Stephen Calvin Richardson was this writer's paternal great grandfather through his youngest daughter Meda, then through Meda's son Tom Roy Dennis. Stephen was the son of Stephen Cummings Richardson and Nancy (Shead/Shedd), both of whom were born in Massachusetts in about 1810.

Stephen was also born in Massachusetts. The family lived in Illinois for a time as two of Stephen's younger siblings were born in that state. In the 1850 census, Stephen was age 18, living in Sylvester, Green County, Wisconsin, with his parents and 3 siblings.

Stephen married Caroline Elizabeth Woodward in about 1855 in Wisconsin. Their first child was born in May, 1856 in Wisconsin.

They had the following known children:

Emma Evelin Richardson 1856 – 1946
Caroline Rosamond Richardson 1857 –
Mary Adeline Richardson 1859 –
Stephen C. Richardson 1860 –
Francis Marion Richardson 1861 –
Henry Lewis Richardson 1864 – 1945
John Everett Richardson 1865 –
Iva Bell Richardson 1867 –
Marquis Lafayette Richardson 1871 –
Rev. Ona Hull Richardson 1874 – 1942
Meda June Richardson 1877 – 1950

The 1860 census shows Stephen and his own family living in Sylvester, Green County, Wisconsin. Census records also show that their first seven children were born in Wisconsin.

Stephen Calvin Richardson served in the Civil War as a private in Company K 22nd Wisconsin Infantry from August 15, 1862 to May 15 1863.

After the war, the Richardsons moved to Adair County, Missouri, and their last four children were born there. They are listed in the 1870 census in Township 61, Range 14 of Adair County. In 1880, they were in Wilson Township of Adair County, Missouri, but by 1900 had moved south to Independence Township of Macon County, Missouri. They probably moved there before 1888 as Caroline died that year and was buried at Shirley Cemetery near Elmer in Macon County, Missouri.

In the 1900 census of Macon County, Missouri, Stephen Richardson 68 and his youngest child Meda Richardson 22 were the only ones in the household. In Macon County, they met a mother and son named Lucy (Reeder) (Dennis) Varvil and Chester Dennis. In 1900 Chester was also 22 and was the only child left at home with his mother Lucy and his step-father George Varvil. George died in 1901. On December 29, 1902 Stephen and Lucy, and Meda and Chester applied for marriage licenses. The older couple was married December 31, 1902, and the young couple was married the next day, January 1, 1903.

Stephen died in 1907 and was buried by his first wife, Caroline, at Shirley Cemetery near Elmer, Missouri.

The 1910 census shows Lucy Richardson as widowed and living alone at age 69 in Independence Township of Macon County, Missouri; and Chester and Meda Dennis living in Walnut Creek Township of Macon County, Missouri.

In July 1914, Lucy entered Missouri State Mental Hospital #1 where she died on February 23, 1916. Her death certificate states she was buried at Elmer, Missouri but does not specify which cemetery. This writer believes, however, that she is probably buried at Elmer Cemetery beside her husband George Varvil. Lucy's son Charlie Dennis is buried on one side of George Varvil, and there is a unmarked grave on the other side of George which I believe is Lucy. The burial location of Lucy's first husband Lewis Dennis is presently unknown, but he would be in either Sullivan or Macon County, Missouri.

- Written by Blytha (Dennis) Ellis, daughter of Tom Roy Dennis, who was the son of Meda June (Richardson) Dennis, who was the daughter of Stephen Calvin and Caroline (Woodward) Richardson.