On the morning of May 14, 1858 Mr. George Wade Richardson for many years a prominent and useful citizen of this Parish, died at the residence of his son-in-law Marcus T. Carter Esq. near to which in a secluded spot his remains were intered.

Although he may very truly be said to have died of old age, "That endemic of the Universe" yet there can be little doubt but that his decease was accelerated by the injuries which he received two years ago when thrown from the cars of the N.O. and Jackson railroad, and from the effects of which he never recovered.

He was a native of Richmond County, Georgia, born Sept. 2, 1795; and was consequently, at, his decease in the sixty third year of his age.

In 1814 he enlisted as a volunteer in the war then existing between the United States and Great Britain; and continued in the service, except for a brief interval, until the conclusion of peace in 1815; during which time he was engaged in some of the Indian battles in the States of Alabama and Georgia.

In 1819 he removed permanently to this parish, then forming a part of St. Helena; and was married here during the same year. His wife died in 1836, leaving to his charge the care and protection of a large, and on account of the age of some, a helpless family.

From the period of his coming until his death, he resided alternately in this and the parish of St. Helena; and no man perhaps pursuing the humbler walks of life was more favorably known than he.

It is proper at all times to commemorate the virtues of the dead and it is ever repugnant to that sentiment of religious respect for the memory of the dead, and which is perhaps inherent in every heart to invade with reproach the sanctity of the grave. There all resentment is disarmed, injury is forgiven, and this, voice of censure hushed and as though the dead might in eternity give evidence of the ills received on earth human nature in its weakness has ever thought to atone after death for the wrongs it may have done them in life by "plying with eulogy the place of blame and by awarding to their dust the praise or the justice which was denied in life. And in order, thus to soothe the dull cold ear of death" the unmeaning obituary not unfrequently becomes the false though pious tribute of regard; and the dumb marble which serves to mark their rooting place, is often made to toll virtues never owned, and noble actions never performed.

In regard, however to the subject of this notice, the suffrage of universal friendship will justify the application of the oft-quoted phrase-- "None knew him but to love him, none named him but to praise;" and although not exempt from human imperfections, a host of sterling virtues ever stood forth to plead the redemption of every fault he had.

Blessed with a physical constitution which never knew fatigue, and prompted by a zeal and energy of character which never faltered or resposed, he led for nearly a half century a life of activity and enterprise which, however fruitless and misguided it may at times have been, was nevertheless unsurpassed by any individual in the sphere in which he moved.

The advantages of a more liberal education in early life were to a considerable extent compensated by a memory so extra-ordinary that he seldom forgot even the most trivial incidents of his life; It was indeed an almost perfect diary of passing events; so much so that there was hardly any subject of local or family history with which he was not familiar, and hardly any transaction or events which had over fallen under his observation that he was not able by an association of ideas peculiar to himself to recount with almost the fidelity of an official record.

As a citizen, he was exceedingly liberal and public spirited ready to assist in all enterprises of either a local or general interest. Hospitable and benevolent his disposition prompted him to accommodate every one reqardless of his worthiness even to the sacrifice of his own interest, comfort or convenience.

As a talker he was a prodigy; his fondness for conversation often induced him to seek the society of his friends for no other purpose than to enjoy the luxury of a fire-side entertainment. And though of a remarkably genial convival nature he was never known during his long life to indulge in the slightest intemperance, nor was a profane expression ever known to escape his lips. These circumstances are the more remarkble from the fact that he lived in a community where a much less rigid adherence to sobriety and godliness operated no exclusion from society; and from the fact moreover, that he was never a communicant of any church, nor particularly prejudiced in favor of any religious creed.

As a father, he was much devoted to his family and as a friend none was more steadfast.

His veracity was never called in question; and during the many vicisistudes of fortune through which he passed, he never forfeited the confidence of his friends as a man of undeviating integrity both in conduct and in purpose.

This reference his character is no formal or undeserved encomium for his life was an illustration of all that is embraced in the idea of a good man, and though characterized by manners and habits derived from pioneer life, he was like unpolished diamond which is none the less valuable because of its rude exterior.

The errors of his life, whatever they may have been, eminated not from his heart. Like other men, he had his share of foibles and imperfections but no vices ever disgraced his character. And as to his faults, they now "lie gently on him," and we would not "draw his frailties from their dead abode".

"For when cold in the earth lies the friend thou hast loved,
Be his faults and his follies forgot by thee then,
Or If from their slumber the veil be removed,
Weep over them in silence, and close it again"