BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS
Most likely born on his parents farm in Clay Township, Howard County, Indiana. At the time of his birth, his parents were located in a very rural place and it would have been extremely difficult to travel far, especially in mid-December. Apparently Arsemus was a very tiny baby when he was born, this perhaps being a sign he could have been premature; In addition, his parently apparently didn't have a name for him for some time; because of these facts it was orally passed down by his descendants that he received the nickname "Tynt" or "Tint" (a pet name referring to him being a tiny baby). He was eventually named "Arsemus Richmond" (sometimes in his early adult years written as Orsemus) which was the name of a local physician. Its more-than-likely Arsemus was named for the physician that carried the same unique name, perhaps the doctor having something to do with his delivery or stablizing his overall health as an infant.

EDUCATION AND FAITH
Arsemus could sign his own name and seems to have received some form of formal education probably in the Rickard Schoolhouse that was located on his parents property. Also while in Indiana he seems to have participated in the Cassville Christian Church, located only a couple miles from his parents home. In later life, specifically while in Oregon, he attended the Highland Friends Church, of the Quaker denomination, in Salem, Oregon.

MID-LIFE
From the time of their marriage in December 1873 until about 1890, Arsemus and Hannah seem to have made their home in rural Clay Township, Howard County, Indiana near his parents farm that he likely helped run. It was in this community that they were found on the 1880 Census and the first seven of their nine children seem to have been born. It is strongly assumed Arsemus engaged in farming and labor occupations during this time, the 1880 Census being the primary source to affirm this assumption.

In late 1889 or sometime in 1890 Arsemus moved his family to follow after his sister Sarah McIlwain and her family west to Marion County, Oregon. At first Arsemus settled in West Salem, Polk County in 1891 where son Sherman was born in June of that year. By October 1892 he was living in East Salem near the State Penitentiary and the Mill Creek Race where his son Howard Rickard fell in and drowned October 3rd of that year. Sometime after his daughter Bertha's birth in October 1893, but before 1900 Arsemus transported his wife and younger children still living at home back to Howard County, Indiana where he appears on the 1900 Census.

LATER LIFE
In 1903 he returned to Oregon where he settled permanently this time. He obtained a government land grant along with two of his sons (Charles and Farren) in 1905 around The Dalles, Oregon but didn't remain there long before he purchased about 40 acres in North Howell, Marion County under his wife's name about 1907. Arsemus farmed his property there until 1921 when he retired from farming and rented the farm to his son Earl until his death in 1930. After his death his widow sold the property to liquidate her assets and obtain money to live off of in the days pre-social security. In the mid-1910s Arsemus and Hannah had purchased a house on Church Street in Salem, Oregon and primarily lived there for the remainder of their lives. --- Written by his 2nd great grandson 11/26/2011 - Find-a-Grave Contributor #41712388