George N. Richmond

For other people named George Richmond, see George Richmond (disambiguation).

George Nelson Richmond (April 18, 1821 – January 4, 1896) was an American paper manufacturer and Democratic politician. He served as the 8th and 10th mayor of Appleton, Wisconsin, and 5th mayor of Portage, Wisconsin, and represented Outagamie County for four years in the Wisconsin Legislature. During the American Civil War, he served as a Union Army cavalry officer.

George N. Richmond
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 22nd district
In office January 7, 1878 – January 5, 1880
Preceded by	James Ryan
Succeeded by	Benjamin F. Carter
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Outagamie district
In office January 5, 1874 – January 3, 1876
Preceded by	John A. Roemer
Succeeded by	David Hammel
8th & 10th Mayor of Appleton, Wisconsin
In office April 1871 – April 1872
Preceded by	A. L. Smith
Succeeded by	Ephriam C. Goff
In office April 1868 – April 1870
Preceded by	Robert R. Bateman
Succeeded by	A. L. Smith
5th Mayor of Portage, Wisconsin
In office April 1860 – April 1862
Preceded by	John P. McGregor
Succeeded by	Alvin B. Alden
Personal details
Born	(1821-04-18)April 18, 1821 Hillsdale, New York, U.S.
Died	January 4, 1896(1896-01-04) (aged 74) Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
Resting place	Tacoma Cemetery, Tacoma, Washington
Political party	Democratic Reform (1873–1875)
Spouse	Sarah Jane Hillyer ​ ​ (m. 1843⁠–⁠1896)​
Children	Hattie M. (Wroe) (b. 1854; died 1925) Elizabeth (Miller) (b. 1858; died 1933) Horace Nelson Richmond (b. 1860; died 1934)
Occupation	Paper manufacturer
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Volunteers Union Army
Years of service	1861–1864
Rank	Major, USV
Unit	2nd Reg. Wis. Vol. Cavalry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Background

Born in Hillsdale, New York, Richmond was the son of Peleg Sisson Richmond and Margaret (Soule) Richmond. He received an academic education and went into the milling business in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He married Sarah Hillyer (1825–1905) on April 30, 1843. He came to Wisconsin in 1850, and settled in Milwaukee for a while before moving to Portage in 1851 where he served six years on the Portage Common Council and two years as mayor. During the American Civil War, Richmond served in the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment as a company captain and later as major of the 3rd battalion. He participated in the captures of Vicksburg and Jackson, Mississippi, and several minor battles in the western theater of the war.

After the Civil War

In 1865, Richmond moved to Appleton. He was twice elected as a Liberal Democrat/Liberal Reform Party member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Outagamie County for 1874, and for 1875;^[1][2] served three years as mayor of Appleton, and in 1877 was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate as a Democrat (the Reform Party was dissolving by that point), with 3,658 votes against 1,642 for Greenbacker J. L. Pringle.^[3][4]

He died January 4, 1896, in Tacoma, Washington,^[1][5] and is buried in Tacoma Cemetery.