Schlatter Family Site

My Great-Grandfather
Reverdy Hunter Richardson

Photo from Woodville Republican newspaper taken at Wilkinson County courthouse circa 1903

 This photograph was in possession of my mother, Annie Lee Richardson Schlatter, b. 21 Oct 1924, d. 18 Mar 2007 (known by her nickname of “Babe Schlatter”).  She grew up in Centreville, Wilkinson County, MS and moved to Knoxville, TN in 1951 with her husband, Joseph A. Schlatter, Sr., and two sons, Joseph A. Schlatter, Jr., and John F. Schlatter.  She lived in Knoxville until her death.

Babe Schlatter’s father (my grandfather) was Clarence J. Richardson, b. 12 Mar 1896, d. 13 Feb 1972.  His father was Reverdy Hunter Richardson (b. 1 Sep 1864, d. 12 April 1916). 

This photograph was published in the Woodville Republican newspaper on 11 Nov 1999; a copy of the newspaper is included in this collection.  The caption accompanying the photograph reads: 

OLD TIMERS – The above photo of ten former office holders and/or well-known citizens of this Wilkinson County was lent to this newspaper by Mrs. Susie Morris martens.  She recently found the remarkable clear picture, although somewhat the worse for wear around the edges, in a drawer.  The names of the gentlemen are clearly written on the back of the photo, but no date was listed.  The “new “ courthouse, built in 1903, is in the background meaning the picture was tekn after the construction.  Identified from left, front row, are the following:  Fayette Johnson, Will Hays, Cars Johnson, Lyt Lewis and Will Morris.  Back row, from left:  John Day, Hunter Richardson, E. E. Richardson, Zack Gaulden and Billy Jenkins.  Black bow ties and mustaches were obviously in style back in the days when the photo was taken, since six of the men are so adorned. (sic)

“Hunter Richardson” in the photo (back row, 2nd from left) is Reverdy Hunter Richardson (b. 1 Sep 1864, d. 12 April 1916), grandfather of Annie Lee Richardson Schlatter.  “E. E. Richardson” (back row, 3rd from left) is his brother Edward Everett Richardson, b. 1856, d. 20 Mar 1925.

 The individual identified as “Zack Gaulden” may be a distant relative of the Richardsons.  The great-grandfather of Reverdy Hunter and E. E. Richardson is Francis R. Richardson, b. 1763   in South Carolina, d. 13 Dec 1820  in Wilkinson County, MS.  He was married to Martha Gaulden, b. 26 Nov 1765 in South Carolina, d. 1833 in Wilkinson County, MS.  Francis Richardson and Martha Gaulden Richardson migrated from South Carolina to Wilkinson County, MS, with other members of their families in 1810-1812.  Thus, it is possible that Zack Gaulden in this photo is a descendant of the Gaulden family who was inter-married with the Richardsons.