Bartlett Richards
Encyclopedia
Bartlett Richards was born January 6, 1862, in Weathersfield, Vermont
, the son of a Congregational church
pastor
. At the age of ten, after his father died, Richards was sent to Phillips Academy
in Andover, Massachusetts
. After graduation in August 1879, Richards moved west to Cheyenne, Wyoming
for a period of rest in the outdoors.
Richards quickly became involved with ranch
ing activities in the West. By 1881, he was managing three ranches in Wyoming
and a year later was put in charge of Lakotah and Rocky Mountain Cattle Companies. In 1883, representing Abram Stevens Hewitt
, Richards took over the Bronson Ranch (which was renamed the Lower 33) in Sioux County
, Nebraska
.
In 1885, Richard's brother, DeForest Richards
, moved west to open a bank in the boomtown
of Chadron, Nebraska
, which had just been reached by the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad
. Bartlett was named vice president of the bank
and in 1887 became president of Chardon's First National Bank. Richards was also involved with at least mine other banks in Nebraska and Wyoming, serving as stockholder
, vice president, and president. Although involved in banking activities Richards continued to operate the Lower 33 and Ox Yoke Ranches in Nebraska, including the Spade Ranch
empire. Richards died in Hastings, Nebraska
in 1911.
Weathersfield, Vermont
Weathersfield is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,788 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.2 square miles , of which 43.8 square miles is land and 0.4 square mile is...
, the son of a Congregational church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
. At the age of ten, after his father died, Richards was sent to Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
in Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
. After graduation in August 1879, Richards moved west to Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
for a period of rest in the outdoors.
Richards quickly became involved with ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
ing activities in the West. By 1881, he was managing three ranches in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
and a year later was put in charge of Lakotah and Rocky Mountain Cattle Companies. In 1883, representing Abram Stevens Hewitt
Abram Stevens Hewitt
Abram Stevens Hewitt was a teacher, lawyer, an iron manufacturer, chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1876 to 1877, U.S. Congressman, and a mayor of New York. He was the son-in-law of Peter Cooper , an industrialist, inventor and philanthropist...
, Richards took over the Bronson Ranch (which was renamed the Lower 33) in Sioux County
Sioux County, Nebraska
-National protected areas:* Agate Fossil Beds National Monument* Nebraska National Forest * Oglala National Grassland -Demographics:...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
.
In 1885, Richard's brother, DeForest Richards
DeForest Richards
DeForest Richards was an American banker, farmer, and politician. He was the fifth Governor of the state of Wyoming, and the first to die while still in office....
, moved west to open a bank in the boomtown
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
of Chadron, Nebraska
Chadron, Nebraska
Chadron is a city in Dawes County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,851 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dawes County. Chadron is the home of Chadron State College....
, which had just been reached by the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad
Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad
The Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad , sometimes called "the Elkhorn," was an American railroad established in 1869 in Nebraska.-About:...
. Bartlett was named vice president of the bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
and in 1887 became president of Chardon's First National Bank. Richards was also involved with at least mine other banks in Nebraska and Wyoming, serving as stockholder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
, vice president, and president. Although involved in banking activities Richards continued to operate the Lower 33 and Ox Yoke Ranches in Nebraska, including the Spade Ranch
Spade Ranch (Nebraska)
The Spade Ranch is a large cattle ranch located in the Sandhills of western Nebraska between the towns of Gordon and Ellsworth. Founded in 1888 by Bartlett Richards, the ranch was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980....
empire. Richards died in Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, United States. It is the principal city of the Hastings, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Adams and Clay counties. The population was 24,907 at the 2010 census...
in 1911.
See also
- Spade Ranch (Nebraska)Spade Ranch (Nebraska)The Spade Ranch is a large cattle ranch located in the Sandhills of western Nebraska between the towns of Gordon and Ellsworth. Founded in 1888 by Bartlett Richards, the ranch was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980....
- Ellsworth, NebraskaEllsworth, NebraskaEllsworth is an unincorporated community in Sheridan County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the community had a population of 32. Ellsworth was established in the late nineteenth century as a company town for the Spade Ranch and a shipping point for cattle on the Chicago,...