William A. Richards
Encyclopedia
William Alford Richards was an American surveyor, rancher and politician
. He was the fourth Governor of Wyoming
from 1895-01-07 until 1899-01-01.
Richards was born in Hazel Green
, in Grant County
, Wisconsin
, and educated there and in Galena
, Illinois
. As a young man he worked on surveying missions, and first came to Wyoming in 1873 when his brother Alonzo V. Richards hired him as his general assistant while surveying the Western regions of Wyoming Territory
.
William left Alonzo's party in late 1874, by which time the party had reached the North-Western corner of Wyoming Territory. He moved instead to California
, where he married Harriet Alice Hunt. In 1884 he returned to Wyoming, homesteading a ranch in Big Horn County. In 1886 he was elected county commissioner of Johnson County, and in 1889 President
Harrison
appointed him Surveyor General for Wyoming.
In 1894, Richards ran for Governor on the Republican
ticket. He defeated William H. Holliday and Lewis C. Tidball, becoming the state's third elected governor. At the conclusion of his term he was replaced by DeForest Richards
(no relation), from the same party, and was appointed Assistant Commissioner of the General Land Office
by President McKinley
. In 1903 he was promoted to Commissioner, a position he held until 1907.
1908 saw a change of pace for Richards: he became the first Commissioner for Taxation for the state of Wyoming. This job lasted until 1912, when he travelled to Melbourne
, Australia
as a delegate for the U.S. Committee on Irrigation. He died of a heart attack soon afterwards, and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, in Cheyenne, Wyoming
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was the fourth Governor of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
from 1895-01-07 until 1899-01-01.
Richards was born in Hazel Green
Hazel Green (town), Wisconsin
Hazel Green is a town in Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,043 at the 2000 census. The Village of Hazel Green is located partially within the town. The unincorporated community of Prairie Corners is located in the town...
, in Grant County
Grant County, Wisconsin
Grant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 49,597. Its county seat is Lancaster. Estimates for 2008 show a population of 49,238...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, and educated there and in Galena
Galena, Illinois
Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. As a young man he worked on surveying missions, and first came to Wyoming in 1873 when his brother Alonzo V. Richards hired him as his general assistant while surveying the Western regions of Wyoming Territory
Wyoming Territory
The Territory of Wyoming was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 25, 1868, until July 10, 1890, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Wyoming. Cheyenne was the territorial capital...
.
William left Alonzo's party in late 1874, by which time the party had reached the North-Western corner of Wyoming Territory. He moved instead to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he married Harriet Alice Hunt. In 1884 he returned to Wyoming, homesteading a ranch in Big Horn County. In 1886 he was elected county commissioner of Johnson County, and in 1889 President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
appointed him Surveyor General for Wyoming.
In 1894, Richards ran for Governor on the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
ticket. He defeated William H. Holliday and Lewis C. Tidball, becoming the state's third elected governor. At the conclusion of his term he was replaced by DeForest Richards
DeForest Richards
DeForest Richards was an American banker, farmer, and politician. He was the fifth Governor of the state of Wyoming, and the first to die while still in office....
(no relation), from the same party, and was appointed Assistant Commissioner of the General Land Office
General Land Office
The General Land Office was an independent agency of the United States government responsible for public domain lands in the United States. It was created in 1812 to take over functions previously conducted by the United States Department of the Treasury...
by President McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
. In 1903 he was promoted to Commissioner, a position he held until 1907.
1908 saw a change of pace for Richards: he became the first Commissioner for Taxation for the state of Wyoming. This job lasted until 1912, when he travelled to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as a delegate for the U.S. Committee on Irrigation. He died of a heart attack soon afterwards, and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, in Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
.
External links
- William Alford Richards collection at Nebraska State Historical SocietyNebraska State Historical SocietyThe Nebraska State Historical Society is a Nebraska state agency, founded in 1878 to "encourage historical research and inquiry, spread historical information .....