R. M. Bishop
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Richard Moore Bishop (1812 - 1893)

Richard Moore (R. M.) Bishop
Born in Fleming County, Kentucky, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , , , and
Husband of — married 11 May 1834 in Fleming County, Kentucky, United Statesmap
[children unknown]
Died at age 80 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, United Statesmap
Problems/Questions
Profile last modified | Created 11 Nov 2014
This page has been accessed 1,413 times.
Preceded by
Thomas L. Young
34th Governor of Ohio
1878 - 1880
Succeeded by
Charles Foster

Biography

Notables Project
R. M. Bishop is Notable.

Richard Bishop, also known as Richard M. Bishop and Papa Richard, was an American politician from the U.S. state of Ohio. Bishop served as the 34th governor of Ohio.

Richard Moore Bishop was born 4 Nov 1812 in Fleming County, Kentucky[1] to George D. and Nancy (Moore) Bishop.[2] His business career began there, with a position as a store clerk at the age of 17. By 1877 he ran one of the largest wholesale groceries in Cincinnati, Ohio, generating as much as five million dollars in annual sales.[3] He married Mary (Threlkeld) Bishop in 1834. The couple had eight children together and were married for almost fifty years before Mary died of pneumonia in 1883.[4] Having served in a wide variety of business, political and charitable positions throughout his life, Richard died ten years later at age 80.[1]

Family and Early Life in Kentucky

Many biographical sketches written about Richard during his lifetime mention his parents' migration from Virginia to Kentucky in 1800.[3] Current research cannot verify their departure or arrival, but George Bishop first appeared on the Fleming County tax list in 1802.[5] His first known deed was in 1806 on Poplar Run, a branch of Fleming Creek. There he purchased 80 acres from Lewis Craig,[6] religious pioneer and leader of The Travelling Church (the largest group to migrate to the Kentucky district in a single movement: about 600 people in 1781).[7]

Like Craig, the Bishops were early Baptists, and in 1828 George Bishop was among the original trustees of the first Poplar Run meeting house.[8] However, during The Restoration Movement inspired by Alexander Campbell, the Bishop family (including Richard) and others in their congregation were charged with "Campbellite Heresy" and excluded from the Baptist church.[3] Religion would remain a strong influence throughout Richard's life: he would later sit on the board of Bethany College[9] (which Campbell founded), serve as president of the Ohio State Missionary society and succeed Alexander Campbell as president of the General Christian Missionary Convention.[1]

Richard's father was a very successful tanner and currier in the area, and all of George and Nancy Bishop's sons migrated to the commercial rather than the agricultural side of early Kentucky life. In 1830 Richard became a store clerk and performed so well that he was made a partner in that business in 1834 (before he reached the majority age of 21).[3] In that same year, Richard married Mary Threlkeld on 11 May 1834 in Fleming County.[10] 1835 would bring both the birth of their first child, William, and the death of Richard's father.[11]

Around 1838, the couple had their second child, and Richard went into business with his brother exporting pork south by river.[3] The 1840 census listing for Richard shows a male and female 20-30 (Richard and Mary), one male 5-10 (William), and two females under 10 (Ellen and Caroline). There are also two unaccounted-for men in the household: one 20-30 and one 15-20. Three people were engaged in commerce, so it's likely these men were relatives and/or apprentices. At this time Richard also held four slaves, a woman 24-35 and three children under 10, a girl and two boys.[12] [See Slaves of Richard Moore Bishop for current research on these individuals.]

