Erasmus Richardson

Erasmus Darwin Richardson (November 26, 1810 – January 2, 1892) was an American banker in Geneva, Wisconsin, who served as a member of the 1st Wisconsin Legislature in the Wisconsin State Assembly, as well as holding various local offices.

Background and personal life

Richardson was born February 26, 1810, in Burlington, New York, son of Caleb and Clarissa (Knight) Richardson. He was again elected town clerk in 1850, and became village president of the village of Geneva (now Lake Geneva) in 1856, although he left office early. (He was also for some time colonel of the local militia regiment, a position at that time more honorary than martial.)

In 1869, he was elected clerk of the village. In 1870, he served as chairman of the county board of supervisors. He was village president from 1870–71, and once more in 1877.

Business activities Richardon began his private Bank of Geneva in 1848, and continued as its sole proprietor until his death. In 1871, he was part of a group who obtained a charter for the State Line and Union Railway Company, which was soon absorbed into the Chicago and North Western system. When he died on January 2, 1892, it was discovered that his bank, which had survived the Panic of 1857, the 1871 loss to burglary of its entire cash holdings, and the Panic of 1873, was "somewhat involved" and partially insolvent. Given his history of safe and sound financial practices, the confusion was laid to the infirmities of old age in his final years.