James Albert Richey, p. 1368

JAMES ALBERT RICHEY. The pioneer ancestor of the Richey family was John Richey, a native of Ireland, who came to America in a very early day, and settled on 300 acres of land in Marshall county, W. Va., for which he paid $2 per acre. He procured the necessary amount of money by raising flax, which was then spun and woven into fine linen. He was married and had three children, namely: John, James and Moses.

James Richey (grandfather of subject) was born in 1773, in Marshall county, W. Va., and passed his youth in working on the home farm. He was married to Miss Nancy Taylor, of Marshall county, born near Wolf Run, and they continued to live on the home farm the rest of their lives. The following children were born to them: Ellen (Mrs. Edwards), Anna (Mrs. Cummins), Martha(Mrs. Sayers), Nancy (Mrs. Seaton), Lucy (Mrs. Lewis), Jane (Mrs. Fish), Margaret (deceased in youth), John (father of our subject), James, Moses, Crosier and Taylor (these four died in childhood).

John Richey was born October 24, 1819, in Marshall county, W. Va., and passed his youth at home, assisting in the general duties of the farm. On March 28, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Kimmins, who was born March 21, 1824, in Washington county, Penn. After their marriage the young people settled in Honeytown, W. Va., where Mr. Richey followed mercantile business two years, and then removed to a farm at Rosby's Rock, W. Va., where he lived about twenty-five years, thence removing to the farm in West Finley township, this county, where he died. Eleven children were born to them: Andrew K., born in June, 1845 (was killed in the war in 1865); Sarah M., born in March, 1846; Nancy E., born December 21, 1847; John Taylor, born November 19, 1849; James A., born March 16, 1853; William C., born November 13, 1854 (deceased in youth); Eva J., born May 1, 1856; Samuel W., born September 14, 1858; Anna S., born November 17, 1860; Frank M., born December 7, 1862 (died in youth); and R. Swan, born March 11,1865.

James A. Richey was born on the old farm in Marshall county, W. Va., and passed his youth with his parents. On December 24, 1874, he was married to Miss Louisa, daughter of John Mooney of Marshall county, W. Va. To their union was born one child, which lived but six days, and on July 12, 1887, the mother followed it to the grave. The desolate husband and father sought forgetfulness in western travel, and was afterward married to Viola McCully, of Marshall county, W. Va.; she was born February 5, 1868, on the farm of her father, Alexander McCully. Mr. and Mrs. Richey have one daughter, Radia Florence, born October 12, 1890. Mr. Richey began life as a farmer, but his health failing, he was forced to seek lighter employment, and selling his farm (with the exception of ten acres) became a stock and wool dealer. He then engaged in mercantile business with his father for two years, but soon resumed his former vocation. He has kept free from debt, and owns two houses and lots in Businessburgh, Ohio, besides about 100 acres of land. In politics he is a pillar of the Republican party.

Text taken from page 1368 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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