Flag of Kentucky
R. M. Bishop migrated from Kentucky to Ohio.
Flag of Ohio

Initially the pork-shipping business did well, and in 1847 Richard briefly moved to Montgomery County, Kentucky, to open a branch office. But by the following year he decided to move to Cincinnati, Ohio and establish a wholesale grocery, Bishop, Wells & Co. with William Wells[3] [see Research Notes]. The 1850 census shows Richard's family in the household of his brother-in-law, physician William Threlkeld. A young William Wells (24), and Henry Bishop (20), lived in the home as well, listed as clerks (probably Richard's nephews).[13]

Children

  1. William T. Bishop (1835 - 1908) - Married Elizabeth Warrick in 1855.[1][14]
  2. Ellen T. Bishop (1838 - 1896) - Married William S. Dickinson in 1855.[1][15]
  3. Caroline W. Bishop (1840-1842)[16]
  4. Mary Amanda Bishop (1843 - 1888) - Married William T. Moore in 1864.[17][18]
  5. Richard H. Bishop (1845 - 1913) - Married Alice Shinkle in 1869.[1][19]
  6. James A. Bishop (1848 - 1901) - Married Lida Wheeler about 1870.[1][20]
  7. Anna M. Bishop (1852 - 1936) - Apparently did not marry.[21]
  8. Carrie Bishop (1856 - 1911) - Apparently married Charles H. Boaz, not documented as yet.[1][22]
All of the 8 listed children except Caroline (1840-1842) appear consistently in Richard's 1850, 1860 and/or 1870 census families. All are buried in Richard's family plot at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, again with the exception of the two-year-old Caroline, who is buried in the Poplar Run Cemetery in Fleming County, Kentucky.

Business, Politics and Other Public Service

Notables Project
R. M. Bishop is Notable.

In 1855, William Wells retired from the business and Richard's eldest son William stepped in. In later years his other two sons would also join the company, under the new name of R.M. Bishop & Company. Richard first entered politics in 1857, when he ran for and won a seat on the city council. In 1858, he became its president. Following that, he served as the city's mayor from 1859-1861.[23] During his tenure in Cincinnati politics, the city was the seventh-largest in the nation with a population of 161,044.[24] The Prince of Wales visited the city in 1860 at Richard's invitation,[25] and Richard gave the welcoming address when president-elect Abraham Lincoln traveled through the city on his inaugural trip to Washington D.C.[26]

At this pivotal time in the country's politics, the 1860 census shows Richard's family doing well. His real estate was valued at $53,600, and his personal estate was valued at $60,000. Five of his own children still lived at home; Richard H. and Anna attended school. His brother Alexander lived with them, as well as two young men (possibly nephews), Jacob C. Bishop (15) and Richard Bishop (13). The household employed 4 servants.[27] With his term as mayor drawing to a close, both the Democratic and Republican parties asked him to run for a second term, but Richard "retired from politics" in 1861.[9]

For the next decade, Richard was said to spend much time beautifying the grounds around his home.[9] He also served as president of the board of curators, Kentucky University (later merged with Transylvania University) in 1865,[28] became president of the General Christian Missionary Convention (1867-1874),[1] and served on the board of trustees for the Cincinnati Southern Railroad in 1869.[29]

By 1870 Richard's real estate holdings had increased to $250,000 and his personal estate to $100,000. His household included his wife and two youngest daughters as well as daughter Mary, her husband William T. Moore (a minister) and their two children. A thirteen-year-old girl, Arie Bishop was also in the home (possibly a niece), as well as five servants.[17]

Richard returned to politics in 1873, serving as a delegate at the Ohio Constitutional Convention.[23] In 1877 he won his campaign for governor of Ohio, holding office from 1878-1880. His final service in politics was as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1888.[30]

While visiting his sons in Florida, Richard contracted malaria and pneumonia. He died on 2 Mar 1893 and is buried in his family plot in the Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.[1][31]

