John Richards : the hill and the mill

128 Pages·1984·31.59 MB·English

by  Sylvester L Quam

John Richards:
The Hill and The Mill
Authored and Published by
Sylvester L. Quam
Watertown, Wisconsin
Printed by
GJ Graphics, Inc.
Watertown, Wisconsin
©Copyright, 1984, by Sylvester L. Quam
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 84-~553
Table of Contents
Chapter Page
Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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1 Roots: The Hinsdale Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2 Student Days: Williams College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 Indians Abound in the Wisconsin Territory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4 John Richards on the Move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5 The Mills Below the Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6 Watertown's First Cemetery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
7 John Richards: A Pioneer in the Field of Education ............... ............. .............. 24
8 Laying Plans for the Octagon House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
9 Touring the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
10 Touring the Grounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
11 Richards' Hill Addition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
12 Building the Watertown Plank Road. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
13 John Richards: The Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
14 John Richards: The Mayor ... ........... ................................................ ..... 76
15 Eliza, Wife and Homemaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
16 Mrs. Anna Richards Thomas ...... ............ ........................... ........... ......... 83
17 Uncle Billy: Wm. R. Thomas ................................................................. 87
18 Family Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
19 Richards' Coat of Arms ....................................................................... 96
20 1933-1983 Historical Society Marks 50th Anniversary......... ................................ 98
Bibliography .................................................................................. 101
Appendices: ................................................................................... 102
Guides .................................................................................. 102
Resident Caretakers ....................................... ............................. 102
Attendance ............................................................... .............. 102
Presidents of the Watertown Historical Society ........................... ........ ...... 103
Admission Fees ......................................................................... 103
Genealogy of Forbes' and Richards' Families ................... .... ..... ............... 104
Index ................................................................................... 114
Dedicated to
GLADYS MOLLART
Queen of Richards' Hill
It is with a deep sense of respect and appreciation that this book is dedicated to Gladys Mollart. Without
her careful keeping and preservation of records, pictures, and documents, this book could never have been
completed. Her efforts in behalf of the Watertown Historical Society and the community will not soon be
forgotten.
Having been born in Watertown on January 11, 1895, Miss Mollart was the daughter of Lobegott and
Minna Mollart. Except for her college years, after which she graduated from Vasser College, and a few years
in New York during World War I, she has always lived in Watertown.
To speak and to know of the Watertown Historical Society is to speak and to know of Gladys Mollart--the
two are inseparable. Gladys Mollart along with Hans Gaebler were the prime movers in the establishment of
the historical society in 1933. The early minutes of the society reflect the earnest concern of Miss Mollart
regarding the preservation of the Octagon House. She was the major and motivating force in acquiring the
Richards' property in 1938. With the acquisition came the need for the restoration and the eventual opening of
the historic mansion as a public museum. This she accomplished as curator of the Richards' property from
1945 until her retirement in 1978. Gladys manned her post untiringly. To add to the debt of gratitude the
community owes to Gladys Mollart, we need but be reminded that all of her services were rendered gratis.
As we tour the grounds, we see other reminders of projects that Gladys executed: the mouing and
restoration of the building which housed the First Kindergarten in America; the mouing and refurbishing of a
pioneer barn; and the planning and building of an administration center which was named in her honor. Her
long awaited dream of the day when the porches could be restored on the Richards' home was realized in 1982.
Inspite of her advanced age, Gladys was priuleged to be present at the historic meeting in which the "go
ahead" vote was cast. (Ironically, Gladys abstained from voting.)
In addition to her many accomplishments on The Hill, she had time for other civic projects. To list them
would not be in the spirit of Gladys Mollart. She sought no credit or praise.
And now as Gladys spends the twilight years of a very fruit{u l career, one can only paraphrase the
Biblical commendation: Well done, thou good and faithful public seruant--Gladys Mollart!
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John Richards:
The Hill and The Mill
Preface
I owe a personal debt of gratitude to many
people.
An Octagon upon the Hill
Dear Bride for you I haste to make
I am grateful to the Watertown Historical
With mighty Rock to turn my Mill Society for their kindness in allowing me to
As we our claim to land do stake. consult and reproduce materials from the
Octagon House collection of manuscripts,
The swallow oft beneath our eaues
pictures and memorabilia related to the Richards'
Shall twitter from her clay-built nest, family.
Oft shall the pilgrim not take leaue To the city clerk, city librarian, Daily Times
'Til he has supped, a welcome guest. office, a special thanks for making their resources
available to me.
Around our iuied porch shall spring A special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Lee Block
Each fragrant herb that drinks the dew; for their critical and constructive reading of the
And Eliza, at her wheel, shall sing manuscript.
My most lasting debt is to Professor Jarvis
In russet gown and apron blue.
