Excerpts from the obituary of William E. Richardson:

William Richardson was born in West Chester County, New York on April 2, 1842; he died at Alpha, Iowa, March 12, 1913, age 70 years 11 months and 10 days. Services were held at Alpha Methodist Church with burial at Rose Hill in Fredericksburg.

He resided where he was born until age 13, when he moved with his parents to Fulton, Rock County, Wisconsin.

9 May 1864 enlisted in Company C, 40th Wisconsin Infantry. Discharged 16 September 1864. Re enlisted 10 February 1865 in Company D, 49th Wisconsin Infantry. Served until 1 November 1865, at which time he received his final and honorable discharge.

He married 31 January 1867 to Ellen Paul. Lived in Wisconsin until 1873, at which time they came to Iowa, Mr. Richardson having previously purchased the farm 3 1/2 miles west of Alpha, until 1910, at which time they moved to Alpha.

Firmly believing that the righteous are not forsaken, he met the vicissitudes of life bravely. In the early days he tilled his farm through the summer months, and taught school during winter, tramping the almost trackless prairies through the most rigorous storms, all this that those he loved might be sheltered and fed. By frugality and industry he began to accumulate and to see the dark clouds of adversity vanish, toiling, rejoicing, seeing his children grow up in respectability; dealing with his fellow men in such a manner that he could meet them face to face he felt his life a success.

Nine years ago he was stricken with paralysis from which he never recovered.

There were born to them nine children, all living except Ellen Louise who died in infancy. They are: Paul, residing in Alpha; Carl, living four miles west of Alpha; Mrs. Georgia Glenn, of Chicago; Mrs. Margaret Winter, Alpha; Wm. T., residing on the old homestead; Mrs. Mary Austin, of Spokane, Washington; Mrs. Amanda Wells, Waverly, and George A., at home. There are one brother and two sisters: J.W. Richardson of Edgerton, Wis., Mrs. Emma Dickinson and Mrs. Mary Clark, both of Los Angeles, Cal., and twenty grandchildren. These with the faithful wife are left to mourn the loss of a kind husband, father and brother.