McClellan (Clell) Richardson

Clell was the son of Laura Burch and McClellan Richardson. Laura was killed in a house fire, when Clell was small. His step mother, Rosa Bryant Richardson didn't treat Clell very kindly, nor did his father. He left home at a very early age of around 11 or 12, after a severe spanking from his father. He worked on peoples farms and lived under porches, trying to survive. His daughter Margie said he had about a 4th grade education. She said he was about 8 years old, when his home and mother burned to death. His mother Laura, lived a few hours following the fire that took her life. He met and married Maggie Harris and they had 9 children.How he met his lovely wife, Maggie Harris is quite sweet. Clell was living with relatives in West Irvine. There was a "toll bridge" that people had to pay toll to cross to get into downtown Irvine. Grandpa Clell had to pass by this toll bridge every day as he walked to work at the sawmill. Anyhow, George Harris (grandma's dad) was operating the toll road at the time and they furnished a "house" with that particular job. So grandma was always working outside (which she loved) sweeping porch, etc and grandpa spotted her as he walked with his friend to work. That friend knew of the Harris's and he said, "Clell, you ought to try and see that Maggie Harris............she's a good, hard workin woman"! He said, if you don't, I will Clell started courtin Maggie and married her on Aug 11th on that very porch with many neighbors and friends/family attending. So that is the truth about that story/per Margie Richardson Gillis). They married at that house by the toll bridge and many walked to see their vows that night on August 11th (which is my birthday) 1910. A lovely story that has been "lost" to many. Margie also said that the sawmill provided Clell a house(in Clell's media photos below), and that's where they started housekeeping. My mother and other 8 siblings were born here. It was near the sawmill and the river, where they packed their water from.. Lived most of their lives in and around Irvine, W Irvine, but later in life, lived in Frankfort, Lawrenceburg, Beattyville, Florida. There are conflicting stories about his birth date. Clell and his tombstone say 1885, but the census of 1930 shows 1880 as birthdate. Since his actual birth was recorded in the family bible, and it was burned up with his mother, he never was real sure about the year he was born.......he knew the month and day, but Maggie thought because he could remember certain life events, that she couldn't remember, she determined it must have been around 1885..........so it's still a mystery of sorts, as to actually how old he was. We do know that in some past generation, his relatives came over from Ireland, probably entering New York. At this point we can't find documentation to prove whether it was his grandparents, James and Mary Jane, that came over, or his great grandparents, or who?. His great grandson, Bryan Sherwood has been scouring the records, trying to find how they got to this country from Ireland. Sherman Jr Richardson says grandpa Clell said he had Irish, German, and Dutch roots.........wow! Since we know that the Richardson's were most definitely the Irish part of him, then the Dutch (Holland) and German had to be from Clell's mama's side, Laura Burch and family. Burch is a German name. Michael Richardson did research on the Richardson family and he has reported that Survey Richardson (first generation Richardson) came over from Ireland. He reports he had a son on the ship sailing from Ireland to the USA and named that boy Ship Richardson. Ship's christian name might have been John. Ship had a son named James Richardson born about 1821 and James married Mary Jane Estes, which is McClellan's parents and my grandpa Clell's grandparents....we just need the documentation to back up Michael's reporting on the Irish lineage.

Clell was an ordained minister. He always claimed to be a "hard-shell" baptist, which my son Bryan has found out is "primitive baptist" also. He believed in "free will giving" instead of tithing. He said if a church didn't wash feet, it wasn't a church. He never believed in seminary preachers. He said the "Lord calls you to preach" by the holy ghost. Sherman Jr remembered Clell being a "circuit rider" preacher in Richmond and Irvine, Ky. He remembered going to church with him and taking the ferry boat at Valley View in Madison County to a church where he preached. Sherman said he saw the washing of the feet and there were no instruments used, only singing. He said grandpa Clell walked the aisles as he delivered the message. He said they might have believed in freewill offering, but he thought they did pass the plate and it was up to you if you gave or let it pass by. I never knew my grandfather to take a drink of anything but coffee, tea, water or R.C. Cola. I never heard a curse word ever come out of his mouth. I have recently obtained a copy from Bill Dozier, of Clell's Minister Bond. He trusted in the Lord for everything. They never had "insurance" of any kind, that I'm aware of.

