CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
Birth PlaceBoston, Massachusetts, United States
MemoBased on age at death, “about 68” stated on death certificate.
Death Date18 Dec 1921 [4682], [8104]
Death PlacePhiladelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, United States
MemoEdwin Forrest Home for retired actors (1920 census also shows her at this facility)
Burial PlacePhiladelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, United States
MemoNorth Cedar Hill Cemetery
OccupationActress [8104]
Misc. Notes
“Ada Gilman” is known to be a stage name, but at present it is not known what her real name was. [4651] Though it’s possible that was her maiden name. And it is the name on her death certificate. [4682]

A book, “The History of the Boston Theatre, 1854-1901” [4674, p.269, 509] mentions Ada GILMAN performing a play in the 1879-80 season, but only in the book’s index does it mention that she is Mrs. Leander RICHARDSON. By a strange coincidence, her character’s name in that performance was Phœbe SAGE, and SAGE was the maiden name of Leander’s step-mother.
Spouses
Birth PlaceCincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, United States
Census Date12 Jun 1860 [4925] Age: 4
Census PlaceCampbell Twp., Jennings Co., Indiana, United States
Census Date14 Jun 1870 [4670] Age: 14
Census PlaceWoodside Twp., Essex Co., New Jersey, United States
Census Date1890 [7766]
Census PlaceNew York, New York, United States
Reside DateSep 1871 [5273, p.240]
Reside PlaceChicago, Cook Co., Illinois, United States
Census Date21 Apr 1910 [4653] Age: 54
Census PlaceManhattan, New York, New York, United States
Memo212 West 104th Street, Ward 12
Death PlaceManhattan, New York, New York, United States
Memo130 West 47th Street
Burial PlaceBronx, Bronx Co., New York, United States [1498, Memorial# 161685707], [4659]
MemoOld St. Raymonds Cemetery: Section 10
Alias/AKATown LISTENER [4652, p.500]
OccupationJournalist [4654]
OccupationNewspaper Writer [4653], [5273, pp.255-56]
OccupationNewspaper editor [4661], [5273, pp.255-56]
OccupationPlaywright [4657], [5273, p.256]
Occupationmoving picture writer [4659]
OccupationAuthor [4661]
FatherAlbert Deane RICHARDSON (1833-1869)
MotherMary Louise PEASE (1836-1864)
Misc. Notes
In 1876, newspapers around the country ran a short item claiming that Leander Richardson had been killed by Indians [4664], [4666], but on 26-SEP-1876, “Hartford Daily Courant” [4665] published the correction that he “was killed by the associated press not long ago but spared by the Indians” and was in fact alive and well in Denver, Colorado. Another article, published in 1884, claims that the erroneous reports of Leander’s death in 1876, were in fact a hoax perpetrated by Leander himself, under a false name, supposedly for “the pleasure of reading his own obituary.” [4690]

On 15-JAN-1890, Leander Richardson was arrested on a charge of libel for an article he published in his newspaper, Dramatic News. Bail was set at $1000. [8103]

On the 7th or 9th of May, 1894, Leander assaulted actor John T. SULLIVAN, in the lobby of the Madison Square Theatre. [4920], [4922] The following day at Stewart’s Hotel, Leander engaged in a quarrel with a Lewis F. MASSEN, which ended with Mr. Massen punching Leander to the floor. Later that day he tracked down Mr. Massen at Hotel Metropole, where Mr. Massen again punched Leander. [4923] On the 14th, Leander was held on bail of $300 in Jefferson Market Court. [4921] But when Mr. Sullivan’s doctor reported that the man had suffered a broken nose and was “developing serious symptoms,” Leander’s bail was raised to $1,000. [4924]

In 1910 there was a 2nd Leander RICHARDSON living in Manhattan, who was also born circa 1856, but in Massachusetts, and his wife was Edith (b. ca. 1879, New York). [5317] That couple had married circa 1895. Edith reported having 4 children, all living, but none were in that household. From 1881 to 1915, the years that “Leander Richardson” appears in New York City directories, they never list more than one Leander Richardson and none of the home addresses match up with the address for Leander & Clara from the 1910 census. But the 1912-13 directories do match the census address given for Leander & Edith (1380 Broadway). Incredibly, both Leanders worked for a newspaper and were the same age.

A third Leander RICHARDSON, age 54, born in Ohio, was living in Zanesville, Muskingum Co., Ohio, in 1910. This Leander was listed as a Wagon Driver for a Feed Store; his wife’s name was Emily (possibly MONTGOMERY, based on birth record of son, Harold), age 53, also born in Ohio. They had married ca.1878 and had 7 children in the household and apparently 5 more elsewhere. In 1900 this same Leander reported his birth date as Feb. 1853, and was living in Falls, Muskingum Co., Ohio.

