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James W. Richards was born March 4, 1839, in Columbiana County, Ohio and at an early day, removed with his parents to Wayne County, IL.  He received a common-school education and worked on a farm until he was about nineteen years of age, when he concluded to take Horace Greeley's advice and "go West and grow up with the country."  Therefore, in the summer of 1859, he boarded a train, propelled by ox teams and crossed the Plains, by way of the Smoky Hill route and in due time arrived in Denver. Like most of the other Colorado settlers, he commenced mining and followed it, at intervals, for about six years. He was not one of these who were lucky enough to strike a big bonanza, but he encountered the usual difficulties that are understood by those who are acquainted "with the ways of the mines." In 1865, he established a fast freight line between Denver and Central City and continued in that business until 1872 and in the fall of this year, went into the wholesale flour and grain business with the Brown Bros., in which he has since continued and has built up a business the sales of which have amounted to half a million dollars for the past year. He shipped the first car load of grain over the Kansas Pacific Railroad to Denver and established the first line of transfer wagons in the city, which, perhaps are the most convenient wagons for the purpose used in any city and upon which he and W. J. Kinsey have a patent. Mr. Richards is not only identified as one of Colorado's leading business men, but he is also one of her model farmers. He owns and cultivates a farm two and a half miles west of Denver, which is said to be the best improved farm in the State. It has a bearing apple orchard on it which was one of the first set out in Colorado. He has also a fine grape arbor which has borne from two to three tons of the finest grapes in one season; but the principal product of his farm is wheat, of which he harvested 3,000 bushels during the last season. It may, indeed, be said of Mr. Richards, that he has "grown up with the country," as he came at an early day and experienced many reverses, but he struggled manfully through them all and at last has his reward.