Richards Family Story

Rev. Leonard and Mary Richards lived most of their adult life in Stamford. Leonard was the pastor for the Stamford Presbyterian Church for almost 40 years, a record that is hard to beat.

Leonard Eldro Richards was born in Congress township, Ohio, August 7, 1831 to James (1806-1881) and Margaret (Cover 1808-1862) Richards. He had at least seven siblings: Jonas, Adam, Mary, Fletcher, Sarah, Daniel and Margaret.

Leonard married Mary Elizabeth Burbank October 24, 1864 at Chatham Center, Ohio.

Mary was born in Brecksville, Ohio, June 20, 1839 to Rev. Caleb (1792-1876) and Delpha (Harris 1804-1872) Burbank. She was the only Burbank child, of three, who lived to adulthood.

Leonard and Mary had three sons: Leonard Burbank (1867-1947), James Harris (1873-1941) and Alfred Newton (1876-1966). Leonard became an Episcopal minister, James was an attorney in NYC and Dr. Alfred a pharmacologist and professor.

Leonard obtained his early education in the common schools, graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1859, taught school for a year in Kentucky, graduated from Union Theological Seminary in 1861 then came to preach in Stamford. It was during his tenure that the current church was built in 1886, and dedicated on July 6, 1887, and in 1891 a pipe organ was installed.

Mary graduated from the Granville Female Academy in 1859 and for several years afterward taught in Norwalk, Ohio. She was a leader of the church choir, a teacher in the Sunday School, president of the missionary society, an earnest worker in the W. C. T. U. (Womens Christian Temperance Union), and in many other ways, she gave herself to the moral and spiritual welfare of the village.

On Sunday March 29, 1903 Rev. Richards lead his usual Sunday morning service, then while looking over his Sermon for the evening service he died of angina pectoris, age 72. Mary died September 8, 1919 at the Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, where she was taken by her sons in the hope that treatment would prolong her life. They and their sons are buried in the Stamford Cemetery (posted on findagrave.com).

After Mary’s death Harry J. Friedmann purchased The Richards house on South Delaware Street in 1919, John Hoffman lived there next, then Orville Rising purchased the house at 11 South Delaware street in 1949.

Photos from the Stamford Village Library history room.