Eli A.Richhart was born on November 15, 1859, the son of William and Margaret (Layton) Richhart. William Richhart was born in Pennsylvania and was married twice, first to Margaret Layton, and to this marriage the following children were born: Samuel E., Eli, who is the subject of this sketch; Mary, William and Nancy. His second wife was Mrs. Joseph Colborn. The father of William Richhart was Samuel Richhart, who was born in Pennsylvania, and who was a farmer. He owned six hundred acres of land in Hamilton county, Indiana, and he was a member of the Christian church. He handed down to the Richhart family a very old Dutch Bible. He was the father of the following children: William, Boze, Nancy, Mary, Priscilla and Susan. William Richhart, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a farmer in Hamilton county and owned one hundred and sixty acres, which his father gave him. He was a member of the Christian church, and died in 1869.

Eli A. Richhart was educated in the common schools, and was married at the age of twenty-one to Ellen Laudig, who was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, and who was the daughter of Jonas and Catherine (Caylor) Laudig, who were farmers and attended the Dunkard church, of which Mrs. Laudig was a devout member. Mr. Richhart lived for twenty-six years in Fall Creek township, Madison county, Indiana, but about six years age he moved onto the farm on which he now lives. He has built a splendid house and barn on the same and owns in all one hundred and fifty-five acres in one body. He and Mrs. Richhart belongs the to Untied Brethren church of Mt. Gilead. He is also a member of the Horse Thief Association.. Eli A. Richhart and wife are the parents of the following children: William S., who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and who married Lola Reddick; Jonas F., who lives in Los Angeles, California, and who married Effie Collins; Clara M., who lives in Madison county, Indiana, and who married Harry Nowland; Ruth, who lives in Franklin, Indiana, and who married The Rev. Leo Noland, a Baptist minister, and Paul D., who is deceased.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Page 1008-1009.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI October 22, 2001.

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