T. M. Richards, a leading merchant and grain buyer of Haves, Illinois, was born in Douglas County, Illinois, August 7, 1864, and is a son of Thomas Y. Richards, who was a native of Hardin County, Kentucky, where he was born in 1818. The latter moved to this County in the ‘forties and was engaged in farming. He was three times remarried and was the father of nine children, of whom all are dead excepting T. M. and G. R. Richards. His last wife was Hester A. Reat, and she was the mother of the above named boys (see sketch of Dr. J. L. Reat). Thomas Y. Richards died in 1872.
T. M. Richards has been twice married, first, in. January, 1889, to Miss Dove E. Donnals, daughter of R. T. Donnals, of Tuscola, Illinois. She was born December 16, 1866, and died November 20, 1894. Their marriage was blessed with two children: Beryl E., born September 28, 1889, and Theodore T., born February 16, 1892. Our subject was again married, in October, 1897, to Mrs. Effie M. Doty, of Effingham County, her maiden name being Baker. She was married to W. Doty in 1891. He died December 3, 1893. They had one boy, Daniel I. Doty. Mr. and Mrs. Richards also have two children: Ralph H., born August 4, 1898, and Lee M., born December 27, 1899. Mr. Richards is the grain agent at Hayes for O. L. Parker, of Tuscola, and handles about three hundred thousand bushels of oats and corn yearly. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a hustler.