Obituary:
This grand old man was not a native Texan, but having lived in Texas since 1836 shows that he came here early in life, as he was only 82 years old when he died at his home a few miles east of Omaha last Saturday evening. His body was interred in Omaha cemetery Sunday afternoon with funeral services by Rev. C. W. Smith and surrounded by quite a gathering of relative and friends.

He served through the Confederate army and his last trip to town was on January 15th when he came in to prove up his last pension voucher very much disfigured from the wear and tear of age and toil. He has left an aged widow, and a number of children and grand-children, besides many other dear relatives to mourn his taking away, and though most of his children live in other counties, four of five of his sons were here at the funeral. The Breese goes out in profound sorrow for all the bereaved.

Omaha Breeze, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 1911, page 4.
BIOGRAPHY:
James Andrew Jackson Richey was born April 22, 1830 in Jefferson County, Alabama. His father purchased land in Jefferson County Alabama in December, 1821 and sold the land in December, 1837. He was brought as a small child to Texas and it is believed that his father died in 1840 in Blossum Prairie, Texas, where his father's estate was entered into probate on 30 Sept 1840 in Red River County, Texas. James Andrew was living in Gilmer, Texas, Upshur County with his mother in 1850 when the 1850 federal census was taken. His family was associated with that of Wingate Truitt and he married Sarah Ann Truitt, daughter of Wingate, about 1855-56 (no marriage record has been found, probably because the Upshur county courthouse burned). Andrew and Sarah settled at Pine Forest sometime after 15 February 1854, where they lived on the James A. J. Richey "pre-emption" survey #20, dated July 16, 1857. In 1871, he received his patent #339, situated on Stout's Creek, waters of White Oak, and the waters of Sulphur Fork of Red River, near his brothers' John S. Richey survey.

Along with his brother-in-law, Selen Stout, Andrew helped build the first church and school hewed out of heart timber on the banks of Stout Creek, which later came to be called the Bumble Bee School, named after the large number of bumble bees that built in the sweet gum logs. He was also a trustee of the Methodist Church at Pine Forest when land was given by Thomas Willison for the "purpose of advancing the cause of religion in Stouts Creek Neighborhood".

In an interview with Earl Richey by Gerald Post in September, 1953, Earl said "his father never knew the taste of whiskey; that he had not yet raised a son who did not drink on occasion; and that he hoped Earl would be the first such son. (Earl was not). James Andrew J. Richey was said to sing rather well, but he did not lead in song and was supremely honest.

James Andrew Jackson served the Confederacy during the Civil War in Clark's Regiment, 14 Texas Infantry, Company I, as a shoemaker in shops at Gilmer, Texas and Arkadelphia, Arkansas. His confederate record reflects he served from 1861 to 1863.

Andrew and Sarah lived their lives on the James A. J. Richey survey at Pine Forest where they had six children. Sarah died 28 Dec 1878 and is buried at Pine Forest Cemetery along with several of their children and grandchildren. Andrew then married Susannah M. Hudson 25 Dec 1879 in Hopkins Co., and they had two sons, William Hervy Richey, born Dec 9, 1880, and Earl Richey, born June 13, 1882. Williams Hervy Richey lived only a short time (died 27 May 1881) and is buried at at Pine Forest. Susannah died in 1892 in Hopkins County and is also buried at Pine Forest.

Andrew married a third time, Mrs. Alice Clemente Wright King, on December 22, 1892 in Hopkins County. Alice died in 1896 at the old Robert Junell place east of Pine Forest. Andrew then moved to Omaha, Morris County where he and Earl Richey lived with his son, Joseph Perry Richey. He married a fourth time in 1898, Lucina Camilla Powell Reese(Lula). Some genealogies reflect her birthdate as 1830, however, she would have been 63 and 69 when her daughters are born. Her birth date of 1850 was perhaps more accurate and that is the date reflected on her marker. It is incribed "Our Loving Mother 1850 - 1939". Lucina died 25 Dec 1939 (buried by Cast Funeral Home in Texarkana) and is buried in State Line Cemetery (3200 E. State Line Road) in Texarkana, Texas near her daughter, Elizabeth Reese Quarols ( b. 1893, d. 1926) and Dovie Reese Crabtree (b. 1899, d. 1982).

He died at Omaha, Morris County, Texas, on January 29, 1911. He is buried in the Omaha City Cemetery near his sons family. His grave is marked with a marker obtained from his confederate service and a "Citizen of the Republic of Texas" marker. I believe the "Citizen of the Republic of Texas" marker has since been stolen.