Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/741

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��CITY OF MANSFIELD.

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��he now follows gives him just that, and is, therefore, fitted for his condition; in 1875, after the death of Isaac Gass, then Mayor of the city, he was urged to run for the unexpired term ; he did so and was elected by seventy-five majority ; two years later, he was re-elected by seventy-four majority ; he served out the term, faithfully discharging all the duties of the office. Mr. Richardson was married in 1852, to Miss Mary E. Surles, of Steubenville, Ohio ; they are the parents of three children, one boy and two girls, one of whom (a daughter) is dead ; both the other children are mar- ried and have families. Mr. Richardson is now and has been a prominent member of the Masonic Order, I. 0. 0. F., K. P. and Knights of Honor.

RHODES, WILLIAM H. This well-known citizen, at present a merchant, on the corner of East Diamond and Fourth streets, is of English descent, dating back to the Beaumonts and Hoxeys ; William H. Rhodes was born in Portage Co. Dec. 8, 1819, and removed to Mansfield in the year 1846 ; soon after his removal to this county, he was engaged in buying horses for the Eastern market, until the year 1849, and then for a time- was proprietor of the old Exchange, on Main street, now the European Hotel, which he soon after relinquished to take charge of the Teegarden House, now the St. James ; soon after, he was actively engaged in the grocery business, which he continued until the year 1858, at which time he sailed from New York, by way of the Isthmus, for California, where he remained eight years, principally engaged in stock farming. In June, 1866, he returned to his native State, locating in Mansfield, where he has since been engaged in active business. Mr. Rhodes was married in the year 1848, to Miss Alzoa M. Winslow, by whom he has had nine children, six living — Abbie W., Esther S., George T., Helen S., Carrie E. and Mary A. ; Mrs. Rhodes died Feb. 16, 1869 ; a kind mother and wife, she will long be re- membered for her many good qualities of head and heart. Mr. Rhodes comes from a long-lived family, his father and mother both living until about their 80th year, and died in California some years since. William H. Rhodes, the second son in a family of six children, during his residence in this city, has always been considered an upright and good citizen, and respected by the entire community. Two brothers of Mr. Rhodes were for a time in succession cashiers of the old Farmers' Bank, of this city, and will be re- membered by the old citizens as good business men.

RICHARD, J. FRAISE, Professor, President and founder of the Mansfield Normal College. He was born one mile west of Ashland, Ohio, Jan. 18, 1844; at the age of 7, his parents moved from that locality to the southern line of Wood Co., and began to clear up a farm ; in this work he assisted, remaining on the farm until his 16th year, using such opportunities of educa- tion as the district school atforded ; with these aids and self-study under most trying circumstances, he was qualified to teach a country school during the winter of 1860, being then but 16 years of age ; with the means thus secured, he attended the Seneca County Academy at Republic one term in the fall of 1861, under the charge of Prof. Aaron Schuyler, now of Baldwin University; returning to his home, he taught during the dark days of 1861-62, and was ready to

��return to the Academy in September, 1862 ; when Pres- ident Lincoln called for 600,000 volunteers, he enlisted in Co. B, 111th 0. V. I., and went to the army ; he was soon detailed as a clerk, in which capacity he spent over three years in the Government service ; for two years he was Chief Clerk of the armies and departments, under the control of Maj. Gens. J. D. Cox, John M. Schofield, George S. Stoneman and John M. Palmer; twice during his army service he was offered a cap- tain's commission, but they were both refused. At the close of the war, he was offered a position in the War Department at Washington, but it was also refused; returning from the army in 1865, he attended the University at Indianapolis for one year, taking double work ; thence he went to the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, where he completed the business, scientific and classical courses, graduating in August, 1869 ; during 1869-70, he taught in the Lebanon School ; in the fall of 1870, he organized at Republic, Ohio, the Northwestern Normal School, and thus be- came the pioneer of normal work in Northwestern Ohio. From the hundreds and thousands of pupils received in that school during the five years it was under his management, have been taken the Principal and subordinate teachers of the Valparaiso (Ind.) Nor- mal, to-day the largest normal school in America ; some of the teachers in the Ada Normal ; lawyers and physi- cians without number, and innumerable teachers and Superintendents ; he taught a portion of a year at Ada, and was Superintendent of the Alliance (Ohio) Public Schools during 1877-78 ; from Alliance he came to Mansfield. From this sketch it will be seen that, as pupil and teacher, he has been connected with every grade of school in this country, and has acquired a diversified experience. His articles on educational subjects have been published in the Ohio Educational Monthly, the Boston Journal of Education, the Chicago Educational Weekly, the Eclectic Teacher and Southern School Journal, the Common School Teacher, Normal Teacher and Parents' and Teachers' Monthly. He is thoroughly known in the educational world, and is now permanently settled in the work of his life, the building-up of the Mansfield Normal College.

RIE MAN, ANDREW, brewer. He was born in Ida, Precinct of Rhodenburg, Chur, Hessen, Germany, July 23, 1826, and was married to Dorethea Kiston, on the 17th day of September, 1848. Mr. Rieman has been a resident of Mansfield since 1857, and during that time has held a number of public positions of honor and trust ; he has repeatedly held the position of Councilman from the Third Ward in the City Council, and was elected President of the same several terms, where he served with credit to himself and the city's interest. To Andrew and Dorethea Rieman have been born six children, four of whom are living and two dead — Rosina, born Oct. 11, 1849; John, Jan. 21, 1852; Elisabeth, Aug. 11, 1854; Lizzie, Feb. 11, 1856; Andrew. Jr., July 23, 1858 ; Dorethea, Oct. 16, 1864 ; Elisabeth Rieman died April 12, 1855, and Andrew, Jr., Dec. 18, 1861. Mr. Rieman is now a resident of Mansfield, where he is engaged in an extensive brew- ing business.

RITCHIE, JAMES, Sheriff of Richland Co. He was born in the County Monahan, Ireland, Oct. 2, 1843;

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