Research Notes

  • No direct evidence has yet been found that Richard's father is George D. Bishop. However, George is the only Bishop of appropriate age to be Richard's father living in Fleming County, Kentucky in the 1810 and 1820 census records. Though George Bishop left a will, it names only his wife Nancy, youngest children Alexander and Nancy Harriet, and "other children."[32] Further research into George may bring more conclusive evidence to light.
  • In 1838, Richard went into business with his brother exporting pork south by river. No source has been found yet to indicate with which brother Richard originally went into business. Also, the many biographies on Richard imply that this partnership ended when Richard moved to Ohio in 1848. However, both advertisements found (1855 and 1862) clearly list George W. Bishop (Richard's brother) as a partner. It's possible that George W. was Richard's initial partner; whether he was an active partner or merely a silent, financial partner in the Cincinnati wholesale business is unclear. Further, Richard's sister-in-law, Ann Threlkeld (born about 1808) had married a William Wells: he also seems likely to have been Richard's business partner in Bishop, Wells & Co. Further documentation on that family, however, has been difficult to locate.
  • Some sources lists Richard's business with his sons as R.M. Bishop & Sons, though the only direct evidence found for a business under this name to date is Richard's obituary. That may have been the name of a tobacco/cigar company he and his sons had after the wholesale grocery business. Further research needed.
  • Unable to locate 1880 census.
  • Disambiguation: This man's photo has been widely and erroneously attached on Ancestry.com to his nephew Richard Moore Bishop (abt.1845-abt.1903).
  • Needs profiles created for children.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 The Evening Bulletin, (Maysville, Ky.) 3 March 1893, page 4, column 1. Accessed via Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress, 20 Jul 2021. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87060190/1893-03-03/ed-1/seq-4/>
  2. ↑ "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRVV-4MW : 16 March 2020), George Bishop and Nancy Moore, 1797, image 7 0f 851; citing Berkeley County, West Virginia, county clerk's office, marriage bonds 1781-1858, page 19, line 31.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 The Spirit of Democracy, (Woodsfield, Ohio) 7 Aug 1877, page 3, column 4. Accessed via Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress, 23 Jul 2021; https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038115/1877-08-07/ed-1/seq-3/
  4. ↑ The Bourbon News, (Millersburg, Ky.) 6 Jul 1883, page 3, column 6. Accessed via Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress, 23 Jul 2021; https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86069871/1883-07-06/ed-1/seq-3/
  5. ↑ Fleming County, Kentucky, Tax Book 1798-1815, citing 1802, FamilySearch unindexed images, accessed 16 Jul 2021, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHS-Y99Y-Q, image 139/1149.
  6. ↑ Fleming County, Kentucky Deeds, 1798-1900; index, 1798-1962, Vol. B, page 242-3; Family search unindexed images, accessed 16 Jul 2021; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-J9VF-Q, image 134/526.
  7. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, The Travelling Church, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Travelling_Church&oldid=1033835287 (accessed July 28, 2021).
  8. ↑ Charles L. Atkinson, History of the Flemingsburg Baptist Church and Earlier Baptist Churches of Fleming County, no publication date [after 1965], page 14. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/319725-history-of-the-flemingsburg-baptist-church-and-the-earlier-baptist-churches-of-fleming-county
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Our Campaigns political database, https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=36951, accessed 6 Jul 2021. Saved to the WayBackMachine 28 Jul 2021.
  10. ↑ Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QD-72HV : 2 Jul 2021), Richard Bishop and Mary Threlkeld, 11 May 1834; citing Marriage, , Fleming, Kentucky, United States, various county clerks and county courts, Kentucky; FHL microfilm 344,015.
  11. ↑ Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PQ3-7Y1) accessed 27 Jun 2021), Fleming > Will records, Index, 1834-1837, Vol. E > image 166 of 244; county courthouses, Kentucky; Fleming County, wills Vol E 1834-1837, page 387-391; citing estate sale.
  12. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT8-YWV : 8 December 2020), Richard M Bishop, Elizaville, Fleming, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 195, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
  13. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXQW-DGN : 1 July 2021), Richard Bishop in household of William Threlkeld, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  14. ↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9S9-B716: 13 Jul 2021), William T. Bishop and Elizabeth Warrick, 16 May 1855; 005552779 > image 149 of 422; citing Fleming County, Kentucky, United States; Office of county clerk, Marriage Record Book B (182601857), page 22, line 7.
