Charles H. and Lura Ann Scott Richardson
Of Windham County, Vermont:
A family sketch
Lura and Charles in their early twenties prior to marriage
Charles Herbert Richardson
(1833-1903)
Official Union Army photo
(Source-National Archives)
State of Vermont showing Windham County (southeast corner)
Townships in Windham County.
Map of Windham County showing cultural features
Lura Ann Scott Richardson
Charles Herbert Richardson
Charles Herbert Richardson was born October 20, 1833 in Saxton’s River,
Windham County, Vermont to Daniel and Achsah Rice Richardson, the fourth of 6
children, all boys. Saxton’s River is a village in Rockingham Township. Daniel and
Achsah’s family is recorded in the 1830, 1840 and 1850 census records as follows:
1830 census- Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont
Daniel Richardson Jr. 3 males under 5, 1 male of 30 and under 40, 1 female of 30 and
under 40
1840 census- Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont
Daniel Richardson Jr. 1 male under 5, 1 male 5 and under 10, 3 males 10 and under 15, 1
male 30 and under 40, 1 female 40 and under 50
1850 census- Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont
Daniel 48 male farmer worth $1200 born Vermont
Sarah 47 female born Vermont (Sarah Drury, second wife)
George 23 male Pedlar born Vermont
Marshall 21 male Pedlar born Vermont
Romanzo 19 male attends school born Vermont
Charles 17 male attends school Born Vermont
Boyden 14 male attends school Born Vermont
The Richardson brothers. 1- George; 2-Charles; 3- Marshall; 4- Boyden; 5- Romanzo
Charles valued education and was a religious man. He prepared for the ministry
by attending Ward Seminary in Saxtons River, Vermont and Leland and Gray Seminary
in Townshend, Vermont.
While living in Townshend, Charles became active in the Second Baptist Church.
In his history of Townshend, Phelps, 1877 (page 260) notes:
"No less than 10 young men have gone out from it (the Second Baptist Church) to
enter the gospel ministry and perpetuate its influence in other fields."
Of these, Charles Richardson was baptised March 9, 1854 and licensed Nov. 15,
1855.
Lura Ann Scott
Lura Ann Scott was born January 12, 1837 on the Scott family farm near
Townshend, Windham County, Vermont. She was the second of 4 children of Ward and
Cyrena Haile Scott, 2 did not live to adulthood. Lura Ann Scott was educated at the
District School and at Leland and Gray Seminary, both in Townshend, Vermont. She
later taught in the private school run by her husband. She had private pupils in
Monochrome, pencil, watercolor.
Scott family farm (about 1880) where Lura was born
and where she later married Charles.
Ward Scott (1807-1863), Lura’s father.
Lura’s family shows in the census records as follows:
1840 census- Townshend, Windham County, Vermont
Ward Scott family- 1 male under 5, 1 male 10 and under 15, 1 male 30 and
under 40, 1 female under 5 (Lura), 1 female 30 and under 40.
1850 census- Townshend, Windham County, Vermont
Ward Scott shows as a 43 year old farmer, worth $3000, born Vt; Cyrena,
38, female, born Vt; Lura, 12, female, born Vt, attends school; Henry, 10,
male, born Vt, attends school; Andrew, 4, male, born, Vt, attends school;
Nancy Hale, 68, female, born Vt (Cyrena’s mother)
Leland and Gray Seminary, Townshend
Both Charles and Lura attended this institution. Established in 1833 by the
Baptist Association, the school was named Leland Classical and English School in honor
of Aaron Leland, a minister who had endeared himself to the people of Southern
Vermont. The school building, erected in 1834, was a two-story, rectangular, brick
structure surmounted by a wooden tower. At the time of the Civil War, the Seminary
went through a period of great financial hardship. In response to the generosity of Deacon
Samuel Gray, the name of the school was changed to Leland and Gray Seminary in 1860.
The school was later converted to a public high school.
1856-1859- Student at Madison University, Hamilton, N.Y.
