JONAH RICHARDS

DEATH OF JONAH RICHARDS
Jonah Richards died on Thursday evening of last week after a brief illness.
A short while before, his son Reuben died of typhoid fever, and the father
contracted the disease while ministering to the son. Mr. Richards was in
Chicago when he was taken sick. He came home to receive the attention which
his sickness demanded, but soon fell a victim to the disease which a short
while before brought death into his family.
Mr. Richards was born in Newport, Moumouth Shire, South Wales, June 15, 1828,
and came to this country in 1852, settling at Troy, N.Y.
From thence he came to Manitowoc in 1853 and opened a blacksmith shop. A short
while after that he opened a foundry and machine shop on Eighth street. He was
quite a hard worker and through industry, enterprise and excellent business
capacity his business grew until he had amassed quite a fortune. When appear-
ances gave promise that Manitowoc would become a city of considerable size, Mr.
Richards erected a number of large brick blocks some of which now represent so
much dead capital, as the hopes of the future of the city were not realized.
At an early day he turned his attention to vessel property. He first built the
tug J. Richards, which he soon after traded for the schooner Sea Gull. He pur-
chased a fourth interest in the Schr. Sea Gem, and later came in possession of
the tug Kitty Smoke. At the time of his death he was owner of the following
floating stock: Schrs. Alice Richards, three-fourths interest in the J.C.
Richards, May Richards, Mocking Bird, one-fifth interest in the Success, steam
barge Rube Richards and tug Kitty Smoke. At different times he owned wholly or
partially in addition to those given above, the schooners S.A. Wood, City of
Manitowoc, Blazing Star, one-half interest in the A.P. Nichols, Warren, one-half
interest in the El; Tempo, tug Willie Richards and propeller Benton.
A more enterprising or restlessly active man never lived. He was engaged in
various kinds of business and persevered in all, in many instances against much
adverse circumstances as would discourage most men, until he attained success.
He was public spirited and always a leader in everything pertaining to the public
interests of the place. Prosperity only increased his activity and his business
grew to large dimensions. It was a business that gave employment to many men and
thus his death is a public loss. He had indominitable energy and was never cast
down when adversity threatened. Had he lived a few years more his business was
such that he would be one of the wealthiest men of the state.
He was in all respects a self-made man. He acquired his property by industry and
foresight and through the prosecution of legitimate business. He managed the large
affairs in which he was interested, quietly, unostentatiously and invariably with
success. He began life poor and quit it a wealthy man. He will be missed by the
people of Manitowoc as in his death an enterprising, worthy man is lost.
His funeral took place on Monday and was attended quite largely.
Manitowoc Pilot Thursday, September 29, 1881
********
Through misinformation some errors occurred in the obituary notice of Mr. Jonah
Richards which appeared in our last issue. He did not contract the disease from
which his son Reuben died, from attendance at his sick bed, as he did not reach
home until after the death of his son. Mrs. Richards also wishes to state that
her husband did not die of the same disease which deprived her of her son as the
symptoms and treatment were entirely different. We make these corrections at her
request.
Manitowoc Pilot Thursday, October 6, 1881