Short Biography

James Melvin RICHARDS was born in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia to James and Mary HURFORD RICHARDS. The Richards family was originally from Massachusetts. They set out West across Pennsylvania around 1815, three years after James Sr. was born. The family history says the Richards family, at some point on the trail, left the wagon train, and those that continued were slain by Indians. James Melvin, the eldest of 7 children, was born December 7, 1834. He married Emmeline WHITE August 12, 1863 and this couple had two children,Olive W., born 1866 and Rose, born 1868.

J. Melvin was a plumber before the civil war, but by 1880 had changed his profession to Tombstone agent in Wheeling. He was also very active in the Temperance movement all through the 1870's in Wheeling. His wife Emmeline died of "disease of the liver" February 16, 1879 and was buried in Mt. Olivet cemetery in Marshall County, West Virginia. Her daughter Rose preceded her in death in 1876, and daughter Olive died October 26, 1887, of typhoid fever. Both girls were buried with their mother and maternal grandparents in Mt. Olivet.

J. Melvin married Sarah Eliza BARON August 22, 1892 in Belmont County, Ohio. He lived in Bethesda, Belmont County, Ohio until his death in 1924. No children came of the second marriage. The brief obituary in the Coshocton Tribute,and Chronicle Telegram, February 21 and 28 respectively, read "Bethesda: As result of a fall, J. Melvin Richards, 90, civil war veteran, and for many years, superintendent here, is dead." (note: superintendent of Chautaugqua grounds).James Melvin Richards was buried with his first wife and two daughters in Mt. Olivet cemetery, Marshall County, West Virginia

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