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CYRUS RICHARDSON Cyrus Richardson, son of
Samuel and Hannah (Varnum) Richardson, was born March 30, 1840, at Dracut, Massachusetts. He received his Academic
education at Tilton, New Hampshire, and entered college at the beginning of the Fall term, August 24, 1860.
Immediately after graduating, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he taught Latin and Natural Sciences in a Young
Ladies' Seminary for two years. He spent his afternoons, during a large part of this time, in the study of anatomy and
physiology, and also attended one course of lectures on those subjects, not so much with a view to practice medicine
as to get an insight into those branches. In September, 1866, he returned to the East, and entered Andover Theological
Seminary, where he graduated after the full course in July, 1869. He received a call to become pastor of the
Congregational Church at Plymouth, New Hampshire, which he accepted, and was ordained and installed over that church
on September 30, 1869.
He continued his labors there with good results until the Summer of 1873, when he received a call from the First
Congregational Church at Keene, New Hampshire, which he accepted, and was installed July 10, 1873. He remained here
for ten years. On June 1, 1883, at a meeting of the First Congregational Church of Nashua, New Hampshire, he received
a unanimous call to become their pastor at a salary of $2,200 and parsonage. This call he decided to accept, and on
July 29, 1883, he preached his farewell sermon at Keene, to a congregation which filled the church to overflowing,
settees being placed in the aisles. He left with the hearty respect and good will of the people, as was attested at a
farewell sociable, when he was presented, on behalf of the Sabbath school, with an elegant gold watch, chain and
charm. On the outside of the watch is engraved an exact picture of the First Congregational Church of Keene, while
upon the inside is a suitable inscription. He received from the church and society a Remington type-writer. To Mrs.
Richardson was presented a handsome silver service of seven pieces, and to each of the children a handsome silver
napkin ring.
The pastors of the churches of other denominations in the city gave a supper to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, and put on
record a resolution expressing regret at the separation, and extending best wishes for their future success and
blessing. He was installed as pastor of the First Congregational Church at Nashua, New Hampshire, on August 30, 1883,
and continues his labors there up to the present time. He has the reputation of being a very able preacher.
In 1879 lie was elected a Trustee of Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire, and for the past three years lie
has been a Trustee of the New Hampshire Missionary Society. In politics, he is a Republican.
He was married January 18, 1871, to Miss Annie Dearborn, of Plymouth, New Hampshire. She was a graduate of Mount
Holyoke Seminary, and a teacher there for four years.
They have five children, Walter Dearborn, born July 10, 1872; Annie Pearl, born April 27, 1874; Florence H., born June
6, 1875; Elizabeth G., born April 26, 1877, and Margaret P., born December 4, 1879.
Source: "Memorialia of the Class of '64 in Dartmouth College" complied by John C.
Webster, Shepard & Johnston, Printers, 1884, Chicago
Submitted by Deborah Crowell |