RICHARDS BROTHERS.

RICHARDS BROTHERS.
It is doubtful if the sheep industry in Wyoming can furnish a record of greater achievement in the same length of time than that which has been made by this well known firm of Medicine Bow, Richards Brothers, in connection with the breeding and growing of range live stock. Coming from an excellent family of Barton county, Missouri, John W. and Fred R. Richards, the members of the firm, began their career in Wyoming in the sheep business in the fall of 1899 with a capital that amounted to but little more than their energy and ambition. Being men of steady habits and excellent character who were never afraid of work or who never feared to endure a few hardships, their subsequent success seems but a natural result of their intelligently directed efforts and is fully merited. Their father, Frederick Richards, conducted a stone quarry business near Lamar, Missouri, where he passed away in 1884. He had moved to that portion of southwestern Missouri in 1867 from Macon county, Illinois, and was a man highly respected by all who knew him. He left a widow, who prior to her marriage was Louisa Koehler. After the death of the husband and father the family removed to the vicinity of Liberal, Missouri, where Mrs. Richards yet makes her home. John W. Richards, the elder brother of the firm, was born July 19, 1860, in Macon county, Illinois, and was but a young child when his parents removed to Barton county, Missouri, where he was reared and acquired a common school education. He was the second of five sons and as his elder brother did not remain at home after reaching the age of twenty-one, John W. Richards had responsibilities after the death of his father that were greater than those which usually fall to unmarried men of his years. The history of Richards Brothers since the formation of the partnership is the story of the activities of the two men who constitute the firm. On coming to Wyoming they started at the very beginning of the business and have secured a practical knowledge of the sheep industry in the most impressive manner possible. Back in Missouri they had their first experience in the business but that was along lines followed there, which differed very materially from methods of sheep raising in Wyoming as practiced eighteen or twenty years ago. In learning the business in this state they herded sheep and in the spring of 1900 they bought their first stock, consisting of five hundred head purchased from Cosgriff Brothers and at a time when the capital of Richards Brothers was much less than enough to pay for that number of sheep. They had good credit, however, and their sheep were run in the flocks of William Wilson, by whom Richards Brothers were employed. In the fall of 1900 more sheep were purchased and gradually their flocks attained size that required separate care and range. Their purchase of land was in a modest way at first, just as the purchase of their flocks had been, and from time to time their holdings of land were increased until at the present their property possessions include about thirty thousand acres, while their flocks vary from ten to twelve thousand sheep. They have conducted their business on strictly business principles, have been considerate in their treatment of employes and have been guided by sound judgment in all that they have undertaken. The improvements made by them have always been of the best. In fact, whatever they do they do well. Their ranch homes are ample evidence of this, as they represent the very newest and best in modern construction. Richards Brothers are men of the progressive type. What they have done is not only for their own gain, but the community has also benefited thereby, and their efforts represent in a considerable degree the process of development in the utilization of the state's resources. Their success has been wonderful, but the same application and good business judgment would have won success in any line of business, so that the outcome is but the just reward of their labors. They have gained a foremost place among the leading sheep men of Wyoming and they also occupy a prominent position among the valuable citizens in the community where their activities have prevailed. Each brother seems peculiarly fitted for that particular part of the business to which he gives most attention, thus making an exceptionally well balanced organization of the firm. It was on the 6th of April, 1910, at Liberal, Missouri, that John W. Richards was united in marriage to Miss Susie Petgen, who was born in Keokuk, Iowa. and they now have a daughter, Thelma, born February 10, 1911. In politics John W. Richards is a republican, but aside from voting regularly takes little interest in matters political. He resides on what has been for years known the Beer Mug ranch, seventeen miles northwest of Medicine Bow. The residence he completed in 1911—an excellent home supplied with modern conveniences, including running water, electric lights from a private plant and all the comforts of a city home, and there genuine hospitality is dispensed. He has given his attention more to range work and in applying himself closely to that branch has contributed his part to the success of the business. As a citizen he enjoys the highest regard and esteem and with his good wife commands the respect of all who know them. Fred R. Richards, the younger of the brothers, was born near Lamar, Missouri, December 22, 1876, and was the youngest of the five sons of the family. He attended the common schools and supplemented that course by study at the Normal Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri. He was married first to Miss Mary Cowden, of Leo, Wyoming, who has passed away. His present wife was Miss Ida Grooman, a native of Carbon, Wyoming, and a daughter of John Grooman. They were married in Denver in January, 1918. Mr. Richards was one of the organizers of the Stockmen's Bank of Medicine Bow and has since been president of that institution. He is also the president of the Medicine Bow Electric Company. His interests, aside from those conducted by the Richards Brothers, include connection with another sheep company, of which he is president, as well as connection with the Fort Steele Petroleum Company. In politics Fred R. Richards is a republican and is interested in the party's success but has never sought or desired office. His residence is about twenty-five miles north of Medicine Bow, on a ranch that was purchased from Kirk Dyer in 1905, and there Mr. Richards completed in 1911 one of the best ranch homes in the county with all modern conveniences, including running water, electric light furnished from a private plant, and, in fact, it is a home with every convenience of a city residence. Mr. Richards is one of the public-spirited men of Medicine Bow and is well known in both business and financial circles. He has devoted most of his time to the business, and the financial interests of their copartnership have largely been under his control, his excellent executive capacity being no small factor in their success.