After completing schooling at Leland and Gray, Charles matriculated at Madison
University in Hamilton, New York, where he completed his freshman, sophomore and
junior years. During this time fame he married Lura Ann Scott August 22, 1858. Horace
Fletcher presided at the wedding. This appears to have occurred during the summer
between his sophomore and junior years. He was 24 and she was 21.
Madison University, Hamilton, New York
Originally a theological seminary, Madison University was incorporated in 1846
under the care of the Baptist denomination. Madison University was changed to Colgate
University in 1890.
A short biography of Charles is given in “The First Half Century of Madison
University (1819-1869)” by Colgate University, 1872:
“CHARLES H. RICHARDSON . Born at Saxton’s River, Vt., Oct. 20, 1833.
Entered Freshman Class, M. U., Dec. ’56, and continued till close of Soph. Year.
Married Miss Laura A. Scott, of Townshend, Vt., Aug. 22, 1858. Engaged with wife in
teaching until May, 1859. Then entered Junior Class of Amherst College, graduating in
’60. Studied Theol. two years at Newton, Mass., and settled at Massena, N. Y., July,
1862. Ordained Jan., 1863. In March, 1864, entered the army. (See War Record.) Pastor
at Felchville, Vt., 1865-1871. Now at Pittsfield, N. H.”
1859-1860 Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, student
Charles continued his education at Amherst College. Here their first child, Edward
Lucien Richardson, was born September 14, 1859. While at Amherst he was a member
of the Gamma Chapter of Psi Upsilon and the Alexandria Society.
Charles enjoyed his fraternal associations at Psi Upsilon as reported in Jacobs, A.E.
(1884) The Phi Upsilon Epitome (p. 170).
The ever popular air of "Landlord, fill the Flowing Bowl" was long ago seized upon
by the Rev. Charles H. Richardson (Gamma '60), who framed for it new words,
with this chorus : —
" Then to-night we'll merry, merry be,
Hearts brimful of gayety and glee,
Holding here our happy jubilee,
'Mid Psi U's jovial pleasures."
Depiction of Amherst College as it appeared to Charles and Lura, from the frontis
engraving of the 1859-1860 Annual Catalogue. On page 8 of that catalogue Charles is
listed with the Senior Class, from Townshend, Vermont, rooming at Mrs. Damon’s.
The following page from the same catalogue shows the classes seniors were
expected to take:
Tuition was $12 per term ($36 per year).
He and his wife, Lura, and their 9 month old son, Edward, show in the 1860
census for the town of Amherst in central Massachusetts. He is listed as a student.
In 1860 Charles graduated with a B.A. degree.
Newton Theological Seminary, Newton Centre, Massachusetts, 1860-62
Charles continued in school at Newton Theological Seminary, a Baptist graduate
school for those entering the ministry. He likely received an advanced degree, possibly a
Masters or D.D., but a record of such has not yet been found. In 1931 it merged with
another school to become the Andover Newton Theological Seminary.
Massena, N. Y., 1862-64, Pastorate
Charles received his first assignment at the Baptist Church in Massena, N.Y. in
St. Lawrence County in northern New York. During this time he was ordained a Baptist
minister January 8, 1863.
Massena Township as of 1865, Beer’s Atlas of St. Lawrence County
On March 24, 1864 Charles enlisted in the 92nd New York Infantry Volunteers.
The Ninety-second N.Y. Volunteer Infantry was organized and mustered into service at
Potsdam January 1, 1862, with Jonah Sanford as Colonel. This regiment made up
principally of men belonging to the county, although numbers enlisted from the adjoining
county of Franklin. The 92nd left the State Feb 17, 1862, and that portion of it which
remained to be mustered out returned Jan 10, 1865. The regiment was mustered out, by
reason of expiration of term of service, on Jan 7, 1865 at Albany, N.Y. It was engaged in
16 battles and in several skirmishes and reconnaissances, and repeatedly received the
special commendations of its commanding generals for the gallantry of its men. In its
lists of engagements are numbered the following: Williamsburg, Fair Oaks,
Chickahominy, White-Oak Swamp, Jones' Ford, Bottom's Bridge, Charles City CrossRoads, Black Water, Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro'. Charles joined the regiment as
chaplain after many of the battles and skirmishes had been fought. The table below lists
the action seen by the regiment with the killed, wounded and missing. Charles was
with the regiment for much of its service in Virginia.
