DeForest Richards was born on August 6, 1848 in Charleston, New Hampshire. After the Civil War, he purchased a plantation in Camden, Alabama. Years later, he sold the plantation and established a successful mercantile business. In 1885, he moved to Chadron, Nebraska, where he entered into the banking business with his brother. No long afterwards, Richards moved to Dougals, Wyoming, and organized the First National Bank of Douglas, Wyoming. Success in the livestock and mercantile businesses followed and he turned to politics. Richards was city councilman and mayor of Douglas, commanding officer of the Wyoming National Guard, member of the Constitutional Convention, and state senator. He was elected Governor in 1898 and re-elected in 1902. He died four months into his second term on April 28,1903.

He married Elise Jane Ingersoll in Camden, Alabama. They had two children (Inez and J. DeForest). 

The DeForest Richards Collection

The records from Governor Richard's term in office include:

• General Records
• Inventories St. Louis World's Fair/Louisiana Purchase Exposition
•  Monograph on the State
•  Penitentiary
  
• Justices of the Peace
  
• Indemnity School Land Selections
•  Game and Fish Laws
•  Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings
•  Administrative Records
  
• Arid Lands
•  Correspondence
•  Financial Records
•  Reports
•  Appointment Records
•  Proclamations
  
•  Petitions for Pardons
•  Requisitions and Extraditions
•  Requests
  
•  Rewards
•  Military Affairs
•  Spanish-American War
•  Medals and Back Pay Correspondence
  
•  Medals for Wyoming Veterans
•  Receipts for Medals
  
•  Legislative Affairs
•  Bill Introduced by Senator F.E. Warren
•  Miscellaneous Items
•  State of Wyoming VS. Tom Horn
  
•  Reward for Murderer of William Nichols
•  Checks on Bank Account of James E. Miller
•  Laramie County Vouchers
•  Affidavit to Tom Horn's Innocence   

Additional Resources

• Richards family papers, 1800-1982, Collection Number 01128, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.