The Richards Farm

The 80 acres of land which belonged to James Richards, who was murdered at his home in Superior Feb. 1, 1897, was sold at auction at the court house Monday and was purchased by. Frank Duress for f 1,525. Besides this land Mr. Richards left $1,100. After the expenses of administration and the expenses of litigation before the settlement between the heirs was effected the estate will be divided into five shares, of which the illegitimate daughter in England will get one share and Richards' brothers and sisters the other four shares. The farm is on section 5, in Superior and is a mile north and a half mile east of Dixboro. It has on it a hewn log house of one story and a huge attic. It was in this that Richards lived an almost hermit life for 35 years and it was here that he made his brave fight for life against heavy odds, with a pitchfork as his sole weapon of defense and was shot with a revolver. It was in this log house also that some years previous to his murder he was bound and tortured by midnight robbers who were searching for his money and a large part of his bidden earnings were then stolen. Mr. Duress, the purchaser of the land, owns the adjoining farm on which he has good buildings and it is probable that the log house will not again be occupied.