Richard, Michael (1858-1930)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1930 Sep 10 p. 2

Birth date: 1858 Mar 26

text of obituary:

Michael Richard

Michael Richard was born to Christian and Mary (Conrad) Richard in Plama, France, on March 26, 1858, and passed to his reward from his home near Wayland, Iowa, on Wednesday, August 27, 1930, at the ripe age of 72 years, 5 months, and 1 day.

At the age of 13 he was baptized in the Christian faith, and affiliate with the Montbilliard [sic Montbéliard] Mennonite Church in France. A few years later his membership was transferred to an Amish Mennonite Church in Wayne County, Ohio; then to the Sugar Creek Mennonite Church near Wayland, Iowa; and finally to the Emmanuel Mennonite Church near Noble, Iowa, where remained a faithful and consistent member unto the end.

At the age of 16, both his parents having died in France, he and his sister and the two brothers migrated to America, and established their home in Wayne County, Ohio. After living in Ohio for four years, Michael moved to Washington and Henry Counties in Iowa, where he lived the remaining 51 years of his life.

October 16, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Rich, of Crawfordsville, Iowa, with whom he was permitted to share the joys and sorrows of life for nearly 50 years. This union was blessed with six children — four sons and two daughters.

He is preceded in death by one son, Henry, at the age of six, on February 3, 1914; by one sister, Katie (Mrs. Graber) of Wayne County, Ohio, and one brother, Christ, of Wayland, Iowa, on August 9, 1928.

He is survived by his wife; four children: Anna (Mrs. John Widmer), William, Leah (Mrs. Harvey Eicher); David and Edward, all of Wayland, Iowa; nine grand children; one twin brother Peter, also of Wayland, and a host of relatives and friends.

The Master will knock at my door some night,
     And there in the silence hushed and dim
Will wait for my coming with lamp alight
     To open immediately to Him.

If this is the only thing foretold
     Of all my future, then I pray
That quietly watchful I may hold
     The key of a golden faith each day
Fast shut in my grasp, that, when I hear
     His step, be it at dawn of midnight dim,
Straightway may I rise without a fear,
    And open immediately to Him.

— Margaret J. Preston.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, August 30, 1930, at 9:30 A.M. from the late home, and at 10:30 A.M. from the Emmanuel Mennonite Church near Noble, Iowa. Interment was made in the Eicher Cemetery near the church.

The Mennonite obituary: 1930 Sep 17 p. 14