Continued from The Richards Epic: Part Two.
Photo of Jerome E Richards, Sr circa 1900 (I believe it was 1900 when the police department went to five pointed stars rather than six pointed) courtesy of my 2nd cousin once removed Rick Pollard of the Memphis Police Department
Jerome Richards is my 2nd great-grandfather. Jerome was born February 20, 1856 in Crittenden County, Arkansas. In 1860 he is found living in Eastland County, Texas with his father, cousin and four of his siblings. In 1870 he is on the Austin, Tunica County, Mississippi census living with his father and four of his siblings. The family lived next door to Spencer DeMumbrie and family.
Jerome married Minnie DeMumbrie on January 21, 1878 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
Jerome and Minnie had a son on January 18, 1879 who they named Jerome Eddie Richards, Jr (according to the Richards Family Bible).
In 1880 Jerome and Minnie are found living in District 1 or 2, Tunica County, Mississippi. The household is listed as:
JE (Jerome) Richards, 24, born in Arkansas, both parents born in Tennessee (which isn’t correct)
CA (Minnie) Richards, 21, born in Mississippi, father born in North Carolina (wrong) and mother born in Tennessee (correct)
JE Richards, Jr, 2 (Jerome E Richards, Jr)
MH McMillen, 70, grandmother (she is actually Minnie’s maternal grandmother)
JA Mathews (age 34 years), Ellis Sholly (age 22 years) and Barbary Shipp (age 12 years) all listed as servants.
On August 14, 1880 Minnie gave birth to their second son Claude Eugene Richards.
On March 9, 1884 Minnie gave birth to their third son Bluford Napoleon Richards.
From 1880 until 1900 the only way to track where Jerome and Minnie are is through the Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee city directories, which the first time he shows up is in 1885, so here we go:
1885 Dow: Richards, Jerome, farmer, res Lucy av, 3d e of Rayburn av
1886 Dow: Richards, Jerome, farmer, r Lucy av, se cor LaRose
1887 Dow: Richards, Jerome E, gardener, res Lucy av, 1st e of LaRose
Jerome doesn’t appear in the 1888 city directory.
1889 Dow: Richards, Jerome E, contractor, res Lucy av, 2d e of LaRose
1890 Dow: Richards, Jerome E, contractor, res Lucy av, 1st e of LaRose (also to note is that this year I believe Edmund shows up in Memphis: Richards, Edward, lab, res Gaines 5th e of Kansas av)
On March 16, 1890 Minnie had a fourth son Clegg DeMumbrie Richards.
1891 Dow: Richards, Jerome E, contractor, res Lucy av, 2d e of LaRose (Richards, Edmund, farmer, res Gaines, 3d e of Kansas av. Of course, Edmund died in 1890, so this would be the last time he is found in the directory, though I’m surprised that they didn’t list him as deceased, unless the directory hadn’t yet been notified as of the printing)
1891 Polk: Richards, Jerome E, cont, res Lucy av s e cor Harris av.
1892 Dow: Richards, Jerome L(?), contractor, res Lucy av, 2d e of LaRose
George Washington Richards, the couple’s fifth child, was born July 4, 1892.
According to The History of the Memphis Police Department by Eddie M Ashmore, Jerome joined the police department in 1892.
1892 Polk: Richards, Jerome E, contractor, res Lucy av 1 e of LaRose
1893 Polk: Richards, Jerome E, contr, res Lucy av 1 e of Harris av.
1894 Polk: Richards, Jerome E, res Lucy av ne cor Harris av.
Sadly, little George Washington Richards passed away on March 3, 1894 one day shy of 1 year and 8 months of age.
1895 Polk: Richards, Jerome E, dep sheriff, res Lucy av, se cor Harris av
1896 Polk: Richards, Jerome E, jailer county jail, res Front ne cor Auction (listed below Jerome is: Richards, Jerome E Jr, res county jail)
From what I understand the family was having their home redecorated, and they were residing in an apartment at the jail. It was in this apartment that the couple’s sixth and final child, the only girl, was born on April 5, 1896. They named her Minnie Virginia Richards.
