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John E. Richmond, who resides on his valuable and well improved farm of eighty-nine acres in Oxford township, was born in this county, August 24, 1842, the son of John and Elizabeth (Reed) Richmond. His paternal grandfather came to Coshocton county from Onondaga county, New York, in 1828, and loacated at Roscoe. He was a stone-cutter by trade and helped to build the Roscoe aqueduct. Afterward he conducted a hotel at Evansburg and a canal station, where he contracted to haul canal boats between Evansburg and Roscoe. John Richmond, the father of our subject, was born in Onondaga county, New York, March 1, 1817, and was therefore but eleven years of age when his father settled in this county. In early manhood he wedded Elizabeth Reed, who was born in this township, April 10, 1817, and the young couple settled on a farm. Later he bought a canal boat, which he ran for a number of years. Five children were born to this union, of whom our subject is now the only one living. On April 1, 1850, the father, in company with a party of others, started for the gold fields by the overland route, arriving there September 15. He returned home July 15, 1852, by way of the water route, stopping in New York for two weeks and sending his gold nuggets to the mint at Philadelphia, where they were assayed and run into fifty dollar slugs. He evidently considered it unwise to inform his young children as to the amount he thus acquired, although they were not without curiosity in the matter, and our subject, then ten years of age, recalls conducting a quiet investigation in his own behalf on one occasion when his father was asleep, when he went into his bedroom and found the buckskin belt in which he carried his gold, and it was so heavy he could not lift it. The mother of our subject died in February, 1852, while the father was away. On his return from California he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty-one acres, which is now owned by his son Frank, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this edition. Later in partnership with John Peck, of Coshocton, the father bought from a Mr. Davis a general merchandising store which they conducted for a number of years and which Mr. Richmond conducted alone for a long time after the death of his partner. He also ran a hotel at Orange and engaged in the grain business. Politically, he was a stanch republican. His second wife was Miss Elizabeth Higby, who was born in this county. Five children were born to this union, of whom but two are now living, Frank A., and Lottie, the wife of John Goudy, of Bisbee, Arizona. The mother died on May 22, 1864, and the father was again married, his third union being with Mary McClain, a native of this county, who died in 1890, having survived her husband, who passed away in 1887, for three years. The educational advantages fifty and sixty years ago were not what they are to-day and our subject received but little schooling. He early engaged in active industrial pursuits, aiding his father in his extensive business interest. In 1870 he entered into partnership with his father in general merchandising at Orange and maintained his interest in this business up to about ten years abo, being in partnership with his brother for a number of years. In 1870 he bought seventy-five acres of land, which is now a part of his present farm of eighty-nine acres. All the improvements on the place are due to his energy and efforts and in them he feels justifiable pride. In 1851 he enlisted in the Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry and went into camp at Camp Chase, Ohio, where he remained for three weeks, but owing to his father's opposition he was not mustered into service and returned home. On June 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but after serving for four months he contracted typhoid fever and was discharged September 26, 1862. On June 18, 1863, Mr. Richmond was united in marriage to Miss Mary Wood, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio, January 2, 1844, and died October 13, 1885. Five children were born to this union, namely: Charles M., of Akron, Ohio; James C., who died in infancy; Harry M., who resides in South Dakota; Mary E., the wife of Edward Geese, of Oxford township; and Noah M., a resident of New Comerstown, Ohio. On August 12, 1886, Mr. Richmond was again married, his second union being with Maggie Harstine, who was born in this county, November 28, 1863. Unto this union have been born five children, the firstborn dying in infancy. The others are Nina P., Emma M., Helen M., and Raymond J., all of whom reside with their parents. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Richmond has voted the republican ticket. He is actively interested in community affairs and served as township trustee for nine years in succession. He has also held the office of school director and several times has served as president of the board of education. Fraternally, he is a member of the local Grange and of West Lafayette Post, G. A. R. For over fifty years he has been a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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