He never went on the "fast time"......he lived by the "old time, or sun time" he called it. Their clocks were never changed forward, like we do now.

Clell used to work on the Henry Clay farm in Lexington KY as a farm laborer. (this Henry Clay farm had deeper meaning, my son Bryan has found out in his research.......Clell's father, McClellan Richardson, had a younger sister named "Dora" and she married Cassius Marcelius Clay( a Ky statesman), when she was only about 15 and he was an old man......stories say he loved her dearly and left her a farm in Versailles.....even after they divorced.......so Dora lived on Cassius Clay's great farm and estate (Whitehall) which is now a state historical site. Cassius Clay and Henry Clay were relatives, so that may be how Clell was a laborer there....., since Dora was grandpa Clell's own aunt....makes sense now, doesn't it)..Dora however, was the sister of McClellan Richardson and her family lived and worked at Whitehall. .Clell later worked in the Ordinance in Richmond KY ( which is bluegrass army Depot now) building pallets for the warheads to be shipped on. Uncle Roger said grandpa Clell, talked about working in Ohio, for the utilities company too.He worked at the sawmill in W. Irvine also, along with his father McClellan, and half brothers Shirell and Clyde. In a 1917-18 record of W.W. I registration cards, it shows Clell being located in Ola, Estill County and working for the L&N Railroad in Ravenna, which is also Estill Co. Showed him having blue eyes and black/dark hair. His daughter Margie remembers him also working at the distillery in Frankfort. She said her dad Clell was strong, the strongest man she ever knew. She remembered him buying grandma Maggie an iron Singer sewing machine and packing it from Irvine 10 miles to their home on his back! Ten miles is a long way......especially when you are climbing Barnes Mountain (which is where they lived).

He always raised a hog, whenever his place was large enough to make a pen! They raised chickens some too, but he loved fresh pork and aimed to raise his own meat, whenever he could. When work got lean in Irvine, is when he moved family to Frankfort, KY. He bought 10 acres of land, subdivided it, built several houses and lived in some of the houses, after naming it, Richardson Lane,. It was located near Choatville, in Franklin county.

The man loved, and I said, loved to fish! Went every spare moment in his aging years. He also planted garden every year and mowed his grass with a push mower, the year grandma died at 95 yrs of age. He drove a car almost that long. He had several crashes and broke grandma's nose twice. He built some of their own houses and put garages everywhere they moved, that didn't have one.

He chewed doublemint gum and would tell you, he didn't worry about anything.........he would say "The Lord takes care of me"............younger years, he chewed Beechnut tobacco (in the red and white striped pouch), which caused "conflict" between he and grandma Maggie. :)

He was a good father, grandfather, great grandfather........he was always truthful and honest and never talked about anyone.

When he had to be put in Heritage Hall (nursing home), he told my mother Margie, that he was just as happy there, as he'd be anywhere, without Maggie.........He never knew what happened to Edward (that he was murdered). When he asked mama why hadn't Edward been to see him, mama just said "Edward is gone, daddy".

He had a full and happy life..........worked hard, trusted in the Lord and read his bible faithfully, everyday. I remember the few nights I spent in their home, that they'd get in the old rockers and get their bibles. They'd both put on our "spectacles" and read before retiring........a lot of peace there.

His childhood was hard, but it never waivered his faith, or anything in his life.......he spoke positives and not negatives. When he got angry, the best I remember, he "pouted" on grandma and was still chasing her around the kitchen table at 90 years old..........go figure.

With much love I submit this info for future generations. My son Bryan has done most of the research in this tree and without his hours of "digging", I wouldn't have some of the info I share here. 3/28/09(submitted by Linda Sherwood McElwain & Bryan Sherwood info)

When they lived in Florida it was in Brooksville. He raised and sold watermelons on the side of the road in front of their house. He also sold tomatoes, squash and cucumbers. It was there that he led me to the Lord. (submitted by Margaret Ann Blackwell 04/09)

Sherman Jr remembers a story about grandpa telling him to go get a bucket, fill it with water, then stick your hand in it. Now pull it out he said. He said that's what you leave here when you're gone. Sherman said, but you can't tell my hand was in the water......grandpa said, that's what I'm tryin to tell ya. (submitted by Sherman 1/2010)