RICHARDS, Cynthia Ann Walker - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Death came Wednesday morning to Mrs. Cynthia Ann Richards aged 88 years a Civil War nurse and acquaintance of Abraham Lincoln. Mrs. Richards died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alpha Bever about 5 o'clock Wednesday morning. She had made her home with her daughter here for the past 6 years and had been an invalid the greater part of the time. Prior to that the greater part of her life was spent in Tolono, Il. She knew Abraham Lincoln well and heard a rousing debate between Lincoln and Douglas at Hillsboro Ill in 1860. Her people were Whigs. A short funeral service was held from the Bever home Friday morning at 9:30 o'clock conducted by the Rev Prevo and interment made in Tolono Cemetery. Cynthia Ann Walker Richards the daughter she had her fathers tender care for only a few more years. She was the daughter of Alexander and Sabrina Blain Walker was born in Clark Co IN on August 16, 1840. Her mother was taken from her when she was very small and she had her father's tender care for only a few more years. She was sent to live with relatives at St. Louis and later went to make her home with friends in Southern Illinois. On Sept 8, 1856 she was united in marriage to James Richards of near Hillsboro, Illinois. They lived on a farm near Hillsboro until the beginning of the Civil War when the husband joined the 5th Missouri Cavalry and moved to Waynesville MO.. She served in the Army as nurse without pay until the close of the war when they moved to Tolono where she lived until six years ago when she came to Hillsboro IN to make her home with her daughter Mrs. Alpha Beaver. There were 8 children given to grace the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richards. Two of them died when very small, Mrs. Agnes Beaver and George the only ones left of the family. The others were James, Thomas, Joseph, Rose and Lilly. In addition to mothering and raising her children she gave a mother's care to two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. With her two children are left 9 grandchildren 12 great grandchildren who will miss her council. She united with the Presbyterian church when a small girl and continued faithful to those early vows until the end. On March 14, 1928, early in the morning she quietly took her departure for her long home at the old age of 87 years 6 months and 28 days. Transcribed by Karen Zach