  15. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-9132-TN: 13 Jul 2021), William S. Dickinson and Ellen T. Bishop, 17 May 1855; Hamilton > Marriage records 1855 vol B9 > image 36 of 301; county courthouses, Ohio.
  16. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 13 July 2021), memorial page for Caroline W Bishop (6 Feb 1840–26 May 1842), Find A Grave: Memorial #65451668, citing Poplar Run Baptist Cemetery, Fleming County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by dixychik (contributor 46909190).
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M62X-6TB : 1 Jul 2021), R M Bishop, 1870, 15th Ward, Cincinnati North half, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States; citing page 28-9, dwelling 161, family 155, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  18. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-913F-61 : 13 Jul 2021), William Y. Moore and Mollie A. Bishop, 28 Jun 1864; Hamilton > Marriage records 1864-1865 vol B24 page 77 > image 83 of 285; county courthouses, Ohio.
  19. ↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89S7-WWW9 : 13 Jul 2021), Richard H. Bishop and H. Alice Shinkle, 4 Nov 1869; 004263503 > image 90 of 479; citing Fleming County, Kentucky, United States, office of the county clerk, marriage register 1863-1876, page 78, line 1.
  20. ↑ "Florida Deaths, 1877-1939", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FP8B-PZW : 13 Jul 2021), James A. Bishop in entry for Lida Wheeler Bishop, 1919.
  21. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WKP-DHP : 13 Jul 2021), Anna Bishop, 6 Mar 1936; citing Death, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,079,282.
  22. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:271B-PYM : 13 Jul 2021), Carrie Bishop Boaz, 1911.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 The Stark County Democrat (Canton, Ohio) 09 Aug. 1877, page 6, column 3. Accessed via Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress, 25 Jul 2021. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84028490/1877-08-09/ed-1/seq-6/>
  24. ↑ Table 9: Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1860, U.S. Bureau of the Census, internet release date 15 Jun 1998; accessed 21 Jul 2021; https://www2.census.gov/library/working-papers/1998/demo/pop-twps0027/tab09.txt Saved to the WayBackMachine 28 Jul 2021.
  25. ↑ Cleveland Morning Leader (Cleveland, Ohio) 1 Oct 1860, page 4, column 1. Accessed via Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress, 28 Jul 2021; https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83035143/1860-10-01/ed-1/seq-4/
  26. ↑ The Highland Daily News (Hillsboro, Ohio) 21 Feb 1861, page 2, column 4. Accessed via Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress, 28 Jul 2021; https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038158/1861-02-21/ed-1/seq-2/
  27. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLH-563 : 1 Jul 2021), R M Bishop, 1860, 15th Ward, Cincinnati East half, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States; citing dwelling 419, family 545, NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  28. ↑ J. B. Bowman to Thomas E. Bramlette, 24 June 1865, Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's Official Correspondence File, 1863-1867, BR1-70 to BR1-71, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, http://discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-009-0038, (accessed July 2, 2021). Saved to the WayBackMachine 28 Jul 2021.
  29. ↑ Circular, Cincinnati Southern Railroad, trustees, 1873, page 26. Accessed via Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/circularoftruste00cinciala/page/26/mode/2up?q=Richard+M.+Bishop. Accessed 3 Jul 2021.
  30. ↑ Democratic Northwest (Napoleon, Ohio) 24 May 1888, page 6, column 1. Accessed via Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress, 28 Jul 2021; https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84028296/1888-05-24/ed-1/seq-6/
  31. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 02 July 2021), memorial page for Richard Moore Bishop (4 Nov 1812–2 Mar 1893), Find A Grave: Memorial #5071, citing Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by Find A Grave.
  32. ↑ Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990, database with images, FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPQ3-7VB, accessed 27 Jun 2021), Will of George D. Bishop, 1835, Fleming > Will records, Index, 1834-1837, Vol. E > image 124 of 244, page 308; county courthouses, Kentucky; Fleming County; citing wife Nancy, son Alexander, daughter Nancy Harriet & other children unnamed, Henry and Jacob Bishop, executors.

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Images: 5
Richard M. Bishop
Richard M. Bishop
Fleming and Montgomery Counties in Kentucky
Fleming and Montgomery Counties in Kentucky
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Official Portrait of Richard M. Bishop, Governor of Ohio
Official Portrait of Richard M. Bishop, Governor of Ohio
R. M. Bishop Obituary
R. M. Bishop Obituary


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