WILLIAM H. RICHARDS, SR.
WM. H. RICHARDS HONORED PIONEER CALLED BY DEATH
Funeral services for William H. Richards, sr.[Sr.], 84, prominent church leader, pioneer business man, and early Oneida county official, are being held at the stake tabernacle this afternoon. Mr. Richards died at the Oneida hospital Monday morning [April 2, 1945] after an illness of three months.
He was born August 29, 1860, at Brigham City, Utah, the son of Thomas W. and Charlotte Thomas Richards, both of Wales. With his parents he came to Malad in 1866, two years after the first permanent settlers located in Malad valley.
Mr. Richards’ first occupation, when only a boy, was that of freighting between Corrine, Utah, and Montana points. In 1875 he began clerking in the Malad Co-op store, his father being manager of that institution at that time. In 1877 he began to peddle merchandise in a wagon to different sections of the valley. A short time later he engaged in farming for a few years.
In 1881 he formed a partnership with the late Fred E. Jones to enter the mercantile business, the firm taking the name of Jones & Richards. He was connected with this firm until a few years ago. He was cashier of the First National Bank for eight years.
Mr. Richards was very active in the L. D. S. church, starting his church career in 1880 as president of the stake M. I. A. He was bishop of Malad ward for 13 years, president of Malad stake for 20 years. Other church positions which he held were superintendent of the stake Sunday school board, stake patriarch and officiator at the LDS temple at Logan.
Mr. Richards served Oneida county as deputy sheriff, deputy recorder, county recorder, and was also a member of the Malad village board for a number of years.
Mr. Richards was married to Catherine Jones in 1883 at the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. She died in 1916. To this union seven children were born, six of whom survive. They are Thomas W. Richards, William H. Richards Jr., Mrs. Sarah C. Thomas, Malad; Lorin L. Richards, Salt Lake City; John M. Richards, Preston, Idaho; [Newspaper cut off]
BUSY CAREER OF MALAD PIONEER IS CLOSED
Another of Malad valley’s pioneers has been called by death. With the passing of William H. Richards, Sr. this community loses one of this section’s real leaders and builders, a man who commanded the respect and good will of his fellow citizens to an extent enjoyed by few individuals. To Mr. Richards and a few others who possessed remarkable courage and exemplay fortitude the development of Malad valley is due.
Mr. Richards was a successful business man and held many important church and civil offices, and in each line of endeavor he dispayed an abiltity and an integrity that won for him the admiration of his associates. From his early career to the close of his useful and eventful life, he enjoyed the unshaken confidence and affection of the people among whom he lived and whom he labored so zealously and so long.
His honorable and useful life in this community has been an inspiration to all who knew him. His valued public service, his efficient business ability, his ab*** leadership, ****** **** ** Malad valley *** ***** *****.