Edmund Richardson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edmund Richardson
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Edmund Richardson "Cotton King"
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| Born | June 28, 1818 |
| Died | January 11, 1886 (aged 67) |
Edmund Richardson (born June 28, 1818 – died January 11, 1886) was a very successful American businessman. He became incredibly wealthy in the mid-1800s by growing and selling cotton in states like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. When he passed away, people said he was the richest person in the Southern part of the United States.
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Early Life and Beginnings
Edmund Richardson was born on June 28, 1818, in Caswell County, North Carolina. He went to school from age 10 to 14. In 1832, he left school to work in a store that sold dry goods in Danville, Virginia.
In 1840, when he was in his early 20s, Edmund received $2,800 from his father's estate. He then moved to Jackson, Mississippi. There, he started a business partnership with stores in nearby towns. In 1848, Richardson married Margaret Elizabeth Patton. They had seven children together.
Business During the Civil War
By 1861, when the American Civil War started, Richardson owned five large cotton farms. He also had country stores in towns like Brandon, Canton, and Jackson. He was also a partner in a company in New Orleans that dealt with cotton. This company helped judge cotton quality and track prices.
During the war, the Union Navy created a blockade that stopped ships from entering the port of New Orleans. This caused big money problems for Richardson's company. Many customers could not pay their debts. Even with these challenges, Richardson still owned his five cotton farms and a lot of cotton at the end of the war. He quickly sold his cotton and other assets. Within a year, he was out of debt and doing well again.
Building a Fortune After the War
After the Civil War, many people who had been forced to work on farms needed jobs. In 1868, Richardson made a deal with authorities in Mississippi. He arranged for people who had been in prison to work on his farms in the Mississippi Delta. Richardson promised to provide guards and treat the workers well with food and clothing. The state paid him to help cover the costs of these workers.
Richardson used these workers to build levees (walls to hold back water), clear land, and prepare fields for planting. Using this system, Richardson grew a huge amount of cotton. This helped him become very rich.
By the 1880s, he owned grand homes in New Orleans and Jackson, Mississippi. He also had many country stores, banks, and steamboats. He owned parts of railroads and cotton-seed mills. He also had a major share in Mississippi Mills, which was the largest textile factory in the South.
Richardson owned dozens of cotton farms across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. He even partnered with a famous general, Nathan Bedford Forrest, to grow cotton near Memphis, Tennessee.
In 1884-1885, a big event called the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition took place in New Orleans. Richardson was the head of the management board for this event. He even gave $25,000 of his own money to support it. In the mid-1880s, Richardson was one of the biggest cotton growers in the world. He had about 25,000 acres (10,000 hectares) of land for cotton. This is why he became known as the "Cotton King." People often called him "Colonel," which was an honorary title.
Death and Lasting Impact
On January 11, 1886, Edmund Richardson suddenly became ill in Jackson, Mississippi, and passed away. His obituary (a notice about his death) said he was "the richest man in the South and the largest cotton planter in the world." At the time of his death, his wealth was estimated to be between 10 and 15 million dollars.
Edmund Richardson was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Jackson. His monument there is the tallest in the cemetery and was carved by hand in Italy.
