JOHN RICHARDSON was born at Hamilton, near Selby, in the West riding of Yorkshire, England, January 30th, 1820. His father died when he was two years old, and his mother married again John Birkby, who came over to Quebec and Montreal in 1831, and not liking the country, returned to England, where he received letters from Zachariah Scott, who had settled in Morgan County, Illinois, urging him to come to that county. Accordingly in May, 1832, the family sailed again from England, and settled three miles west of Jacksonville. Mr. Richardson was about twelve years old when he came to Morgan county. He married, Martha, daughter of Thomas Ronksley, on December 26th, 1842; she was born in March, 1826, at Stilly Bridge, fifteen miles from Manchester, England, and came to America in November, 1841. In 1844 he came to Chesterfield township. He now lives on section twenty-two, and owns 318 acres of land. He has always been a democrat, and voted for Van Buren for president. His eight children are Thomas B. Richardson, Mary Ann, wife of Henry Doughty; Genevra, who married James Searies, and is now dead; William Richardson, Elizabeth Frances deceased, and Priscilla. He is an old citizen and a good farmer.