William Almy Richmond (1809-1871) immigrated to Grand Rapids in 1836, coming from Aurora-On-Cuyahoga, New York, where he was born January 28, 1808. Mr. Richmond was a prominent person contributing to the growth and development of Grand Rapids. In addition, from 1842 to 1845, he served as Democratic State Senator at Detroit. During his time as Senator, he was able to obtain an appropriation of 6,000 acres of land to pay for construction of a power canal and a bridge at Grand Rapids. In 1845, President Polk appointed Richmond Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Michigan and Wisconsin. In this position he made treaty payments to the Indians at La Pointe on Lake Superior. Richmond held this position for four years.

After his years in government service he returned to Grand Rapids and served as President of the Grand Rapids Bridge Co., which built the second Bridge Street Bridge in 1852. Some of Richmond's other accomplishments in Grand Rapids included: he was one of the owners of the original Kent Plat in the Village of Grand Rapids, served as Cashier of the Grand River Bank, and was appointed by Governor Ransom as Brigadier General of the 16th Michigan Militia, a post he held for several years. He was appointed in 1860 by Governor Wisner to serve in the same capacity with the 6th brigade, 3rd division.

In 1837 Richmond married Lorraine Zilpha Page, they had three children, Jonathan, Rebecca, and Mary.

There is very little biographical information on Lorraine Page Richmond. Her father, Deacon Abel Page, was a prominent early settler of Grand Rapids. Her family moved to Grand Rapids in 1836. Soon after their arrival, Miss Page met a young ambitious pioneer, William Richmond. They were married a year later, on November 14, 1837. Mrs. Richmond spent her life in the Grand Rapids area, dying in a Battle Creek nursing home, November 16, 1901 at the age of 91.

Rebecca Richmond (June 22, 1840-January 16, 1925) was a life-long resident of Grand Rapids. She was the oldest child of William and Lorraine Richmond. Miss Richmond attended school at Brooklyn Heights Seminary in New York, from where she graduated in 1859. Upon returning to Grand Rapids, she became a prominent citizen in the community and was known for her many charitable acts. In her later years she gave a park in memory of her father to the City of Grand Rapids.

There is little biographical information available on Jonathan Richmond. He was born March 12, 1842, in Grand Rapids. During the Civil War, Jonathan served for a year with the navy. In 1862 he accompanied Governor Goodwin and Judge Howell over the Santa Fe Trail to the newly created territory of Arizona. Later he located in Kansas. He died March 24, 1911 at the age of 69.

For biographical information on Mary Richmond Kendall, see collection No. 92.