1897 Degaris: Richards, Jerome E, agt, res Lucy av 1 e of LaRose.
1898 Degaris: Richards, Jerome E, deputy trustee Court House, res Lucy av 3 e of LaRose exdt
1898 Polk: Richard(s), Jerome E, deputy tax collector’s office, res Lucy av 2 e of LaRose.
According to The History of the Memphis Police Department Jerome was sworn in as Chief of Police in January of 1898.
1899 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Chief of Police, office 2d sw cor of Washington, Tel 501, res 209 Johnson av, Tel 107.
1900 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Chief of Police, office 2d sw cor of Washington, Tel 501, res 209 Johnson av, Tel 107.
In 1900 Jerome and Minnie can be found on the census living at 209 Johnson Avenue, Civil District 15, Ward 9, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. The household is:
Jerome E Richards, Chief of Police, age 44 years, born Arkansas, father born South Carolina (wrong), mother born Louisiana (possible?)
Minnie Richards, age 42 years, born Mississippi, father born Tennessee, mother born Tennessee
Eddie (Jerome Jr) Richards, city officer, age 21 years, born Arkansas (that’s interesting), father born Arkansas, mother born Mississippi
Claude, RR gate keeper, age 19 years, born Tennessee, parents see above
Bluford, RR clerk, age 16 years, same as Claude
Clegg, at school, age 10 years, same as Claude
Minnie, age 4 years, same as Claude
Frank Macon, John Smith and George Smith are all listed as servants.
Going through the city directory again Jerome is listed as the Chief of Police until 1903.
1903 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Clk Criminal Court Shelby County, 2d fl Court House, res 493 Lucy av, Tel Cum 2162
1904 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Clerk Criminal Court Shelby County Court House (2d fl), res 493 Lucy av, Tel Cum 2162
1905 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Clerk Criminal Court, Shelby County, Court House (2d fl), res 493 Lucy av, Tel Cum 2162
On December 4, 1905 Jerome’s son Claude shot himself in the chest near the parlor of the family’s home. He died in his mother’s arms.
1906 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Clerk Criminal Court, Shelby County Court House (2d fl), res 493 Lucy av
1907 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Clk Criminal Court, Shelby County Court House (2d fl), res 493 Lucy av
1908 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Clerk Criminal Court of Shelby County, Court House (2d fl), res 493 Lucy av
There is a court record dated September 30, 1908 for some sort of kerfuffle that I haven’t quite figured out completely. Though I have the record, I will need to investigate this a bit more.
1909 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Clerk Criminal Court of Shelby County, Court House (2d fl), res 493 Lucy av
1910 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Clerk Criminal Court of Shelby County, 11 Court House (1st fl), res 493 Lucy av, Tel Cum 2162 Main
In 1910 Jerome and family are found on the census at 493 Lucy Avenue, District 271, Ward 25, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. They are listed as:
Jerome E Richards, Clerk of Criminal Court, age 54 years, married 31 years (32), born Arkansas, father born North Carolina, mother born United States
Minnie Richards, age 51 years, married 31 years (32), born Mississippi, father born Tennessee, mother born Tennessee
Bluford Richards, Lawyer, age 26 years, born Tennessee, father born Arkansas, mother born Mississippi
Clegg Richards, Office Clerk, age 20 years, same as Bluford
Minnie V Richards, age 14 years, same as Bluford
Dick Richards (a cousin of Jerome’s), Railroad Clerk, age 22 years, born Arkansas, father born Arkansas, mother born Arkansas
Also listed is a black man named Will Knoles, Family Servant, age 22 years, born Alabama, parents both born United States (for more about Will Knoles click here)
There is no 1911 directory listed in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. From 1912 through 1914 Jerome is listed as Clerk of the Criminal Court of Shelby County. His occupation changed in 1915:
1915 Polk: Richards, Jerome E contr North Memphis Savings Bank bldg (4th fl) res 493 Lucy av
1916 Polk: Richards, Jerome E contr res 493 Lucy av
1917 Polk: Richards, Jerome E res 493 Lucy av
1918 Polk: Richards, Jerome E res 493 Lucy av
1919 Polk: Richards, Jerome E res 493 Lucy av
1920 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Poll Tax Assessor and Collector, 9 Court House (2d fl) res 493 Lucy av
In 1920 Jerome is found living with his family at 493 Lucy Avenue, District 202, Ward 25, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. They are listed as:
Jerome E Richards, Poll Tax Collector for Shelby County, age 63 years, born Arkansas, father born North Carolina, mother born Louisiana (possible?)