It is doubtful if the sheep industry in Wyoming can furnish a record of greater achievement in the same length of time than that which has been made by this well known firm of Medicine Bow, Richards Brothers, in connection with the breeding and growing of range live stock. Coming from an excellent family of Barton county, Missouri, John W. and Fred R. Richards, the members of the firm, began their career in Wyoming in the sheep business in the fall of 1899 with a capital that amounted to but little more than their energy and ambition. Being men of steady habits and excellent character who were never afraid of work or who never feared to endure a few hardships, their subsequent success seems but a natural result of their intelligently directed efforts and is fully merited. Their father, Frederick Richards, conducted a stone quarry business near Lamar, Missouri, where he passed away in 1884. He had moved to that portion of southwestern Missouri in 1867 from Macon county, Illinois, and was a man highly respected by all who knew him. He left a widow, who prior to her marriage was Louisa Koehler. After the death of the husband and father the family removed to the vicinity of Liberal, Missouri, where Mrs. Richards yet makes her home.
John W. Richards, the elder brother of the firm, was born July 19, 1860, in Macon county, Illinois, and was but a young child when his parents removed to Barton county, Missouri, where he was reared and acquired a common school education. He was the second of five sons and as his elder brother did not remain at home after reaching the age of twenty-one, John W. Richards had responsibilities after the death of his father that were greater than those which usually fall to unmarried men of his years. The history of Richards Brothers since the formation of the partnership is the story of the activities of the two men who constitute the firm. On coming to Wyoming they started at the very beginning of the business and have secured a practical knowledge of the sheep industry in the most impressive manner possible. Back in Missouri they had their first experience in the business but that was along lines followed there, which differed very materially from methods of sheep raising in Wyoming as practiced eighteen or twenty years ago. In learning the business in this state they herded sheep and in the spring of 1900 they bought their first stock, consisting of five hundred head purchased from Cosgriff Brothers and at a time when the capital of Richards Brothers was much less than enough to pay for that number of sheep. They had good credit, however, and their sheep were run in the flocks of William Wilson, by whom Richards Brothers were employed. In the fall of 1900 more sheep were purchased and gradually their flocks attained size that required separate care and range. Their purchase of land was in a modest way at first, just as the purchase of their flocks had been, and from time to time their holdings of land were increased until at the present their property possessions include about thirty thousand acres, while their flocks vary from ten to twelve thousand sheep. They have conducted their business on strictly business principles, have been considerate in their treatment of employes and have been guided by sound judgment in all that they have undertaken. The improvements made by them have always been of the best. In fact, whatever they do they do well. Their ranch homes are ample evidence of this, as they represent the very newest and best in modern construction. Richards Brothers are men of the progressive type. What they have done is not only for their own gain, but the community has also benefited thereby, and their efforts represent in a considerable degree the process of development in the utilization of the state's resources. Their success has been wonderful, but the same application and good business judgment would have won success in any line of business, so that the outcome is but the just reward of their labors. They have gained a foremost place among the leading sheep men of Wyoming and they also occupy a prominent position among the valuable citizens in the community where their activities have prevailed. Each brother seems peculiarly fitted for that particular part of the business to which he gives most attention, thus making an exceptionally well balanced organization of the firm.
It was on the 6th of April, 1910, at Liberal, Missouri, that John W. Richards was united in marriage to Miss Susie Petgen, who was born in Keokuk, Iowa. and they now have a daughter, Thelma, born February 10, 1911.
In politics John W. Richards is a republican, but aside from voting regularly takes little interest in matters political. He resides on what has been for years known the Beer Mug ranch, seventeen miles northwest of Medicine Bow. The residence he completed in 1911—an excellent home supplied with modern conveniences, including running water, electric lights from a private plant and all the comforts of a city home, and there genuine hospitality is dispensed. He has given his attention more to range work and in applying himself closely to that branch has contributed his part to the success of the business. As a citizen he enjoys the highest regard and esteem and with his good wife commands the respect of all who know them.

Fred R. Richards, the younger of the brothers, was born near Lamar, Missouri, December 22, 1876, and was the youngest of the five sons of the family. He attended the common schools and supplemented that course by study at the Normal Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri. He was married first to Miss Mary Cowden, of Leo, Wyoming, who has passed away. His present wife was Miss Ida Grooman, a native of Carbon, Wyoming, and a daughter of John Grooman. They were married in Denver in January, 1918.
Mr. Richards was one of the organizers of the Stockmen's Bank of Medicine Bow and has since been president of that institution. He is also the president of the Medicine Bow Electric Company. His interests, aside from those conducted by the Richards Brothers, include connection with another sheep company, of which he is president, as well as connection with the Fort Steele Petroleum Company.
In politics Fred R. Richards is a republican and is interested in the party's success but has never sought or desired office. His residence is about twenty-five miles north of Medicine Bow, on a ranch that was purchased from Kirk Dyer in 1905, and there Mr. Richards completed in 1911 one of the best ranch homes in the county with all modern conveniences, including running water, electric light furnished from a private plant, and, in fact, it is a home with every convenience of a city residence. Mr. Richards is one of the public-spirited men of Medicine Bow and is well known in both business and financial circles. He has devoted most of his time to the business, and the financial interests of their copartnership have largely been under his control, his excellent executive capacity being no small factor in their success.