Ulysses S. Grant (1822 – 1885), the 18th President of the United States, was the commanding general who led the Union Armies to victory.
Logan County is in central Illinois and was established in 1839.
Rebecca M. Long Richards was born in October 31, 1841 in Fairfield County, Ohio. Her parents were John Long and Sarah Ann LaFever
In 1860, Rebecca and her brother, Thomas Long, were living in the William and Nancy Richards household in Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois. Thomas was a farm laborer and Margaret was a domestic. William was Margaret's future husband's older brother.
Rebecca and Lewis Clark Richards married November 1, 1861 in Logan County, Illinois. Lewis was born on December 20, 1827 in Champaign County, Ohio. His parents were Josiah J. Richards and Nancy J. Powell.
Their children were:
Lenore Richards Mason (1862, married Thomas E. Mason),
General Grant Richards (1864, married Mary Alice Otto),
Fannie J. Richards Coffey (1866, married Charles Coffey),
Lillie B. Richards Allender (1868, married Ernest Allender),
and John H. Richards (1881, married Emma Zoe Fishburn).
In 1870 they were in Sheridan, Logan County, Illinois. Their post office was Lincoln. The household conisted of Lewis age 32, Rebecca age 24, Lenora age 8, Grant age 6, Fannie age 4, and Lillie age 1.
In 1875 they moved to Kansas, where they settled on a farm near Marion.
In 1880 they had 130 acres. The property was worth $3,500. They had 5 horses.
Lewis died on August 20, 1915 in Marion County and Rebecca died on March 16, 1922. They are buried together in Highland Cemetery in Marion.
The first Europeans settled in the Northwest Territory in 1788. Migrants came from New York and New England. Ohio was admitted to the Union as the 17th state on March 1, 1803.
Illinois became a state in 1818. A large influx of American settlers came in the 1810s by the Ohio River.
Fairfield County, Ohio
from the Marion Review, March 21, 1922
REBECCA M. RICHARDS
Rebecca M. Long was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in October 1841; was married to Lewis C. Richards in 1860 at Lincoln, Ill. To this union were born seven children. Two died in infancy and Nora, the oldest daughter, died at the age of 35 years.
Those living are Lillie B. Allender of San Francisco, Calif., G. G. Richards of Haviland, Kans., Mrs. Fannie J. Coffey of Hutchinson and John H. Richards of Marion.
Mrs. Richards joined the Methodist church when 17 years old and has been a constant member, always going when health would permit. She passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Coffey in Hutchinson March 16th, 1922, age 80 years 4 months and 16 days.
from Marion Record, August 26 1915
L. C. RICHARDS
Another of the line old pioneers here passed away during the past week. Mr. Lewis C. Richards, who came to Marion county in 1875, passed away at his home on Friday of last week, August 20, after a long illness.
For a number of years he had been in poor health and over a year ago he began to suffer greatly from rheumatism and has since that time been able to get around very little. For some mouths he was confined to his bed and was a great sufferer. His long suffering he bore with a patient resignation born of a deep religious experience and faith which supported him in all the struggles and hard ships of life. For over forty years he was a member of the Methodist church and was loyal to the cause always. until his physical condition prevented, he was a regular attendant at church services and greatly enjoyed them. His presence was a real help to the many pastors who have served the church here.
Mr. Richards was burn in Lincoln, Illinois, December 10, 1837. On November 1, 1860, at Lincoln, he was united in marriage with Rebecca Long and for fifty-five year these two walked the pathway of life together. Together they endured the hardships of pioneer life and in a companionship the beauty of which must have impressed all who knew them they met life's joys and sorrows. The devoted wife survives him.
Seven children were born to them, three of whom awaited the father when he passed to the other land. The living children are General Richards of Haviland, Kansas, Mrs. Lillie Allender of San Francisco. Cal., Mrs. Fannie Coffey of Hutchinson, and John of Marion. All but Mrs. Allen were present at the funeral, and she had spent some time with her father in the weeks just preceding his death.
The funeral service was held at the home at ten o'clock Saturday morning and was conducted by Rev. Jesse C. Fisher pastor of the Methodist church and by Rev A. J. Bixler. The sermon was preached by Rev. Bixler who for thirty-five or forty years a was a close friend of Mr. Richards and could speak from a personal knowledge of his many splendid personal qualities.
Interment was made in Highland cemetery. Mr. Richards was a good man that can be said with all that such a tribute ought to mean. He was a man of unquestioned uprightness of character, a man of a fine sense of honor and a man who wished well of all his fellow men. Quietly going about his work, doing day by day the task at hand and doing it well. A husband and a father he leaves a legacy of rich memories to the life companion and the children, and on his record as a citizen, a man among men there is neither spot nor blemish. He lived well, and in his going there is prophecy of glad reunion inj that better country "over there."
Lewis C. Richards was born in Ohio and moved with his family to Logan County Illinois at a young age. It was in Illinois that Lewis met Rebecca and they were married Nov. 1, 1861. In 1875 they moved their family to Kansas, where they settled on a farm near Marion. After two years they returned to Illinois and then two years later, they came back to Kansas where they remained until their deaths (Lewis and Rebecca).
Their 4 oldest children (Lenore, General Grant, Fannie and Lilly) were all born in Illinois. Their youngest son John H Richards was born in Marion County and lived there most of his life.
John and his wife, Emma are buried next to Lewis and Rebecca. General Grant Richards is buried in the Haviland Kansas Cemetery in Kiowa County Kansas.