Minnie Richards, age 61 years, born Mississippi, father born Tennessee, mother born Tennessee
Paul Stalls (son-in-law, Minnie Virginia’s husband), Music Teacher, age 36 years, born Kentucky (possible?), father born Kentucky (wrong), mother born Kentucky
Minnie Stalls (Minnie Virginia Richards), age 23 years, born Tennessee, father born Arkansas, mother born Mississippi
Bluford N Richards, Appraiser for the State of Tennessee, age 37 years, same as Minnie
Willie D Richards (daughter-in-law, Bluford’s wife), age 29 years, born Tennessee, father born Tennessee, mother born Tennessee
There is also a black woman named Nannie Taylor listed as a Family Servant living in the rear of the home, age 23 years, born Tennessee, father born Tennessee, mother born Tennessee
Jerome appears in two more city directories:
1921 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Poll Tax Assessor and Collector, 9 Court House (2d fl) h 493 Lucy av
1922 Polk: RICHARDS, JEROME E, Poll Tax Assessor and Collector, 9 Court House (2d fl) h 493 Lucy av
Jerome E Richards died at 2 o’clock in the morning on August 14, 1922 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. The cause of death was cirrhosis of the liver. Jerome E Richards is buried in the Richards Family Plot at Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
One of my favorite things I have read about him is contained in a book that I do not know the name of or when it was published (though it was published sometime during his career as Chief of Police, I’m guessing 1900). All I have are photocopies of the pages he appears on.
Jerome E. Richards, the present head of the Memphis police department, was born in Crittenden County, Ark., on February 24, 1856. Early in life he moved to Tunica County, Miss., and lived at Richards Landing. He has been a citizen of Memphis for twenty years. Prior to his connection with the Memphis police department he was engaged in the railroad construction business. He first became a member of the department in 1892. He occupied the position of patrolman at that time. Finding other fields more profitable he retired for a while from the department, and did not take up the calling again until he was made chief by the Fire and Police Commissioners in February 1898. He is well equipped for the duties which his position imposes. He is a man of splendid abilities, possessing all the rare qualities that make a first-class executive officer. He is prompt in his decisions, earnest in his convictions and unswerving in his loyalty and devotion to public duty. He is as firm as a rock, and yet never harsh in his actions toward the unfortunates who come within the scope of his authority. In dealing with the frailties of the human family, his judgment is always tempered with mercy, and his firmness inoffensive. Personally, he is one of the best fellows. Officially, his record is clean, clear-cut and business-like in every particular, and his administration is marked at every point by a rigid performance of public duty. He is metropolitan in his ideas and has made many improvements since his induction into office that places the department generally upon a more creditable and a more useful basis. He has surrounded himself with efficient officers, and while always active in politics, he has never allowed partisan feeling to sway him from his duty. Recognizing that long service on the department tends to raise the standard of efficiency, he is in favor of a more liberal application of the doctrine of civil service reform in the management of the police department. In entering upon the second term of his career as chief, he will probably recommend more useful and more creditable changes in the department than any of his predecessors. He has been active in the suppression of crime, and the criminal report which he has just completed reveals a splendid record of a year’s work. There is no fitter man for the place than Jerome E. Richards, and his successors in office will find it profitable to emulate his example, and they will have a high standard to follow.
