Hon.
Samuel L. RICHMOND, deceased, was for many years one of the best
known and most highly respected citizens of Marshall county, a
man whose standing at the bar was second to none in the state.
He was a native of Vermont, born in 1824, and removed in youth
to Ohio, where he grew to manhood, received his literary
education, and married Miss Susan HUNT, by whom he reared a
family of five children, all of whom yet survive. Warner L., the
eldest son, is now engaged in farming near Topeka, Kansas.
Lizzie R. now resides in Peoria, and is a woman of remarkable
business tact and ability, being the second lady in the state to
receive the appointment of notary public, for fifteen years
engaged in the fire insurance business in Peoria, and at present
is employed in the internal revenue office in that city. Belle
V. is now the wife of Henry A. GOODWIN, a mechanic of Peoria.
Samuel L., also residing in Peoria, as special agent for the
German Fire Insurance Company. Elijah D., the present county
judge of Marshall, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this
work.
Our subject early in life determined to make the
legal profession his life work, and for that purpose went to
Louisville, Kentucky, studied law, and was there admitted to the
bar. After his admission to the bar he returned to Burton, Ohio.
He was married in 1848 and in 1849 came to Illinois, locating at
Princeton, Bureau county, where he remained one year, and then
came to Lacon, where he continued to reside until his death in
1873, with the exception of one year spent in St. Paul,
Minnesota, and one year in Galena, Illinois. In 1858 he became
associated with Hon. John BURNS, who later succeeded him as
circuit judge. The partnership thus formed continued until Mr.
RICHMOND was elected judge of the twenty-third circuit in 1861.
At that time he was comparatively a young man, being but
thirty-seven years of age. He was, however, a man well read in
the law and of a judicial turn of mind. For twelve years and
until the date of his death, he occupied the bench, and no man
occupying like position stood higher in the estimation of his
associates and the bar in general. His views and judgments were
usually held as good law, and few cases were appealed from his
decision and a less number were reversed.
In his
political views, Judge RICHMOND was a thorough and consistent
democrat, a firm believer in the principles of that party. A
friend of education, he served some years upon the school board
of Lacon, and did all in his power to advance the interests of
the public schools, often delivering lectures on the public
school question in various parts of the state in response to
invitation. He was a close student of history and a man of quick
perception. His popularity was not confined to the bar, but his
friends were numbered by the thousands in all the avocations of
life. He was suave in manner, open-hearted, and at all times a
friend of the poor. What he did was always cheerfully done and
no regrets would ever afterward be expressed, if mistaken in
judgment, which was seldom the case. A man of the people, he
enjoyed the respect of the people, and his death, which occurred
in his forty-ninth year, while yet in the prime of life, was a
sad blow, not only to his family and personal friends, but to
the general public as well. If death had not so early claimed
him, he doubtless would have occupied a position on the supreme
bench, his name being frequently suggested for that position.
His widow now resides in Peoria.
Extracted March 2011 by Norma Hass from The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
 |
La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
