Page prepared by Donald Richardson from information provided by George E. Richardson III.
This text file is an extract from an old book, "Portrait and Biographical Record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland" by Chapman Publishing, 1898. This volume profiles many well known citizens.
William S. Richardson
William S. Richardson, whose home, known as the Vanderbilt farm, as it was formerly owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, of New York, is one of the most thrifty and prosperous business men of Brinkley's district, Somerset County. He manages this place, which comprises four hundred and fifty acres, and in addition to this, is an extensive manufacturer of ice cream and is one of the largest planters and packers of oysters in this portion of the Eastern Shore.
The Richardson family is of English origin. Our subject's grandfather, William Richardson, was a native of Worcester County, and was an agriculturist there until his death, at a good old age. His son, Littleton, father of our subject, was born and spent his whole life in Worcester County on his farm. He owned large tracts of land and was to some extent interested in the oyster fisheries in the bay. He was quite active as a Democratic politician. His death occurred when he was in his sixty-sixth year. The mother of William S. Richardson was Harriet E., daughter of Edward Scarborough, a very wealthy and prominent Virginian, who owned the beautiful mansion styled Scarborough Castle, located near Snow Hill. Mrs. Harriett Richardson was born in Maryland and spent her girlhood in the aforesaid castle. She is still in the possession of good health and lives in Snow Hill with her grandchildren. She had a family of eight children, only four of whom survive, viz.: Matilda, Mrs. Z. P. Duffey; Asher, who owns an immense ranch in Texas; William S., and Virginia, wife of F. B. Nash, of Atlantic City, N.J.
William S. Richardson was born near Snow Hill, Worcester County, in 1858, and when he was twelve years of Age he went to Baltimore and for a few years was employed in a retail grocery there. At the early age of sixteen he went upon the road as a traveling salesman, for the tobacco house of Johnson & Davis. At the end of about four years of this life he located in Shelltown, Md., where he was in a mercantile business two years. In 1882 he came to his present home near Marion Station and since given his time and attention to farming chiefly. He has been very successful as a packer and planter of oysters and his ice cream plant has a capacity of three hundred gallons per day.
In 1879 MR. Richardson married Miss Ella Hall Long, daughter of Edwin M. Long, of Kingston. He is one of the wealthiest merchants and farmers of that section and his beautiful home adjoins that of Senator George R. Dennis. Mrs and Mrs. Richardson have seven children, viz.: Eva L., Newman C., Ruth, Pauline, Greenfield, Harriet Agnes and Ella Caroline.
In his political convictions Mr. Richardson is a Democrat of the independent order, as he does not permit himself to be bound to party rule. Socially he belongs to the Junior Order of American Mechanics, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to the Heptasophs. He has long been a member of the Methodist Protestant Church and for several years has been one of the board of stewards.