He also served five terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the north side of Milwaukee.
Born in Burlington, New York, Richards moved to Milwaukee in 1835, when it was still part of the Michigan Territory.
Richards was a Democrat and served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1868, 1870, 1871, 1874, and 1875.
[1] Richards died of a stroke in Milwaukee in February 1877.
[2][3] His eldest son, Arthur B. Richards, enlisted with the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment during the American Civil War and died of disease at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.