Elijah Richard (1798 - 1881)

Born 14 Nov 1798 in Cedar Creek area, Frederick County, Colonial Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza H. (Thompson) Richard — married 23 Apr 1818 in Shenandoah County, Virginia

Died 22 Jun 1881 at age 82 in New London, Henry County, Iowa

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Biography

Elijah Richard was born in the Cedar Creek Valley of Frederick County in 1798, grew up in the area and while still a youngster worked with a merchant in Winchester, Virginia. When about twenty years of age he settled in Woodstock, Virginia, where he married but by 1820 moved back to the Cedar Creek area, this time on the Shenandoah County side, and farmed land given to him by his father. Here children were born and raised but in 1841 he decided to move to Iowa, where farm land was cheap and opportunities were plentiful. Elijah and his family arrived in New London a town in Henry County, Iowa, in October, 1841 and purchased some farm land nearby. After a few years he gave up farming and opened a general store in the town of New London and became a successful businessman in the community.

Sources

• Vogt and Kethley, Virginia Historic Marriage Register, Shenandoah County Marriage Bonds, 1772-1850, Athens, GA (1983), p, 246.
• United States Census, 1820, Virginia, Shenandoah County, Strasburg (included Cedar Creek), p. 155. Next to Michael Strosnider.
• United States Census, 1850, Iowa, Henry County, New London, family #, 55,p. 162A.
• United States Census, 18880, Iowa, Henry County, New London, dwellling #82, p. 363D.
• Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry County, Iowa, Chicago (1888), pp. 228-231.
• Tombstone inscription, Farlow Cemetery, New London, Iowa. Find A Grave: Memorial #19550833.