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Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

     WALTER D. RICHARDS, president and manager of the Richards Lumber Company, was born in Minnesota, August 22, 1869. His father, Richard W. Richards, a native of Utica, New York, was a Minnesota pioneer, going to that state in 1866. Throughout his life he was prominent in educational work, holding the office of state superintendent of schools two terms. Previous to leaving New York he was principal of Fairfield Seminary, and while in Wisconsin, was in the adjutant general's office. During the latter part of the Civil war he enlisted, but was taken ill before he was mustered into the service. Until recently he was auditor of Faribault county, Minnesota, and previously was, for twelve years, county superintendent of schools. By profession he is an attorney, and was a student in the office of Roscoe Conklin, New York. His parents were natives of Wales. His wife, Winnefred (Morris) Richards, was a native of the Empire state, her parents having been of an old Georgia family.
     At the age of fifteen years our subject was graduated from high school, in Minnesota, and subsequently from the Curtis Business College, St. Paul, Minnesota, and the Drew College of Pharmacy. In 1885 he went to Fort Asinaboine, Montana, and assumed charge of the drug department of the Broadwater-McCulloh Company, post sutlers, having successfully passed an examination for a hospital stewardship in the regular army, in order to hold his position. He remained there six years, returning to Minnesota, and engaging in the drug business at Winnebago, City. In March, 1902, he came to Chelan county, where he organized the company of which he is the principal stockholder.
     July 12, 1894, at Blue Earth City, Minnesota, our subject was married to Miss Nellie B. Baker, a native of Minnesota, the daughter of Joshua F. and Mary (Bowen) Baker. Her father, a Canadian, died at Chelan, in December, 1902. For many years he had been a prominent business man in Minnesota, coming to the lake country in search of health. The mother, a native of Canada, still lives at Chelan. Mrs. Richards has four sisters, Hattie, wife of John A. Van Slyke; Belle, single, assistant cashier in the Miners & Merchants' Bank, Chelan; Myrtle and Frances.
     The fraternal affiliations of Mr. Richards are with Blue Earth Valley Lodge, No. 27, A. F. & A. M., Winnebago City, Minnesota; R. A. M., of the same place, and Mankato Lodge B. P. 0. E., Mankato, Minnesota. He is a Republican and has been active, more or less, previous to his arrival in this county.