Saturday, August 2, 2014

Obituary of George Richmond, Inventor


Grand Rapids Herald
4 August 1898, Page 3
Death of George Richmond

Lansing, Mich.--Aug. 3--George P. Richmond,aged 49 years, is deceased -- had a national reputation as a printer and had resided here for many years.  He claimed to be the first inventor of the telephone and telegraph.  Filed for patent about the same time as Bell Co.  So formidable were Richmond's claims that the Bell Co. sent an agent to this City who offered Richmond $40,000, and a yearly salary of $2,000, for life if he would withdraw his application for a patent.  This offer Richmond refused and ultimately the Bell Company beat him out in the patent office.


Death Date: 02 Aug 1898
Death Place: Lansing, Ingham, Michigan
Age: 48
Birth Date: 1850
Birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: Dentist
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Mother's Name: Silence B. Buck


United States Census, 1850
Java, Wyoming, New York, United States
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Robert W Buck M 42 Massachusetts
Rosilla Buck F 34 New York
Samuel Buck M 18 New York
Rebecca Buck F 16 New York
Cecil D Buck M 14 New York
Julia Buck F 12 New York
Gerret S Richmond M 2 Ohio
George J Richmond M 0 Ohio


United States Census, 1870
Michigan, United States [Clinton Co.]
Birthplace: Ohio
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
R W Buck M 62 Massachusetts
Rosella Buck F 54 New York
Jennie Buck F 8 Michigan
Geo Richmond M 20 Ohio
Ozelle Hunt M 9 Michigan
Minnie Hunt F 7 Michigan


George Richmond was a descendant of Sylvester Richmond and Harriet Covell.  Sylvester was the son of Edward Richmond and Elizabeth Powell (who are presumed to be my ancestors).

Source:

 From the Richmond Family book:

302. EDWARD RICHMOND5  (Benjamin4, Edward3, Edward2, John1) was b. in Little Compton, R. I., July 7, 1723. He married, in 1736, Elizabeth Powell. He died about 1804. Residence, Spencertown, N. Y.

CHILD:
 
 +939. SYLVESTER6, married Harriet Covell.
 

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