Conrad Richards
Among the standard and leading establishments of Circleville, Ohio, the Cooperage Manufactory, conducted by Conrad Richards, stands among the foremost. This is the largest enterprise of the kind in the Scioto Valley, and an immense amount of business is done. Twenty skilled employes are kept at work and turn out first-class articles. The machinery is of the finest and most modern make and no works are fitted with more modern appliances. The goods are all guaranteed and are standard with the trade, and those dealing with Mr. Richards will get advantages not obtainable elsewhere.
Henry Richards, father of our suliject, was born near Cologne, Germany, in February, 1802, was a tailor by trade, and conducted a shop in his native city. He also owned a vineyard and manufactured wine there. About 1853, he became desirous of settling in the "land of the free," and he emigrated to America, locating in Circleville, Ohio, where he carried on his trade for three years, or until 1856. He then returned to his native country, and in 1859 came back to America with his family. He settled in Circleville again, followed his trade, but in addition was engaged in the real-estate business. He died in October, 1891. In religion, he was a Catholic, and in politics affiliated with the Democratic party. His wife, who was formerly Eliza Brungs, was also a native of Germany and the daughter of Conrad Brungs, who was a carpenter in that country. Mrs. Richards died at the age of seventy-six years. Six of their eight children came to America and five are now living. One son, Henry, was a soldier in the Civil War and first enlisted for three months. After his term had expired, he re-enlisted in the Forty-third Ohio Regiment and was in active duty until cessation of hostilities. After the war, he returned to the Buckeye State and died in Cincinnati shortly afterwards. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias. Another son, John, was in the Morgan raid, was captured at Petersburgh, Va., and was in Andersonville Prison for a year. He suffered untold horrors and after being released, came home more dead than alive. He is now the owner of a steamboat on the Ohio River.
Conrad Richards was born near Cologne, Germany, on the 27th of March, 1836, and was reared near Lenz, on the River Rhine. He attended the common schools from the age of six until fourteen, and when fifteen years of age he began working in the copper mines, and was also in the silver mines in West Phalen for about three years. He became a practical miner, driller and blaster. In June, 1856, he left Antwerp, Belgium, and as he could not get a passport, he and his brother were smuggled aboard. They were on the ocean forty-seven days, and after landing in New York City went up the Hudson River to Albany, thence by rail to Columbus and from there by packet to Circleville, Ohio. He has picked up the English language since coming to this country and is quite a fluent speaker. After reaching the Buckeye State, he worked on a farm for a year but did not like it, and then embarked in gardening, which he continued until the fall of 1862, when he began serving as apprentice at the cooper trade. A year later, he began business here and in Chillicothe, but in 1874 he started his present business on the Scioto Valley Railroad between Maine and Mound Streets. His building is two stories in height and is 80x60 feet in dimensions. The capacity of his manufactory is three hundred barrels, and Mr. Richards superintends the business himself.
Our subject chose for his life companion Miss Theressa Kelhofer, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and their marriage was solemnized in Chillicothe in 1865. Their union has been blessed by the birth of six children who are as follows: Lizzie, married John Ryan; Henry, a cooper by trade, married Mary Schweizer; Annie married Frank Stein; Maggie, Mary, and Birdie, all at home. Mr. Richards is a Democrat in politics, but is not radical in his views. He is a clever, shrewd business man, has been unusually successful, and by his pleasant, genial disposition has won many friends.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]