Jefferson County Historical Society

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Booker Richardson, farmer, near Kimmswick, and a brother of Skelton
Richardson, whose sketch just precedes this, was born in St. Louis
County, in 1831, and is the youngest of thirteen children born to 
Booker and Nancy (Cheatham) Richardson.  He remained at home until 
the age of seventeen, having to walk six miles in order to get any 
schooling. He then crossed the plains to California, where he remained 
eleven years engaged in mining.  In 1860 he returned to Jefferson
County, and the following year enlisted in Company E, Second Missouri
Cavalry, Confederate army, and joined Gen. Forrest, with whom he served 
until the downfall of the Confederacy.  He then surrendered at Columbus, 
Miss., and carried the flag of truce to Iuka, Miss., after the call for 
surrender.  He then returned to Jefferson County, where he was married 
to Miss Sarah Wells, a native of Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., in 1866.  
Her parents, John and Marenia (Jackson) Wells, were formerly from 
Kentucky, but came to Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., later in life. Twelve 
children were born to Mr. Richardson's marriage, five of whom are living, 
viz.: Addie, Julia, Henry, Arthur and Sarah.  Mr. Richardson has since 
lived one-half miles southwest of Kimmswick, where he has a fine farm of 
seventy acres; he is also the owner of several other tracts. Politically 
a Democrat, he is also an honest, upright man.