Civil War veteran of Company D, 52nd WI Infantry

1860 Federal Census: WI, Manitowoc County, Manitowoc Twp:
Dana Richardson, 24, Printer, b Vermont
Sarah Richardson, 23, b Ireland
Chd: Mary E.-1 b Wisconsin

Enlisted: March 4, 1865 as a Corporal, from Manitowoc, WI, Married, 39 year-old Printer, 5'4", brown eyes, dark hair.
Mustered Out: July 28, 1865 at Leavenworth, KS

1870 Federal Census: WI, Manitowoc County, Manitowoc Ward 4:
Dana Richardson, 34, Printer, RE 1500, PE 400, b MA.
Sarah Richardson, 33, Keeps house, b Ireland

1880 Manitowoc City Directory: "Dana Richardson, Printer, residence South Main Street, between State and Chicago"

1884 Manitowoc City Directory: "Dana Richardson, printer, r. e s N Main, 4 n Chicago"

Pension Application: 11 September 1891 by veteran Dana Richardson in Wisconsin

1894 Manitowoc City Directory: "Dana Richardson, printer, Tribune office, 419 n. 10th"

1897 Manitowoc City Directory: "Dana Richardson, foreman Tribune, res. 419 N. Main"

1899 Manitowoc City Directory: "Dana Richardson, res 419 N. 10th"

1901 Manitowoc City Directory: "Dana Richardson, printer, r. 419 N. Main"

Manitowoc Daily Herald, September 24, 1904  P. 1: "OLDEST PRINTER IN STATE IS DEAD  Dana Richardson, Who Bore that Distinction, End Long Life Aged 78. FAILING FOR A LONG TIME Had Been a Resident of This City For 48 Years and Was Best Known of Pioneers-Learned Printer’s Trade in 1840. Dana Richardson, who in life bore the distinction of being the oldest printer in the state of Wisconsin, having learned his trade in 1840, is dead at his home on North Tenth street, his demise occurring late Friday evening after an illness that had prostrated him for many weeks. Mr. Richardson was one of the older residents of this city, having come here in 1856, and continued his residence almost continuously since. He had been identified with the publication of nearly every newspaper ever launched in the city and for years was the foreman of the Tribune, now the Citizen. Born in Vermont in 1826, Mr. Richardson came west with his family in 1836, locating at Kenosha where he soon entered a newspaper plant and learned his trade.  He was a school mate of L. P. Harvey, who later became governor of the state and also attended school with P. P. Smith, the oldest resident of this city. While employed in the Courier office at Kenosha he carried election tickets horseback to Lake Geneva and other places. At the time of the gold discoveries in California he became imbued with the fever and set out for a trip around Cape Horn and to San Francisco, where he was taken ill. After his recovery he learned the mason’s trade and came here soon after when the old Glover building was being erected. Although enlisted in the Union army for the Civil war, Mr. Richardson saw but little service, being with the 52nd Wisconsin Regiment, Co D., which was stationed at Little Rock, Ark., in 1864. Returning here at the close of the war, he resumed work as a printer and followed the craft until age forced his retirement. To the very last of his life, however, he evinced a great interest in the business and made daily visits to the newspaper office while he was able. His chief interest in life was in the progress of the newspaper world and he enjoyed nothing better than to recall early day incidents. He was an inoffensive man, who made many friends, who will be sincerely grieved to know that his end has come. Besides the aged wife, who has been his constant companion and attendant Mr. Richardson is survived by a niece, Mrs. W. Strong, Kenosha and two half-brothers, Frank and Chas. Demming of Chicago. The funeral will take place Monday morning from Sacred Heart church."