at least three generations of Richardsons, prior to the time of our subject, were born in the Granite State. There Eri Richardson, the father of our subject, spent his childhood and youth, and after reaching maturity married Abigail Bragg, a native of the same State. Soon after their marriage the young couple settled in the State of Vermont, where they remained until he of whom we write was seven years old. They then returned to their native State where they remained during the balance of their lives. The husband died in 1884, at the age of seventy-eight years, and the wife in 1886, at the age of eighty. Mr. Richardson was a member of the Baptist church. In his life's labors he combined the occupations of a farmer and carpenter. Our subject is the only son of his parents, whose family also included four daughters who are still living in the East, all except one being married.

George B. Richardson was born in a log house in Moretown, Vt., December 22, 1821. He attended school in the old fashioned schoolhouse of the country district, his home being on a farm until he was sixteen years old. In common with other sons of farmers he began to bear a share of the labors of life as soon as his strength would permit, and so developed his self-reliance and acquired habits of industry that have clung to him through life. At the age before mentioned he left his home, and going to Massachusetts, found employment on the old Wooster Railroad as a track repairer. He finally took charge of the track laying on the Colony Railroad and its branches, and after some time spent thus became a conductor on the same road, filling the position four years.

In 1852 Mr. Richardson came West and accepted a position as conductor on the Wabash Railroad. He at the same time had charge of the construction train and delivered a large amount of material. After remaining with the road about five years as road master and superintending the building of the road he located in St. Louis, Mo., and engaged in land speculation in the Southwest and Southeast, doing an extensive business for about three years. In 1860 he went to Memphis, Tenn., where he had a large mill and land, and personally superintended the business, getting out a large amount of staves and lumber. He returned to St. Louis about the time the war broke out and for a time was engaged in a wholesale trade in merchandise. He next went to Louisiana, Mo., where he purchased a store and carried on business for two or three years. As before stated he came to this county just before the close of the war, and locating in Clear Lake Township, contracted to furnish coal and wood to Camp Butler.

The title by which our subject is popularly known is a reminder of his connection with the State militia of Missouri. He has given considerable study to the political issues, is a firm believer in the principles laid down in the Republican platform and never fails to support them by his vote. His landed estate in Clear Lake Township consists of nearly six hundred acres, while in Iron County, Mo.,, he has three hundred and twenty acres. He pays great attention to stock raising, breeding all kinds of domestic animals of good grades, and breeds that have been proved valuable. He has served his township one term as Supervisor and held other civic positions, but is not an office-seeker by any means. He has been a railroad contractor for a number of years and is held in high esteem by railroad men.

It is with pleasure that we present the lithographic portrait of Col. Richardson as that of a leading and representative citizen of Sangamon County.