Description

Hugo Richards (b.1838 - d.1911) was born on November 6, 1838 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the son of Hugh Richards, born in Wales in 1788 and Mary Vanderburg, born in Indiana in 1807.

Hugo moved to PIkes Peak, Colorado in 1860 and then to Denver where he engaged in the merchandising business. In 1863, he tried his hand at mining in Nevada and Montana.

He came to Arizona in 1871 as a post trader at Camp Verde. In 1872, Hugo came to Prescott where he began mining and also bought the Date Creek Ranch in the area. The mining claim, with his partner C.P. Head, was located north of Prescott. At the peak of operation it was said that their Eureka Mine was the richest and most important copper mine of its time.

Hugo was part-owner of the ten-stamp Aztlan mill on Groom Creek. Its working capacity was from 3-3-1/2 tons of silver ore per day and 7-8 tons of gold ore.

Hugo was an active member of the democratic party. In 1875, he was first elected to the territorial legislature, and served again in 1877.

He bought a one-third interest in The Bank of Arizona, in Prescott, in 1889 along with Edmund W. Wells and W.E. Hazeltine. Hugo was vice-president of the bank for a year and later was elected president, a position he held until his death.

He married Emma Towne in New Jersey on October 15, 1890. They settled in Prescott.

Handwriting on photograph reads: "Hugo Richards, c.1877".

Hugo died on July 19, 1911 in Prescott. He was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis.

Sources:findagrave.com; Arizona Deaths and Burials, 1910-1911; U.S. Census 1850, 1880, 1910; New Jersey Marriages, 1678-1985; Arizona Republican 11-5-1896; The Pick and Drill 7-31-1897; The Oasis 5-31-1902; Sharlot Hall Gazette, April 1985.