The profession of law and the realm of politics are substantially represented in Dickson by Hon. Henry Clay Richardson, who is a native of this county and whose progenitors have for three preceding generations been associated with this part of Tennessee. They have constituted a family line notable for military vigor and other strong characteristics.
Austin Richardson (the great-grandfather of our subject) joined the Revolutionary Army when a mere boy, following his father and five uncles to the exciting scenes of that conflict. They had gone thither from their at Culpepper Courthouse, Virginia, but only Austin Richardson returned, for the others had fallen in battle or died from other ills of war, and only this youth and one brother were left to represent the family. In spite of the fact that he had taken part in the Great War and had served under Washington, he was then but an orphan boy and was “bound out” until he reached the years of his majority. When he became his own master, he left Virginia and came to Tennessee in 1793, first settling at Greenville. Here he married a Miss Johnson and three years later they removed to the part of the state which is now Dickson County, selecting as their home one of the highest points in the county and one near a large spring. His was a large family, one of his sons being Louis Richardson, born in 1807 in Dickson County. He became a prominent farmer and married Miss Vina Walker of Hickman County. Their son, W. Turner Richardson (the father of H. C. Richardson) was born in Hickman County, in 1843, and early displayed a thirst for adventure and action. At the age of seventeen years he ran away from home and joined the Confederate Army, serving in Company K, of the Eleventh Tennessee Infantry. He served under Johnson and Hood in all engagements; was captured at Missionary Ridge; was held prisoner at Rock Island prison in Illinois; was exchanged at Greensborough, North Carolina; and after the close of the war returned to the occupation of peace. He was a farmer and a dealer in lumber and lime, conducting a large kiln and managing a large business in that line. In 1866 he married Miss Emily Catherine Alspaugh, who was a native of North Carolina, born in 1841; her mother was the youngest daughter of Colonel Josiah Clifton, a large land owner and colonel in the Revolutionary War. He was at Yorktown with Washington when Cornwallis surrendered. To Emily C. Alspaugh Richardson and W. T. Richardson were born twelve children, eight of whom lived to the years of maturity. The eldest of these was H. C. Richardson, who was born in the town of Burns, in Dickson County, Tennessee, on the twenty-first day of March, 1867.
Henry Clay Richardson early evinced an intellectual keenness suggestive of that of his distinguished namesake. He was educated in Edgewood College, and then fared forth upon the professional pathway of teaching. Like many other young men of ability, he found it possible to give due attention to his pedagogical labors and in his hours of leisure to broaden his own mind by carrying on independent study. The line which Mr. Richardson chose for further mental development and advancement in life was that of law. Meanwhile, however, he became an authority on county educational matters and his personal standing was such that for two years his services were required as superintendent of public instruction for Dickson County.
In 1891 Mr. Richardson wrote his bar examinations and was admitted to practice in Tennessee. The quality of his professional activity may be readily guessed from the fact that recognition of his ability was indicated by his district in sending him to the state legislature in 1894. Hon. Richardson served for four years as a representative and then turned to his home and practiced in Dickson. He is a staunch Democrat and has been very active in the affairs of his party.
Numerous fraternal organizations count Mr. Richardson a valued member. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; of the Knights of Pythias; and of the Improved Order of Red Men. Mr. Richardson is socially popular as well as professionally successful.
Source: Hale, Will T, and Dixon L. Merritt. A History of Tennessee and Tennesseans: The Leaders and Representative Men in Commerce, Industry and Modern Activities. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Company, 1913. Volume 5