92nd NY Infantry Volunteers, Regimental Flag
Charles reenlisted in the 98th N.Y. Infantry Volunteers (Company S) 31 January
1865 where he served until 31 August 1865.
98th NY Volunteers
IV Corps, Army of the Potomac; XVIII and XXIV Corps, Army of the James
Command and Staff
Colonel.............................Frederick F. Wead
Lieutenant-Colonel..............William Kreutzer
Major................................William H. Rogers
Quartermaster.................Ferdinand C. Shaw
Adjutant...........................Jacob K.R. Oakley
Chaplain......................Charles H. Richardson
Surgeon..............................James D. Benton
Assistant Surgeon..............Hiram D. Howland
Colonel Wead- 98th NY Infantry Volunteers
Organization
Organized at Albany, NY, February 5, 1862, by the consolidation of two
incomplete regiments, the Lyons and the Malone regiments. Companies were recruited as
follows:
A, B, C and E
Malone, Franklin County
D and G
Bangor, Franklin County
H
Fort Covington, Franklin County
F, K and I
Lyons, Wayne County
The 34th New York State Militia formed the nucleus of the regiment, which also
contained a few St. Regis Indians.
Itinerary
Departed New York, March 8, 1862; served in 3d Brigade, 3d Division, VI Corps,
Army of the Potomac, from March, 1862 * Siege of Yorktown, April 16 - May 4, 1862 *
Battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1862 * Bottoms Bridge, May 21 - 22, 1862 * Savage
Station, May 24, 1862 * Fair Oaks, June 24 - 25, 1862 * 1st Brigade, 2d Division, VI
Corps, from June, 1862 * Seven Days Retreat, June 25 - July 2 * 1st Brigade, Peck's
Division, VI Corps, from July, 1862 * At Yorktown, from August, 1862 * Naglee's
Brigade, 1st Division, Department of North Carolina, from December, 1862 * 1st
Brigade, 2d Division XVIII Corps, in Dept. of South Carolina, from January, 1863 *
District of Beaufort. North Carolina, from May 1863 * Newport News, Virginia, from
October, 1863 * Portsmouth, Virginia, from November, 1863 * District of Currituck,
Virginia, from December, 1863 * 1st brigade, 1st Division, XVIII Corps, Army of the
James, from April, 1864 * Operations against Petersburg and Richmond, May 5 - 31,
1864* Battle of Cold Harbor, June 1 - 3, 1864 * Assault on Petersburg, June 15, 1864 *
Before Chaffin's Farm, September 19 - October 1 * 2d Fair Oaks, October 27 - 19, 1864
* In New York Harbor, November, 1864 * 1st Brigade, 3d Division, XXIV Corps, from
December, 1864 * Fall of Petersburg, April 2, 1865 * 2d Brigade, 3d Division, XXIV
Corps, from June, 1865 * Honorably discharged under Lieutenant Col. William Kreutzer,
August 31, 1865, at Richmond, Virginia
Felchville, Vt., 1865-70, Pastorate
After serving in the Union Army in two different regiments from upstate New
York, Charles went to Felchville, Vermont where he became the pastor.
Felchville is a small village in southeastern Reading Township, Windsor
County, Vermont, very close to his and Lura’s families in Windham County,
the next county to the south. An 1874 history of Reading Township describes
the following:
“A Calvinistic Baptist church has existed in Felchville for many years. It commenced
feeble in numbers and in ability to maintain a clergyman, and for many years depended
upon supplies for a small part of the Sabbaths in the year, Rev. Joseph Freeman, D.D.,
Rev. Baxter Burrows and others having thus labored with them. A handsome and
commodious meeting house was erected by them in 1861 and the Rev. Robert G. Johnson
settled as their pastor.
