William+A.+Richards


 * William A. Richards **


 * Republican • Johnson County**
 * Governor 1895-1899**

William Alford Richards was born in Hazel Green, Wisconsin on March 9, 1849 and attended public schools there and in Galena, Illinois. Following graduation, he worked as a teacher, ambulance driver, laborer, and surveyor. Richards came to Wyoming in 1873 and surveyed the southern and western boundaries of the Territory with his brother. He left Wyoming for several years but returned in 1884,and established a ranch in Johnson County. He was elected county commissioner of Johnson County in 1886, appointed by President Harrison to be surveyor general of the Territory in 1889, and was elected governor in 1894. Governor Richards also served as Commissioner of the United States General Land Office and as Commissioner of Taxation for Wyoming. William A. Richards died in Australia on July 25, 1912.

He married Harriet Alice Hunt in Oakland, California on December 28, 1874. They had three daughters (Eleanor, Ruth, and Edna).


 * [[file:Gov W. Richards inaugural speech 1895 Cheyenne Daily Leader Jan 8.pdf|Inaugural speech 1895]]**
 * [[file:Gov W. Richards inaugural program 1895.pdf|Inaugural program 1895]]**
 * Message to the Legislature, 1895**
 * Message to the Legislature, 1897**
 * Message to the Legislature, 1899**

The [|William A. Richards Collection]
The records from Governor Richard's term in office include:
 * General Records
 * Administrative Records
 * General Correspondence
 * Outgoing Correspondence
 * Incoming Correspondence
 * Jackson Hole Elk Scandal
 * Hot Springs Resort Cession
 * Financial Records
 * Appointments
 * Proclamations
 * Petitions for Pardons
 * Requisitions and Extraditions
 * Military and Indian Affairs
 * Legislative Affairs
 * Message to the Legislature


 * Quotations **

"The people of the arid region are watching Wyoming with the hope and belief that as we have given to them irrigation laws which, they have accepted as a model, we will interpret and administer those laws in such a manner that they can safely continue to follow our lead. This is not only a gratification to our pride, but will prove a great aid to our material prosperity" -- Message to the Legislature, 1895

Additional Resources

 * "[|A Surveyor in the Governor’s Office: William A. Richards]" Wyoming State Archives blog piece
 * [|William A. Richards Family Papers, 1870-1965], Collection Number 00118, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
 * [|"William Alford Richards"], surveyor's biography, US General Land Office Bureau of Land Management Wyoming (accessed July 2015)