From The History of the Memphis Police Department by Eddie M Ashmore (page 25 in the book, page 8 in the PDF of the book) with a different month of induction:
Jerome E. Richards became chief of police in January 1898 following the tenure of Chief E.B. Mosley. Richards joined the department in 1892. He was described as “probably the most rigid character who ever filled the office of Chief of Police in the city of Memphis. He is a natural disciplinarian. His word has the bark on it. He means what he says and he sometimes gives to his language a sulphuric coloring that makes it even more forcible.”
Jerome E Richards, Sr and Minnie DeMumbrie had six children:
Jerome E Richards, Jr was born January 18, 1879. Ed, or Eddie (as he was known in the family) became Judge of the Criminal Court of Shelby County. My granddaddy told a story of his Uncle Clegg, Ed’s brother, taking him to the courthouse to watch Uncle Ed work. Clegg told Granddaddy to stand up and thumb his nose at Uncle Ed to make him laugh, and Granddaddy did it. Apparently everybody in the courtroom laughed. Except Uncle Ed. Ed married Laura Borner about 1902, but I have yet to find their marriage record. They had two daughters: Laura Richards, born in 1902, died in 1943 (she married Carl Edwin Speight and had three children: Carl Edmund Speight, Carolyn Jean Speight and Albert Franklin Speight) and Dorothy Richards, born 1905 (no further information on Dorothy). Judge Jerome E Richards, Jr died on May 18, 1929. He is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
Claude Eugene Richards was born August 14, 1880 in Tennessee. Not much is really known about his life, other than he worked as a gatekeeper for the Illinois Central Railroad, then as a conductor. Claude committed suicide in the family home on December 4, 1905, and he is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. (for more information on Claude Eugene Richards click here)
Bluford Napoleon Richards was born on March 9, 1884 in Tennessee. He was a clerk, then a lawyer, then a state appraiser, eventually becoming a Deputy Sheriff for the county court. He married Willie Dee Sanders on December 10, 1910 in Wilson County, Tennessee. Blu (as he was known) and Willie didn’t have any children. Blu is also the only child of Jerome’s, besides George, that I do not have a photo for. Bluford Napoleon Richards died May 13, 1955 at 6:25 in the morning in a car accident at Poplar and Third in Memphis. My mother remembers when it happened. She was at school early to see the movie that they showed before classes started and was pulled out and sent home. Bluford is, according to his death certificate, buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
Clegg Demumbrie Richards was born on March 16, 1890 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. I’m perplexed as to why I am unable to find him on the 1920 census. I assumed initially that he may have been overseas in the military, but there is no military information for him with the exception of a WWI draft registration card. He, much like his brothers and father, went into law enforcement. He eventually became a detective for the Memphis Police Department. He was one of the detectives involved in the capture of George C Barnes, aka Machine Gun Kelly. On June 4, 1913 Clegg married Clara Evelyn Ketchen. They divorced prior to 1929. On July 3, 1929 Clegg married Lily Margaret Hart. Clegg had three children: Mary Evelyn Richards and Jerome Richards with Clara Evelyn Ketchen and Marydell Richards with Lily Margaret Hart. Clegg Demumbrie Richards died on June 18, 1955. The cause of death was carcinoma of the omentum. According to his death certificate Clegg is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
George Washington Richards was born on July 4, 1892. He did not live long, and I have no cause of death. There are no known photographs of him (that I know of, is what I mean). George Washington Richards died on March 3, 1894 at the age of one year and eight months. He is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
Minnie Virginia Richards was born on April 5, 1896 in the Memphis jail. Minnie married James Paul Stalls, Sr on July 27, 1914. They divorced on August 10, 1926. Minnie Virginia then married Stephen Anthony Para on January 29, 1927. Minnie Virginia had one child from her first marriage. Her son James Paul Stalls, Jr married first on August 21, 1938 to Christine Meredith Hester and had a son Richard Anthony Stalls. After they divorced he married a final time on March 12, 1948 to Ruth May Craft and had two daughters Virginia Marie Stalls and Paulette Stalls. Minnie Virginia Richards died on July 6, 1974. She is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis Shelby County, Tennessee. (for more information on Minnie Virginia Richards click here)
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