He was succeeded by Rev. C.H. Richardson, Rev J.S. Small, and Rev. Geo. A. Parker,
the present incumbent. “
Some marriages performed by C.H. Richardson while in Felchville (an
incomplete record):
Parkhurst, Frederick
Atwood, Sarah
3 May, 1866
Branam, James
Cootey, Laura C.
7 June, 1866
Lee, Christopher C.
Stone, Jennie A.
30 Dec., 1866
Two daughters, Myrta and Bertha, were born while they lived in Felchville;
Myrta on June 25, 1866, and Bertha on July 08, 1869.
Pittsfield, N. H., 1870-71, Pastorate
Charles and Lura’s next home was in Pittsfield, New Hampshire where he served
in the local Free Baptist Church. It may have looked like this undated sketch below.
Pittsfield Free Baptist Baptist Church
The growing Richardson family shows in the 1870 census as follows:
1870 census for Pittsfield, Merrimack County, New Hampshire
Charles Richardson, 42, male, clergyman, value of personal estate- $400, born Vermont
Lura, 40, keeping house, born Vermont
Edward (sp?), 10, at school, born Vermont
Myrta, 8, born Vermont
Byrtha, 11/12 (July), born Vermont
Northville and Romeo, Mich., 1871-76, Pastorates
Charles next served in Michigan in the small communities of Northfield and Romeo. Of
this service there is little record except the following:
April 27, 1875- Charles H. Richardson was chosen pastor of the First Baptist Church of
Romeo, Macomb County, Michigan
However, Lyda and Calla were born in Michigan; Lyda on June 30, 1873 and Calla on
March 09, 1877.
1877-1889- Marshall, Minnesota, Home missionary 1876-78
Charles and Lura next moved to Marshall in Lyon County, southwestern Minnesota. He
was likely sent there under the auspices of the American Baptist Home Missionary
Society, an organization designed to serve the needs of foreign immigrants to the U.S.
The 1880 census for the Village of Marshall, Lyon County, Minnesota shows the family:
Charles H. Richardson, 46, Clergyman, born Vermont
Lura, 43, keeping house, born Vermont
Myrta, 13, at home, born Vermont
Bertha. 10, at home, born Vermont
Lyda, 6, at home, born Michigan
Calla, 3, at home, born Michigan
Scott, Sivena, 70, mother-in-law, born Vermont (note misspelling of first name)
Marshall was a small town in 1880 with a population of 961 people. It was founded as a
railroad company town in 1872. The first school house was built in 1874. At a school
meeting in September 1878, an addition to the schoolhouse was approved and Charles
was chosen to be on the building committee for the addition. In October 1878 the first
board of education was formed with Charles serving on it. Charles was a charter member
of the Odd Fellows Lodge organized December 18, 1879.
Also in December 1879, Charles served on a committee to organize fire protection for the
community. In the spring of 1881, a post of the G.A.R., composed of former Civil War
soldiers, was sought with Charles as one of 38 signers of the petition. The post was
mustered July 21, 1881. Charles served as post commander in 1889.
1884 business directory for the county does not show Charles as a pastor. In 1884 Charles
owned land – ne quarter of sec 12 near town (160 acres). This was a homestead land
patent dated 13 March 1879.
In January of 1880, Charles filed for an Invalid Pension stating that he was partially
disabled as a result of his service during the Civil War. His personal description in that
document states that he is 5 feet 11 inches, ruddy complexion, mouse colored hair and
blue eyes. The document states that in the line of his duty at Chapins Farm in Virginia on
or about the 5th of March 1865, he was preaching in the absence of any enclosed place of
worship to his own and another regiment in the open air and high wind, and their
contracted acute bronchitis and aphonia (inability to speak) which have since become
chronic and incurable. He was treated in the General Hospital for the Army of the James
at Point of Rocks Virginia by Surgeon Storrs from March 22 to April 6, 1865 and was
previously treated by his regimental surgeon. He declared himself to partially disabled
from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor or by preaching by reason of his injuries
and asked to be placed on the invalid pension roll of the U.S.
