| Notes |
- We believe he was a Spiritualist, described by the family as "Spiritualist crazy".
He moved to Matherton, North Plains Twp, Ionia Co., Mi in 1857 (a note written by Alice K. Richardson says they went to Michigan in 1856.) The town needed a doctor and they had heard of Dr. Richardson in Binghamton, NY. They offered him a house and farm if he would go there. He made some money while there, but he must not have stayed too long. In the 1860 Census, he was in Ionia County. Cordelia died of consumption in 1862. In the 1870 Census he was in Lansing, MI. Alice was 16. CFB thinks Cordelia had a brother in Seville Twp., Gratiot Co, MI. He found a Truesdell buried in Seville Twp. about 1900. Family stories say Cordelia was buried on her brother's farm, where she died. He bought a hotel in Lansing between 1862 and 1871, but lost it when he followed a Spiritualist message. He tried to reclaim the hotel when Alice was going with Charles Benham (they married in 1871).
Some Chronology:
In 1870 Israel was living in Lansing separately from his children: Belle,24; Oro, 18; Alice, 16. In the Lansing City Directory, in 1873 Oro is listed, and in 1887 Israel and Viro are listed. Israel died in January, 1887.
In 1886 he is in Detroit (Check this fact)
He died at 7:00pm January 23, 1887 in Detroit of "pneumonia of the brain". He was 66 years, 9 months, and 17 days old.
The Richardson Family by Charles F. Benham
In June 1966 we made another trip to Gratiot County, we found the deed and location of about 450 acres of land owned by Israel El. Richardson. In the years 1862 to 1865 we are quite sure he lumbered some of this land and floated the logs down the Pine River. He purchased the land in June of 1862, and the following December his wife, Cordelia, died, "old family records", and all we ever heard was that she was buried on the place.
On this trip we found, after many leads and tips, a Max Harrell, of Riverdale, about 70 years old, who has lived in the area all his life, as did his father and grandfather. A tale told in his family "just what I was looking for" that someone was buried on the banks of Pine River, at the end of Olive Road at Lumberjack Road by a huge boulder. This is in the bend of the river about 40 feet off the road. This tale was told to Mr. Harrell's grandfather by an Indian so it kind of dates it to the right era. We found the boulder, no trouble, it is about 8 or 10 feet around, a lot of brush and small trees cover it up.
At the time Cordelia died Israel owned this land where the stone is, and unless some other more logical answer is found, I am satisfied that this is her burial spot.
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In Ionia County records there are two purchases of land by Israel Richardson on July 9, 1864. He purchased a west fractional half of section eighteen in town twelve from Charles Merrill of Detroit for thirty-five dollars. He also purchased the east half of the north east quarter of section nineteen and the North west fractional quarter and the south half of the North east quarter of section nineteen in township twelve North of Range four west, a total of three hundred and four acres from Joel and Patty Rogers for six hundred dollars.
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1840 Census. Libery Twp, Susquehanna Co., PA
Israel Richardson Males 1 15-20 (Israel, Jr. 20 or Ira 18)
1 50-60 (Israel, Sr.,
Females 1 to 5
1 5-10
1 15-20
1 50-60
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1850 Census. Liberty Twp., Susquehanna Co., PA page 133, Roll 829
Israel Richardson 30 m farmer 200 Pa
Pardelia 27 f NY
Ferdinand 6 m Pa
Isabel 4 f Pa
Viro 11/12? m PA
Oro 1m m NY
He is living near his father.
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1820 - 1887 (66 years)
