He engaged in the lumber and grain business in Indiana and Michigan in 1867-9, and lost a nice property by fire in Michigan in 1869. He returned to Massachusetts in 1870. Colonel Richmond has been a justice of peace for more than forty years, and is also a notary public. He was for ten years chairman of the board of selectmen of Freetown. As auditor in 1854 he prepared the first printed report ever made of the finances of Freetown. He has also served as assessor, town clerk, school committee, and overseer of the poor of Freetown. He served eighteen years as moderator at annual town meetings. He served two terms as United States census taker, and two terms as state census taker. He was chairman of the trustees of the First Christian Church in Assonet for several Years. He was a representative in the legislature from the sixth Bristol district in 1892, and served as chairman of the taxation committee. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention in 1892; a turnkey in Massachusetts State Prison, 1871-9; deputy keeper in the Bristol County House of Correction, 1879-82; general traveling agent for the C. C. G. Co., 1882-89; president of Bristol County Agricultural Society 1889-91; charter member of Post No. 1, Massachusetts G. A. R., and member of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He is a Mason and Knight Templar since 1865. On Jan. 1, 1896, he was appointed deputy sheriff and court crier of the Supreme and Superior Courts in Bristol County, and now holds that position. His address is Richmond Road, Assonet, Mass.
Lieut.-Col. James Barton.
Lieut.-Col. JAMES BARTON.
Lieut.-Col. James Barton came from a military family. Among his ancestors was Gen. William Barton, of Revolutionary fame, who captured the English General Prescott and his aide-de-camp in the town of Portsmouth, R. I., for which act Congress presented him with a beautiful sword as an acknowledgment of his hazardous and successful achievement. In his early years Colonel Barton resided in Newport, R. I., and was a member of the Newport Artillery, which was chartered in 1741. He accompanied this organization to Providence at the time of the Dorr War. In 1853 he removed to New Bedford and carried on the business of a marine blacksmith, and this he continued after as well as before the war. The breaking out of the war in 1861 found him holding the position of first lieutenant in the New Bedford Guards (minute men), afterwards Company E, Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. With this company he served twice, first as first lieutenant of the company, and second as lieutenant-colonel of the regiment of which the company made a part, and served with the regiment through its campaign in North Carolina. He was a good, conscientious officer, faithfully performing every duty, and always in his place on battalion drill, on the march, and in battle. He was one of the earliest members of William Logan Rodman Post, No. 1, G. A. R., New Bedford, Mass. He died March 5, 1887.
Maj. John Morrissey.
Major JOHN MORRISSEY.
Major Morrissey was forty-five years of age when he entered the service of his country in the Third Regiment. He was a native of Plymouth, where he resided at the time of his commission. His position as sergeant-at-arms in the State House, Boston, shows that he went to war for pure patriotic principles. He was well liked by all the regiment, and never failed to do his duty on drill, on the march, and in camp. After the war he was given his former position, which office he filled acceptably until his death. He died in his own town, beloved and highly respected by all who knew him. His force of character was more in good acts than in many words.
Adj’t. Lucian L. Perkins.