Wyoming Governor. During the Civil War, he served as a driver for the Union Army of the Potomac. After the war, he went west and worked on surveying missions in California, Colorado and Nebraska. His brother Alonzo V. Richards hired him as his general assistant for surveying the southern boundary of Wyoming in 1873 and he was in charge of surveying the western boundary of Wyoming, in 1874. Remaining in Wyoming, he built a homestead ranch in Big Horn County, was the Johnson County Commissioner, in 1886 and appointed by President Harrison U.S. Surveyor General for Wyoming, in 1889. In 1895, he was elected as a Republican the 4th Governor of Wyoming, serving until 1899. While in office, he dealt with economic recession resulting from the Panic of 1893. Declining to be a candidate for reelection, he accepted an appointment from President McKinley as U.S. Assistant Commissioner of the General Land Office, serving until 1907. He later became the first Commissioner for Taxation of Wyoming, serving (1909-10). In 1912, he traveled to Australia, to start a new life and died of a heart attack soon after his arrival at age 63.
Wyoming Governor. During the Civil War, he served as a driver for the Union Army of the Potomac. After the war, he went west and worked on surveying missions in California, Colorado and Nebraska. His brother Alonzo V. Richards hired him as his general assistant for surveying the southern boundary of Wyoming in 1873 and he was in charge of surveying the western boundary of Wyoming, in 1874. Remaining in Wyoming, he built a homestead ranch in Big Horn County, was the Johnson County Commissioner, in 1886 and appointed by President Harrison U.S. Surveyor General for Wyoming, in 1889. In 1895, he was elected as a Republican the 4th Governor of Wyoming, serving until 1899. While in office, he dealt with economic recession resulting from the Panic of 1893. Declining to be a candidate for reelection, he accepted an appointment from President McKinley as U.S. Assistant Commissioner of the General Land Office, serving until 1907. He later became the first Commissioner for Taxation of Wyoming, serving (1909-10). In 1912, he traveled to Australia, to start a new life and died of a heart attack soon after his arrival at age 63.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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