James M. Richey
James M. Richey, one of Delaware's representative citizens, a member of the firm of Bird, Richey & Christian, proprietors of the White Sulphur Stone Company, was born in Scioto Township, Delaware County, Ohio, June 23, 1854. He is a son of Isaac Newton and Eliza I McClure) Richey.
The Richey family is one of those whose members have been of sufficient importance to leave an impression on their day and generation, and thus make it an easy task to trace the line for quite a distance back. William Richey, the great-grandfather of James M.. was born December 7, 1759, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He was reared a farmer, but became better educated than many of his companions and was a successful school teacher for a number of years. He married Catherine Hale, in 1780, she being his first wife. She died in 1788, leaving four children, and he then removed to Westmoreland County, where he engaged in teaching. In 1792 he married Mary Kane, and three children were born to them in Westmoreland County. In 1796 they moved to Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and while they resided there six more children were added to the family. In 1813 he came to Ohio and settled in Madison County, but February 2. 1819, he removed to Union County, where he lived for thirty years, his death taking place there August 17, 1847. He belonged to the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
James Richey. son of William and grandfather of James M., was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1798. In 1823 he married Sarah Newhouse, and came to Delaware County in 1830, where he died December 14, 1885. She was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, May 26. 1801, and died in Delaware County, December 2y. 1880.
Isaac Newton Richey. son of James and father of James M. Richey. was born in Scioto Township. Delaware County. Ohio. July 24, 1826. His main occupation through life was farming. On September 10, 1850, he married Eliza McClure. who was a daughter of James and Olive (Skinner) McClure, and they had five children, namely: William, who was born September 11. 1851, and who is now a physician of Beggs, Oklahoma; James M.. whose name begins this article; Calvin, born November 4. 1856, who is a practicing physician at Jerome, Ohio; Isaac Newton, born June 26, 1859, who is a resident of the State of California; and Sidney M.. born March 10, 1866, who is a practicing- physician of Francis, Oklahoma, and president of a bank.
Mr. Richey's maternal grandfather. James McClure, was born near Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and died in Delaware County. Ohio, in 1859. His parents, William McClure and wife, were natives of Scotland. The family came to Ohio when James was a young man, and after a short stay in Perry County, came on to Delaware. They settled on a wild tract of land which was subsequently developed into one of Scioto's most productive farms and is now the property of John McClure. James McClnre and wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church and were connected at the time of their death with the old stone church at South Radnor.
James M. Richey was educated in the public schools, and his industrial training was confined to agriculture. About the time of his marriage he bought his own farm, which is situated south of Warrensburg, where he continued to carry on general farming, making it his home until April, 1907. when he took up his residence in Delaware. For a long time prior to this, probably ten years, Mr. Richey had a tenant established on the farm, devoting much of his own time to building gravel roads on township contracts. When the time came that the public demanded stone roads, be equipped a plant and quarried stone on his own farm. This he continued as an individual enterprise until 1904, when he formed a partnership with Oliver Perry Bird, under the firm name of Bird & Richey, and they began operating two quarries in Concord Township. In August, 1906, they purchased the quarry they are now operating, Mr. George B. Christian, of Marion. Ohio, becoming a partner at this time, when the firm name became Bird, Richey & Christian. Their source of supply covers 100 acres, and thev manufacture crushed stone for county turnpike roads, employing about fortv men. The company does over twenty miles a year of turnpike-making for Delaware County.
On August 3. 1873, Mr. Richey married Ella Berlett, who is a daughter of John and Amy (Davis) Berlett. of Scioto Township, and they have had four children—Frank H., Ethel, John, and Raymond. Frank H. married Rosa Synder. and is a prominent farmer of Scioto Township. He and his wife are the parents of three children—Eliza, Kilbourne, and lola. John married Catherine Bird, a daughter of O. P. Bird, and they have two children—Naomi and Jo K. Raymond, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Richey. died at the age of live years. Miss Ethel Richey. who is a young lady of good business ability, holds the position of deputy county clerk of Delaware County, and is auditor of the Magnetic Springs Railroad. She has taken a good deal of interest in the order of the Rebeccas, being a member of Delaware lodge, of which she is also past grand, and is past president of the Ohio Rebecca Assembly, a notable honor for a young woman. Mr. and Mrs. Richey both belong to the Rebeccas at Ruffner, of which Mrs. Richey is past grand. From 1897 to 1898 Mrs. Richey was superintendent and matron of the Odd Fellows' Home. Mr. Richey is past grand of the Ruffner Odd Fellows' Lodge, and he has been a representative to the grand lodge. He belongs also to Ostrander Lodge. F. & A. M. The family helong to the Presbyterian Church.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens by James R. Lytle