Richard was born about 1844. He was the son of James Shoptaw. He passed away after 1870.
Sources
*"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M67D-K95 : 12 April 2016), Richard Shoptaw in household of James Shoptaw, Pope county, Pope, Arkansas, United States; citing family 415, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M87R-9F9 : 13 December 2017), Richard Shoptaw in entry for James Shoptaw, 1860. Clarke Township, Pope County, Arkansas
"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNC8-MLS : 7 June 2019), Richard Shoptaw in entry for Alfus T Shoptaw, 1870. Illinois Township, Pope County, Arkansas