The biggest story in the Local Mention section of the Ridgeway Journal dated March 7, 1902 was the surprising death of John T. Richardson. He “lived a couple miles north of Ridgeway” and had been to town on a Friday to do some shopping and pick up his mail. The next Wednesday afternoon, James L. McKern, a neighbor who lived about a half mile away, noticed that Richardson’s horses “were acting strangely and as though they needed watering.” He stopped to check on Richardson and entered the quiet house where he found Richardson stretched out on the floor in front of the stove, deceased. The stove was all ready for a fire and the items he had purchased were still in their wrappings. He was fully dressed with one shoe off.
An inquest was held. Dr. W. H. Wiley, a Ridgeway physician, examined Richardson. “Dr. Wiley could find no marks of violence on his person. There was evidently no foul play.” Richardson’s death was determined to be of natural causes, most likely heart issues as “it was generally known that the decease was afflicted with this.”
Mr. Richardson was well known in Ridgeway, but had lived alone for several years and generally “associated very little with others and was what might almost have been termed a hermit.” He was a great reader of “scientific matters”; his home was filled with books and he had written a book that he “desired published”. He was about 68 years old and was in generally good health and “in his younger days, was one of the finest looking men in the county.” His brother, W. S. Richardson, lived near Mt. Moriah. His funeral was held in the Christian church and he is buried in the Ridgeway cemetery. “Peace to his ashes.”
An inquest was held. Dr. W. H. Wiley, a Ridgeway physician, examined Richardson. “Dr. Wiley could find no marks of violence on his person. There was evidently no foul play.” Richardson’s death was determined to be of natural causes, most likely heart issues as “it was generally known that the decease was afflicted with this.”
Mr. Richardson was well known in Ridgeway, but had lived alone for several years and generally “associated very little with others and was what might almost have been termed a hermit.” He was a great reader of “scientific matters”; his home was filled with books and he had written a book that he “desired published”. He was about 68 years old and was in generally good health and “in his younger days, was one of the finest looking men in the county.” His brother, W. S. Richardson, lived near Mt. Moriah. His funeral was held in the Christian church and he is buried in the Ridgeway cemetery. “Peace to his ashes.”
