Notes for: George Washington Richards
Lynn Camp Settled.-- This stream, which is a small tributary of the North fork of Hughes river, took its name from a camp of lynn wood that was constructed by a party of hunters, in 1776, not far from the present site of the Wheeler Broadwater residence.
These hunters came in the autumn-time, leaving orders for thier pack-horses to follow in six weeks; but, finding game so plentiful, they sent the fruits of their first six weeks labor home, and remained another six weeks, at the end of which time they had slain eighteen bears. During this entire time they had no change of clothing.
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The Richardses were the Pioneers of this creek. George Richards and his wife, Mrs. Kathrine Bush Richards, with their large family, having come from Harrison county very early in the century, and settled at the mouth of Lynn Camp, on the land that afterwards became the home of Edmund Taylor. They came as early as 1800, and it is claimed by some that they were here in 1795, but this cannot be verified, however; and John Bunnell still holds the distinction as being the first settler, within the bounds of the county.
The Richardses are said to have come and to have gone back to their home in Harrison county a number of times, before settling down here permantently. George Richards removed from the mouth of this stream to the late L. P. Wilson farm, where his life came to a close.
His sons, who were as follows, were nearly all pioneers here: Isaac, George, Benjamin, William, John, Michael, Jacob, Elias, James, Nelson, and one daughter, Mrs. George Six, of Athens, Ohio.
Isaac Richards died (unmarried) of wounds received in the war of 1812.
George Richards, junior, settled on Rock Camp, where he reared a family.
Benjamin Richards married Miss Priscilla Jones, who was of Dutch descent, and was the first settler on Lynn Camp, he having reared his dwelling near the present site of the school-house. He was the father of Dr. Benjamin Richards, of Pullman.
William Richards settled on the Rev. E. J. Taylor farm where he passed from earth.
John Richards married Miss Nancy Taylor, sister of James Taylor, and went to Calhoun county, where he died at the age of one hundred four years, and near Big Springs he sleeps. He was the grandfather of Joseph Richards, of Goff's, Joseph being the son of Edward Richards.
Other brothers.--Michael married Miss Caroline Wilson, daughter of John Wilson, of Calhoun county; and Benjamin, Miss Ruth Jones, and these brothers were the first setlers on the Syelus Hall farm, on Lynn Camp. But Michael went
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to Calhoun county, where he died, and where his descendants live; and Jacob removed to Beeson, where he died in 1899, at the age of ninety-four one-half years, and in the Wilson burying ground, near the mouth of the stream, he lies buried.
He (Jacob) was twice married, his second wife, and widow, being Mrs. Drusilla Jackson, mother of C. S. Jackson, who still survives.
Jacob Richards was the father of Mrs. James Elder, of Hardman chapel; of Mrs. Harrison Lamb, of Beeson; the late Mrs. Pricilla (John) Elder, of Leatherbarke; the late Mrs. Eli R. Cunningham, of Eva (who first married Asa Manear, and was the mother of Jacob Manear), and the late William Richards, of Beeson. Mrs John B. Baker, of Lamb's run; and Mrs. Jennie Bailey, of Smithville, are among his grandchildren.
Elias Richards was the first citizen of the late "Bail" Wilson homestead (now the property of John Jobes), on Lynn Camp.
James Richards went to Ohio, and Nelson, to Calhoun county.
The Richareses were of German Descent, and were noted Indian-fighters and hunters, and their descendants in this and sister counties are a multitude.
Syelus Hall succeeded the Richareses on Lynn Camp, he having purchased the improvement of both Jacob and Michael Richards, near the year 1849, and founded his home where his son, Elza C. Hall, now lives.
SOURCE: "History of Ritchie County," by Minnie Kendall Lowther, 1910
http://www.wvgenweb.org/ritchie/MKL_HRC9.htm#1