Bush, University of Wisconsin -- Oshkosh, the
And thus the verses could go on and on, even best of teachers and the kindest of friends, who
as the Richards' story. The account of the John taught me to appreciate the personal nature of
Richards' family and the building of their literature and to consider the people behind the
Octagon House is the subject of this book. It words.
constitutes what might be termed the greatest Judy will know the measure of my gratitude
love story Watertown has ever told. for having typed the shabby manuscript and also
This history of the Richards is of perennial to my children, Lisa, Amy, Mary, and Jan, whom
interest to thousands of visitors from all over the I thank for the cheerful manner in which they
world as they come to view the Octagon Home accepted life with a father who was at times lost
built by John Richards. Our greatest lament each in the 1800s, bothering about another family in a
year is that the guides can never tell our guests room full of books and papers strewn over the
enough of the message. It is with this thought in floor.
mind that I undertook the challenging project of Finally I thank Joseph 0. Rhodes, who has
setting the narrative in word and picture into been the most understanding, encouraging and
printed form. With encouragement from a host of patient of editors; also the master typist, Mimi
interested people, the project has moved forward Knick, who flawlessly brought this project to
to completion over the past three years. fruition.
Most of the information to be shared with
you, the reader, was readily accessible from the
archives of the Historical Society. Perhaps the
most difficult task has been to separate fact from
fancy. Many interesting romantic twists persist Sylvester L. Quam
as traditional "truths." Watertown 1984
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Chapter 1
Roots:
The Hinsdale Years
By the rude bridge that arched the flood, It was early in the morning of April 19, 1775,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, that a detachment of 700 British regulars was
secretly sent from Boston to destroy American
Here once the embattled farmers stood
military stores collected in Concord. Even though
And fired the shot heard round the world.
the minutemen had been alerted by Paul Revere,
---Ralph Waldo Emerson
the British were at first successful. As the
redcoats marched back toward Boston, they were
The year 17 75 is rich in American history.
attacked by an ever-increasing number of
The thirteen colonies were struggling for their
Americans who fired at them from behind trees,
political lives. Many battles were fought. One
buildings, and stone walls. The following
such conflict is well known to every school child,
certification of Captain Richards' status was
for who among us has not heard of Paul Revere
obtained from the Adjutant General's Office,
and his gallant brigade, but, how many of us has
Hartford, Connecticut, dated March 6, 1895. It
heard of brigadeer William Richards? Perhaps
reads:
none of us. He is important as the father of John
Richards, the builder of the famed Octagon This is to certify that Captain William
House in Watertown, Wisconsin. Richards served in the war of the Revolu-
HINSDALE - Around 1876. Many of early landmarks haue been rebuilt or disappeared. Note the Town Hall at the center of this uiew.
(Print courtesy of Berkshire Evening Eagle and Mrs. Gladys Hickingbotham)
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tion, and the following is his service
according to the records of this office.
Marched as Quarter Master, 'for the relief of
Boston in the Lexington Alarm' April 1775,
Number of days in service 30. Commissioned
Quarter Master May 20, 1775, in Colonel
Samuel H. Parson's Regiment, Discharged
Dec. 10, 1775. Reentered Continental service
as first Lieutenant in 1776, Commissioned
Captain (Heman) Swift's Regiment, Retired
with the army June 1783. In witness whereof
we have affixed hereto the seal of this office.
William E.F. Landers
Ass't Adjt. General
While Capt. Richards was born January 17,
1756, in Southborough, Massachusetts, his
immediate forebears had come from England. In HINSDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY. Built by Rev. Kingsley
Twining, 1866.
due course of time, William Richards took unto
himself one Monica Friszell as his second wife. Hinsdale's early settlers came from points in
Into this marriage eleven children were born, six
Connecticut about 1771. They were a hardy
daughters and five sons. The ninth child was people, living simple lives in humble homes.
John who was born in Hinsdale, Massachusetts, These sturdy people were reverent, full of love for
on April 13, 1806. This city lies in the western
religious and political freedom. They came to an
part of Massachusetts. unbroken wilderness, among savages, to make
their homes. First the home, next the place of
worship, and then the school were plans of most
American settlers. The second school on the Flat,
as Maple Street was then known, provided
advanced education for the more fortunate.
Graduates of this academy nearly all enrolled in
Williams College. The First Congregational
Church was built on schoolhouse hill and
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HINSDALE ACADEMY--TOWN HALL.Active from 1848-
1867; sold to town for high school; after 1876 a Town Hall.
Around 1960 converted into a recreational center. Clapboard
siding of Greek Revival style.
After Capt. Richards' discharge from
military service, very little is known about his
comings and goings. With a large family to feed
and to clothe, we can be certain he was blessed
with an extra measure of that indomitable
pioneer spirit needed to survive in peace time,
much less in wartime. One can deduce that he
was able to provide adequately for his large
family, based on the fact that all eleven of their
children reached adulthood and were married. To
further substantiate one's conjecture that the
family had financial stability, we need but recall FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. One of the oldest
that John, the fourth son, graduated from surviving Frederal churches. Built in 1798 by Ithmar Pelton.
Williams College. Another son, Nelson, is said to Sanctuary of Greek Revival design, partly restored in 1978.
Building moved to present site on Maple Street in 1857
have built a house which still stands on the East
requiring removal and rebuilding of upper tower and belfry.
Washington Road, in Hinsdale, Massachusetts. Undoubtedly the Richards worshiped here.
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