17-FEB-1884 Leander Richardson marries Lillian H. Stewart [4654]
<…> divorced Lillian ?
11-SEP-1887 - “Carrie Andrews is Mrs. Leander Richardson, No.3” [4651]

13-SEP-1907 Malinda A. McMackin (nee Taylor) states one of her sisters is “Clara Victoria wife of Lenard [sic] Richardson. She is an actress stage name Carrie Andrews … in New York City” [4616, p.8-9]

21-APR-1910 - 1910 census, Manhattan, NY: Leander Richardson & wife Clara. [4653]

In 1914 Leander filed for bankruptcy. [4678]

“Richardson was credited with being the first man to introduce theatrical news into the news columns of Boston, Chicago and New York daily papers.” [4679]

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leander_Richardson

Leander may have married a 4th time to an Elizabeth Warren, of Middletown, NY. [4669]

Additional biographical detail in published articles in these sources:
• The Wichita Daily Eagle, 14-JUN-1891 [4689]
• Harrisburg Telegraph, 01-MAR-1918 [4692]

One version of his obituary states that he was survived by “Mrs. Richardson” and had two sons and two daughters, living in Putnam County, New York. However it gives no indication which of his wives was their mother. [4919]

Findagrave Memorial# 76606597 incorrectly places his grave in Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, Queens Co., New York. The death record transcript says St. Raymonds, [4659] which appears to be correct, based on Memorial# 161685707. Findagrave refers to this cemetery as “Old Saint Raymonds Cemetery” located in Bronx County, NY. The photo of the monument on Findagrave suggests it is of more recent vintage than 1918.

The gravestone inscription adds to the mystery surrounding Leander’s wives and possible children. It mentions a Eugenia 1906-1952, and a Mary E. 1885-1943. Neither of these names matches any previously found information about Leander. Leander’s mother was named Mary, but was born in 1836. The 1910 census that showed Leander living with Clara, did not list any children. This Eugenia would have been 4 at the time.
Research
Results of searching for Leander RICHARDSON in New York City directories found on Fold3.com and Ancestry.com:

YEAR - OCCUPATION (w=work address; h=home address)
1877 - name not listed.
1878 - name not listed.
1879 - business directory only.
1880 - name not listed.
1881 - as “Leander P. Richardson” an “editor.” w=866 B’way; h=Sturtevant h.
1882 - business directory only.
1883 - name not listed.
1884 - name not listed.
1885 - as “Leander P. Richardson” an “editor.” w=1254 B’way; h=767 Sixth av.
1886 - as “Leander P. Richardson” an “editor.” w=1254 B’way; h=414 W. 61st
1887 - as “Leander P. Richardson” an “editor.” w=1254 B’way; h=252 W. 34th
1888 - name not listed.
1889 - “editor” w=1162 B’way; h=253 W. 113th.
1890 - “editor” w=1162 B’way; h=253 W. 113th.
1891 - “editor” w=1216 B’way; + “Leander & Co. publishers” at same address; h=253 W. 113th.
1892 - “publisher” w=1216 B’way; + “Leander & Co. publishers” at same address; h=253 W. 113th.
1893 - name not listed.
1894 - “pres.” w=1216 B’way (home address not given).
1895 - “editor” w=1364 B’way; h=253 W. 113th.
1896 - incomplete directory.
1897 - “editor” w=1364 B’way; h=253 W. 113th.
1898 - name not listed.
1899 - name not listed.
1900 - “editor” w=140 W 42d; h=120 W 65th.
1901 - “editor” w=140 W 42d; h=120 W 65th.
1902 - business directory listing under “News Agents”. w=1435 Bway.
1903 - business directory only.
1904 - no directory.
1905 - “writer” w=109 W 42d; h=1696 B’way.
1906 - business directory only.
1907 - no directory.
1908 - “editor” w=116 W 39th; h=529 (no street name).
1909 - “journalist” w=116 W 39th; h=525 (no street name).
1910 - “news” w=72 Trinity pl.
1911 - no directory.
1912 - “writer” h=1380 Bway.
1913 - “writer” h=1380 Bway.
1914 - no occupation listed; w=157 W 48th.
1915 - “playwright” h=163 W 48th.
1916 - name not listed.
1917 - only covers A-L.
1918 - name not listed.
1919 - no directory.
1920 - missing most of N-S.
1921 - no directory.
1922 - name not listed.
*** End of directory collection on Fold3.

The entries for 1912 & 1913 are definitely the 2nd Leander RICHARDSON (wife, Edith) appearing in the 1910 census of Manhattan, based on the home address. [5317] But none of the directory entries match the 1910 census address for Leander & Clara. The 1900-1901 directories give a work address that matches the “Who’s Who” biographical sketch of Leander. [4675, p.947-8] The 1908-1909 directories give a work address that matches a biographical sketch in “Who’s Who in New York City and State.” [4677, p.1103]

Ancestry: “New York, New York, Death Index, 1862-1948” has an index entry for a Mary RICHARDSON, d. 15 Feb 1943, age 57, in Manhattan.
Marr Datebef 1884
Marr MemoBefore marriage to Lillian
Div Datebef 17 Feb 1884 [4668], [4680]
Last Modified 27 Nov 2020Created 23 Jun 2022 using Reunion for Macintosh
First Published 22 Sep 2013. Revised 23 Jun 2022
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