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Richardson, Nathan "Nate"

House 1867 (District 3); House 1872 (District 30); House 1878 (District 30)

Party when first elected:  Republican

Counties Served:  Aitkin, Andy Johnson (defunct), Becker, Benton, Buchanan (defunct), Carlton, Cass, Clay, Crow Wing, Douglas, Itasca, Lake, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pembina (defunct), Polk, Pope, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wadena

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 2/24/1829
Birth Place: Clyde, New York
Birth County: Wayne
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 1/9/1908
Gender: Male
Religion: Agnostic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Nate
City of Residence (when first elected): Little Falls
Occupation (when first elected): Real Estate Agent

EDUCATION

Michigan Primary Schools; Elementary School;
Academy, Milford, Michigan; Secondary; One Summer
University of Michigan; Attended College; Romeo Branch, Macomb County
Studied Law; Admitted to the Bar, December 1876

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

County Government: Minnesota (County Assessor, several years); 18?? to 1???
County Government: Morrison County, Minnesota (Register of Deeds); 1856 to 1864 [Elected]
Judicial Administration: Minnesota (Clerk of District Court); 1856 to 1858 [Elected]
County Board/Commissioner: Morrison County, Minnesota (Board of Commissioners, Clerk); 1856 to 1856
County Auditor: Morrison County, Minnesota; 1858 to 1858
Municipal Board/Commission: Little Falls, Minnesota (Township Board of Supervisors); 1859 to 1860
Military: (United States Civil War, Enrolling Officer); 186? to 186?
Military: Minnesota Home Guards (During the Threatened Ojibwe Attack, Captain); 1862 to 1862
County Attorney: Morrison County, Minnesota; 1864 to 1866
County Government: Morrison County, Minnesota (Surveyor, State Road from Fort Ripley to Morris); 1869 to 1869
School Board/Administration: Minnesota (Board of Education, several years; President, 1879, 1880); 187? to 188?
County Attorney: Morrison County, Minnesota (Deputy State's Attorney); 1870 to 1870
Postmaster: Minnesota; 01/03/1870 to 03/02/1883
County Government: Morrison County, Minnesota (Deputy Coroner); 1875 to 1875
County Government: Morrison County, Minnesota (Surveyor); 1876 to 1879
County Attorney: Morrison County, Minnesota; 1879 to 1883
Municipal Board/Commission: Little Falls, Minnesota (Township Board of Supervisors, Chair); 1879 to 1879
Municipal Attorney: Minnesota (Village Attorney); 1883 to 1??? [Appointed]
Judge: Minnesota (Probate Judge); 1885 to 1893
Municipal Board/Commission: Little Falls, Minnesota (Township Board of Supervisors, Chair); 1887 to 1887
Municipal Mayor: Little Falls, Minnesota (City Mayor); 1890 to 1894
Judge: Minnesota (Probate Judge); 1895 to 1903
Municipal Mayor: Little Falls, Minnesota (City Mayor); 1896 to 1896
Municipal Mayor: Little Falls, Minnesota (City Mayor); 1901 to 1901

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Mary Anne Roof (also listed as Ruf or Ruff) Richardson (married on June 21, 1857)
Children: Five children: Clarrilla "Clara" and Mary Anne (daughters); Martin Mathias, Raymond Jerome, and Francis Albert (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was of English, German, and French ancestry.

He moved to Commerce, Michigan around 1834, with his parents. He came to Minnesota in 1854.

He was listed as a Republican on the list of members posted after the 1877 election. ("The Next Legislature." St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 10, 1877)

There is a bust of him on the grounds of the Morrison County courthouse.

He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Little Falls, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Morrison County Historical Society.

Total Days Served: 1089

SESSIONS SERVED

20th Legislative Session (1878)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 30
Elected: 11/6/1877
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/8/1878 to 1/6/1879
Counties Represented: Benton, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Republican Party Notes: He was listed as a Republican on the list of members posted after the 1877 election. ("The Next Legislature." St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 10, 1877)
Committees:
  • Public Lands
  • Towns and Counties (Chair)

14th Legislative Session (1872)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 30
Elected: 11/7/1871
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/2/1872 to 1/6/1873
Counties Represented: Benton, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne
Occupation: Merchant
Party: Not Available
Committees:
  • Indian Affairs (Chair)
  • Joint Apportionment
  • Public Lands

9th Legislative Session (1867)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 03
Elected: 11/6/1866
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/18/1867 to 1/6/1868
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Andy Johnson (defunct), Becker, Buchanan (defunct), Carlton, Cass, Clay, Crow Wing, Douglas, Itasca, Lake, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pembina (defunct), Polk, Pope, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Party: Republican
Committees:
  • Claims
  • Incorporations
Session Notes: Henry Hoepner was involved in a contested election with Nathan Richardson. Hoepner was sworn in on the first day of session and served until the House determined that Nathan Richardson was entitled to the seat.
Articles & Books About
Shutter, Marion Daniel. "Nathan Richardson." Progressive Men of Minnesota, Minneapolis: The Minneapolis Journal, 1897, p. 110-111.

Richardson v. Hoepner, Contested Election. Minnesota Journal of the House, January 8, 17, and 18, 1867, p. 7, 29-30, 36-37.

Warner, Mary. A Big-Hearted Paleface Man: Nathan Richardson & the History of Morrison County, Minnesota. Little Falls, MN: Morrison County Historical Society, 2006.


These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.