Seventh Generation

30. Ira Judge RICHARDSON Jr.^27,28 was born on 6 October 1816 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.^{9,13,21,23,29} He appeared in the census in 1830 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.¹⁶ He appeared in the census in 1850 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.²⁹ (His family is listed household number 68 on image 0012, page 8 of 603, in the census records on Ancestry.com.) In October 1850 Ira was a peddler in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.^22,29 He served as a State Senator from 1856 to 1860. He appeared in the census in 1860 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.³⁰ His occupation was "Merchant" and the value of his real estate was listed as $9,000 and his personal property as $4,000. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.^31,32 His household consisted of Ira; his wife, Harriet; their son Orville, age 18, born in Vermont; and their son, Merriden L, age 15, born in Vermont. Ira's occupation was "... of Leather and Farmer" and his real estate was listed as $26,000. He was one of the wealthiest people in Waitsfield Township.
Ira died on 17 December 1877 at the age of 61 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.^13,21,22,33 He died suddenly while riding in a carriage. He was "a man of large influence and was well known throughout."

Obituary Notes: "Ira Richardson, Jr., was born 06 October 1816 in Waitsfield [Washington County], Vermont, son of Ira Sr. and Rachel (DURKEE) Richardson. He received his education in the common schools of his native town, where after leaving school he found employment in a store.

Later Mr. Richardson engaged, on his own account, in the manufacture of lumber, in which he was very successful, being also a dealer in merchandise and conducting a tannery. This business, which grew to large proportions and included very extensive dealings, was managed by Mr. Richarson with consummate ability, joined to knowledge theoretical and practical and enforced by strict attention to details.

Politically Mr. Richardson was in his early life a Whig, but joined the Republican party at the time of its organization [1854], remaining one of its ardent supporters. He was very active in public affairs; in 1856 and again in 1860 represented the town of Waitsfield in the state legislature; also represented Washington County in the state senate; and in 1868 and 1869 he served as assistant judge for Washington County. The manner in which he fulfilled the duties of these offices more than justified the high estimate formed of his abilities and the high regard felt for his character by his fellow citizens.

Mr. Richardson was an active member of the Methodist church, foremost in every benevolent enterprise, and ever ready to aid, to the utmost of his power, all charitable associations and projects.

On 06 April 1843 Mr. Richardson married Harriet, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Campbell) Chapman, of Fayston [Washington County, Vermont], in which town Harriet was born 06 January 1818. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson were the parents of the following named children: (1) a son, born 28 August 1844, who died in infancy; (2) Calvin Clinton, born, as were the all the other children, in Waitsfield [Washington County], Vermont, 06 October 1845, now residing in Minneapolis [Hennepin County], Minnesota; (3) Clarence Milton, born 20 November 1849, a resident of Waitsfield, Vermont; (4) Orville Hale, mentioned at length hereafter; (5) Meriden Lee, born 06 September 1854, now living in Waitsfield, Vermont; and (6) Harriet Elizabeth, born 07 March 1857, who died 20 September 1861.

Mr. Richardson died 17 December 1877, deeply and sincerely regretted, not only by his family and near friends, but by the whole community, to which he had so long given the example of an honorable and fearless citizen, faithful in the discharge of every duty and ever foremost in enterprises having for their object the advancement of public welfare. His character, as a business man, a public official, and a member of society, was such as to command the highest degree of affection and veneration of all who were brought within the circle of his influence.

Mrs. Richardson survived her husband several years, dying 08 August 1882, in the sixty-fifth year of her age.

Source: Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. Carleton, ed. Chicago: Lewis, 1903, pp 524-526. http://www.rockvillemama.com/washington/richardsonorvillehale.txt
He has Ancestral File Number 18WP-34L.¹³ He was buried in Irasville, Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.²¹ in the Irasville Cemetery. Gravestone Inscription: "Ira Richardson 1816-1877"

His gravestone contains inscriptions for him and his wife on one side; for Harriet E. Richardson, his daughter, on another side; for Lovila W. Richardson, a sister, on the third side; and for Ira Richardson, Sr., his father, and Rachel Durkee, his mother, on the fourth side.
Relative: Charles. Edmund RICHARDSON

Ira Judge RICHARDSON Jr. and Harriet C. CHAPMAN were married on 6 April 1843 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.^9,23 Harriet C. CHAPMAN¹² was born on 6 January 1818 in Chelsea Township, Orange County, VT.^12,13,21,29 She appeared in the census in 1850 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.²⁹ She appeared in the census in 1860 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.³⁰ Harriet appeared in the census in 1870 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.³¹ She appeared in the census in 1880 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.³² She was living with her son Clarence and his family. She died on 8 August 1882 at the age of 64.^21,22 Harriet was buried in 1882 in Irasville, Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.²¹ in the Irasville Cemetery.

Gravestone Inscription: "Harriet F. Chapman His Wife 1818-1882"

Ira Judge RICHARDSON Jr. and Harriet C. CHAPMAN had the following children:

+38	i.	Calvin Clinton RICHARDSON.
+39	ii.	Ira Edwin RICHARDSON.
+40	iii.	Clarence Milton RICHARDSON.
+41	iv.	Orville Hale RICHARDSON.
+42	v.	Meridan Lee RICHARDSON.
43	vi.	Harriet Elizabeth "Hattie" RICHARDSON was born in 1857 in Vermont.^13,21 She appeared in the census in 1860 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.³⁰ She died in 1861 at the age of 4 in Vermont.^13,21 Hattie was buried in Irasville, Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.²¹ in the Irasville Cemetery.