Reese G. Richards
Encyclopedia
Rees G. Richards was an American
Republican politician who served as the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
from 1882 to 1884.
.
, July 30, 1864. He was held prisoner at Asylum Prison Camp near Charleston, South Carolina
until his escape February 16, 1865. He and two colleagues made it to Union lines at Chattanooga, Tennessee
March 16, 1865. He was appointed brigade inspector May 11, 1865, and mustered out July 17, 1865.
and engaged in mercantile business for two years, then six years in Irondale, Ohio
. In 1873, and again in 1875, he was elected to represent Jefferson County, Ohio
in the Ohio House of Representatives
at the 61st and 62nd General Assemblies In 1876 he was admitted to the bar. He represented the 22nd district in the Ohio Senate
in the 63rd and 64th General Assemblies (1878-1881). In 1881, he defeated Democrat Edgar M. Johnson for election as Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, and could have had the nomination in 1883, had he wanted it.
He was elected to two terms as Common Pleas Judge of Jefferson County while living in Steubenville, Ohio
, starting in 1902, and died February 10, 1917.
and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican politician who served as the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
The position of lieutenant governor of Ohio was established in 1852. The lieutenant governor becomes governor if the governor resigns, dies in office or is removed by impeachment. Before 1852, the president of the Ohio State Senate would serve as acting governor if a vacancy in the governorship...
from 1882 to 1884.
Early life
Rees G. Richards was born July 22, 1842 near Swansea, Wales, and lived there until age 10. His family then moved to Ontario, Canada before removing to Tioga County, PennsylvaniaTioga County, Pennsylvania
Tioga County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,981. Tioga County was created on March 26, 1804, from part of Lycoming County and named for the Tioga River. Its county seat is Wellsboro....
.
Civil War
At the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War, he enlisted as a first sergeant in Company G of the 45th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry September 18, 1861. He was promoted to second lieutenant July 31, 1862, to captain September 14, 1862. He re-enlisted as a veteran January 1, 1864, and was captured at the CraterBattle of the Crater
The Battle of the Crater was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the Siege of Petersburg. It took place on July 30, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Major General George G. Meade The...
, July 30, 1864. He was held prisoner at Asylum Prison Camp near Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
until his escape February 16, 1865. He and two colleagues made it to Union lines at Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
March 16, 1865. He was appointed brigade inspector May 11, 1865, and mustered out July 17, 1865.
Political
After the war, he moved to Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
and engaged in mercantile business for two years, then six years in Irondale, Ohio
Irondale, Ohio
Irondale is a village in Jefferson County, Ohio, United States. The population was 418 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Irondale is located at ....
. In 1873, and again in 1875, he was elected to represent Jefferson County, Ohio
Jefferson County, Ohio
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 69,709. Its county seat is Steubenville and is named for Thomas Jefferson, who was at the time Vice President....
in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
at the 61st and 62nd General Assemblies In 1876 he was admitted to the bar. He represented the 22nd district in the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
in the 63rd and 64th General Assemblies (1878-1881). In 1881, he defeated Democrat Edgar M. Johnson for election as Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, and could have had the nomination in 1883, had he wanted it.
He was elected to two terms as Common Pleas Judge of Jefferson County while living in Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, starting in 1902, and died February 10, 1917.
Personal
Richards married Catherine C. Rees of Tioga County, Pennsylvania on November 22, 1865, and Elizabeth Johnson of Jefferson County, Ohio on September 25, 1894, who had one daughter. Richards was a Freemason and a Presbyterian by faith. He was a member of the Grand Army of the RepublicGrand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.