Jasper Richardson.--For many years, or since locating in La Crosse county, Mr. Richardson has enjoyed the reputation of being a useful and law-abiding citizen, and an intelligent and thoroughly posted man on all public matters. He was born near Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New York, June 9, 1832, a son of Freeman Richardson, and grandson of Hill Richardson, a soldier of the war of 1812. Freeman Richardson was married to Rebecca Smith, who was born at Ashfield, Massachusetts, in 1808. She was eight years of age when her father moved to New York State, and in that State she was educated and grew to womanhood. Her parents were Ebenezer and Keziah (Elder) Smith, and her paternal grandfather was Rev. Caleb Smith, a prominent Baptist minister of the East for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson came to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, in 1854, and were residents of Campbell township until there deaths, the father dying at the age of sixty-six years and the mother at the age of seveny-nine, in North La Crosse. Of a family of eight children born to them, the following are living: Jasper, Matilda, of Tomah, Wisconsin; Amanda, wife of Wiliam Purdy, of Barton county, Missouri; Squire F., of Chautauqua county, New York; Myra, wife of James Walters, of Missouri; and Florilla, wife of William Gear, of North La Crosse.
   

Jasper Richardson was reared and educated in his native county, but in 1854 he went to Janesville, Wisconsin, and spent the winter in the woods. He purchased his present farm of forty-two acres in 1870, and on this he has a comfortable residence and out-buildings, besides which he owns five acres of very valuable land near La Crosse. His farm is located three miles from Onalaska, and being so near La Crosse is worth considerable money.

    He was married November 21, 1859, to Miss M. Holmes, a woman whose intelligence and kindly heart have won her a host of friends. She was born in Oswego county, New York, and when six years of age was taken by her parents to Ohio, and in 1847 came with them to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The family came to La Crosse county in 1854, but the father died in Fillmore county, Minnesota, when sixty-seven years of age, having been a soldier in the war of 1812, the mother was called from life in Lake county, Dakota, at the age of seventy-nine. They reared a large family of sons and daughters. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson: Bertha Almeda, Herbert Franklin and Elmer. Two children are deceased: Flora, who die at the age of seven years, and Squire Freeman, at the age of two years and eleven months.

     Politically Mr. Richardson is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; has been class-leader, and has always been interested in the cause of religion and morality. He is a frank and jovial gentleman, kind, hospitable and charitable, and one whom it does one good to meet. Personally and in every private relation and duty of life he has been liberal, generous and high-minded, and he is the soul of true honor and unbounded greatness of heart. He has the instinct and training of the true grentleman; his life has been full of kind deeds, and it can truly be said of him that he never violated a friendship nor forgot a kind action done for him. (Re: Biographical History of La Crosse, Monroe and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin.