JERE RICHARDS, of Lovejoy & Richards, lumber dealers Oregon; born in Exeter, Penobscot, Co., Me, in 1826, passing his school days there; he attained his majority, and went to Savannah, Ga. and after four years, to Tallahassee, Fla; seven year later he went to Jacksonville, Fla, and was there at the stormy outbreak of the civil war; was in the lumber business during these fourteen years; returning to Maine, he spent a year, and in 1863, came West; began lumber business at Lycons, Iowa; thence to Dixon, Ill, thence to Chippewa Falls, Wis. where he did business on his own account; again going South, he built saw-mills at Cedar Keys, Fla, and was employed by the same firm to found a lumber yard at Galveston, Tex., yellow Jack, not war, drove him North a second time, after a dangerous attack of the fever; recruiting his health in the pure bracing air of old Maine, he again, and finally, came West; spent 1869 in Lyons, Iowa, and, in 1870, formed the partnership with A.P. Lovejoy, a native of Maine, and a resident of Janesville.

Mr. R. has since resided here, having the only lumber-yard in town; a very complete stock of lumber, lath, shingles, sash doors and blinds, pickets, molding, etc; the firm have a similar stock at Brooklyn, Green Co., and at Baraboo, where his only son is in charge.

Mr. Richards married, in Savannah, GA, in 1850, Miss Mary E. Hartt, of the State of New York; they lost two daughters, one in infancy, and one aged 8 years; the only living son, Walter C., was born Ag. 31, 1858, near Tallahassee, Fla. Mr. R. is a Republican, and a member of Oregon Lodge, A., F. & A. M.

Ref. 1880 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, p. 1248.