Lyon County, Minnesota 1883 List of Pensioners on the Roll
Richardson, Chas. H., Marshall, g. s. w. right lung (this differs from the pension
application above, thus it may be a different person or an error in the record)).
Sioux City, Iowa
About 1889 Charles and Lura moved to Sioux City, Iowa.
The 1889/1890 Sioux City, Iowa business directory shows the following for the family:
Charles H. Richardson Traveling agent, address 621 Virginia.
Miss Myrta Richardson, teacher, Webster school, boarding at 621 Virginia.
Charles joined the local GAR post and the Odd Fellows chapter.
There were three boarders.
The 1900 Census for Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa shows the family as follows:
Richardson, Charles White Male Born Oct 1833 Age 66 Married 41 years Born Vermont
Clergyman Owns Home Free of mortgage
____, Lura A. Wife White Female Born Jan 1837, 63, 5 children, 4 living, Born VT
____, Myrta Daughter White Female Born June 1866, 33, Single, No children, Born
Vermont School Teacher
____, Lida Daughter White Female Born June 1874, 25, Single, No children, Born
Michigan, School Teacher
Knutson, Calla Daughter White Female Born Mar 1877, 23, Married 1 year, no children,
Born Michigan
______, Chas A, Son-in-law White Male Born Oct 1873, 27, Married 1 year, Born Iowa,
Bank Teller
______, Theodore, Lodger, White, Male, Born Dec 1875, 24, Single, Born Iowa, ClerkDry goods
Price, Bertha, Granddaughter, White, Female, Born March 1900, 2 months old, Born
Iowa
In the late 1880s, providing for the needs of Union war veterans was one of the great
issues of the day. President Cleveland had incurred the voters' wrath by vetoing a major
pension bill in 1887. Congress, with considerable encouragement from the G.A.R.,
passed a measure in 1890 that provided pension assistance for all disabled (those unable
to do manual labor) former Union soldiers. Benefits were also expanded to veterans'
parents, widows and children. In 1894 and later in 1898 and 1902, Charles applied for an
increase in his Civil War pension based on this act.
John L. Hanchette, M.D., filed an affidavit in Charles’ behalf on Jan 31, 1894 which said:
“That he has been well and personally acquainted with C.H. Richardson for nearly 5
years, and that he has been suffering from rheumatism, from eye trouble also nervous
trouble. There has been bronchial and laryngeal trouble also existing. That he has
attended said C.H. Richardson in an attack of pneumonia in 1893 and other troubles
before and since. That the aforementioned disabilities have been sufficient to disable
claimant from his avocation. That they were not caused by vicious habits. That it is his
opinion claimant is disabled to that extent which would prevent him from earning a living
by manual labor.”
Poor health followed Charles while living in Sioux City and he died there May 11, 1903.
Lura applied for and received a widow’s pension and she died in Sioux City in 1907.
Civil War Pension Record- Index Card Ancestry Digital Image database
Charles H. Richardson
Widow- Lura A. Richardson
Chaplain 92 + 98 NY Inf
Date
Status Application Number Certificate Number State Filed
1880 Jan 19 Invalid
336927
201594
1903 June 30 Widow
786638
Iowa
Sources
Webpage describing service of the 98th New York Volunteers:
http://www.magpage.com/~33dny/98thnew.htm
Rose, Arthur P., [
An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota
Marshall, Minn.: Northern History Pub. Co., 1912, 659 pgs.
Case, C. F. [View Citation] [Table of Contents]
History and description of Lyon County, Minnesota : including a farm and
business directory
Marshall Minn.: Messenger Print. House, 1884, 111 pgs.
More work needs to be done to complete the source information.