Montana Governor. Born in Delaware City, Delaware, he received a local schooling, and began his adult life as a clerk and bookkeeper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Later he took these skills westward, first to Pueblo, Colorado and then to San Francisco, California. On the west coast, he was employed in mercantile sales; his interests eventually expanded into the fields of insurance, real estate and oil. Following the death of his first wife, Rickards moved to Butte, Montana where he engaged in the insurance and real estate business. In 1885 Rickards was elected as an Alderman in Butte, Montana. Later he was elected to the Territorial Legislature, serving from 1887 until 1889. He was a member of the Montana Constitutional Convention in 1889. Upon Montana’s admission as a state, Rickards was chosen to be the first Lieutenant Governor. In 1892, Rickards was elected as the Governor of Montana, and he served from January 2, 1893 until January 3, 1897. As Governor, Rickards’ major contributions were the creation of a state legal code, the establishment of state agencies and infrastructure, and the development of a State Board of Education. Following his term in office, Rickards retired from public life and returned to California. There he resumed his business interests, and later was appointed to a position with the Census Bureau. He died in Berkley, California on December 26, 1927.

Montana Governor. Born in Delaware City, Delaware, he received a local schooling, and began his adult life as a clerk and bookkeeper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Later he took these skills westward, first to Pueblo, Colorado and then to San Francisco, California. On the west coast, he was employed in mercantile sales; his interests eventually expanded into the fields of insurance, real estate and oil. Following the death of his first wife, Rickards moved to Butte, Montana where he engaged in the insurance and real estate business. In 1885 Rickards was elected as an Alderman in Butte, Montana. Later he was elected to the Territorial Legislature, serving from 1887 until 1889. He was a member of the Montana Constitutional Convention in 1889. Upon Montana’s admission as a state, Rickards was chosen to be the first Lieutenant Governor. In 1892, Rickards was elected as the Governor of Montana, and he served from January 2, 1893 until January 3, 1897. As Governor, Rickards’ major contributions were the creation of a state legal code, the establishment of state agencies and infrastructure, and the development of a State Board of Education. Following his term in office, Rickards retired from public life and returned to California. There he resumed his business interests, and later was appointed to a position with the Census Bureau. He died in Berkley, California on December 26, 1927.

Bio by: Ernest