Joseph C. Richards, Early Industrialist and Visionary

The history of this Welsh family begins with the coming to this country in 1848, of a young married couple, Joseph C Richards and wife, who was a former Miss Ann Thomas. Joseph was the next to the oldest son of John and Ann Richards and had been working in the mills in Wales with his older brother David Richards and was an experienced workman. 

America at this time was opening up iron mills, there was a demand for ironworkers and young Richards was induced by his brother's father-in-law to come to the Land of Promise. Joseph, his elderly father, and mother along with two brothers and three sisters come over from Wales and lived in Danville, Pennsylvania. Here he had a lucrative job in an iron mill. 

After several moves by the Richards brothers, they become united together with Dan Thomas and Thomas D Lewis, brothers-in-law. After looking over several places, it was decided to locate in Knoxville in 1866-1867.  In Knoxville, there was an old mill owned by Hiram S Chamberlain, a Union officer who moved to Knoxville from Loudon. The Richard brothers, Dan Thomas Thomas Lewis and Hiram Chamberlain became partners. Knoxville welcomed the family into their population of around 9,000. The Richards recruited many other Welsh families. The mill was at that time operated under the name Chamberlain, Richards & Company and later as Knoxville Iron Company.

During the years 1866 - 1773, the Richards folks were in the majority as stockholders and during their time preference was given to Welsh workers as they were of the best character, honest and industrious. In 1871 the employees of the mill presented H S Chamberlain and Joseph Richards with fine canes mounted in solid gold. As time went by, additions were made to the mill, and more capital was needed and it was not long before the Welsh people lost control. In the years 1873 -1875, there came differences as to management, which terminated about a scattering of many former workers.

In February 1875, Joseph Richards purchased two-thirds interest from Rev, D Hocket, for twenty thousand dollars. The valuable mineral property was known as Winters Gap and plans were made to organize a company to develop the resources. Just two years earlier the property was bought from Col. W.A. Hoskins by K. Foote of Louisville, KY, and Rev. D. Hockett. Hockett was an attorney and at one time owned a few shares of the Knoxville Iron Company where Joseph Richards knew him. 

From Knoxville, Joseph went to work in Chattanooga and maintained his business interest with Chamberlain at the Roane Iron Company. By 1880 he was in Maine as a superintendent of an iron mill. In 1881 while still in Maine, Joseph invested with his son-in-law, Thomas Rees Price, in a furniture manufacturing company by the name Richards, Price, and Company of Knoxville. 

By late 1881 Joseph had returned to Knoxville and in 1882 announced plans for the erection of a hotel called "the Richards House" at Oliver's Springs. In July 1882 it was ready for business. With the building finished the Richards moved from Knoxville. The population of Oliver's at this time was around 250. During these years Joseph opened the Poplar Creek Coal Company and the Oliver Coal Company shipping coal to all portions of the South from the mines. In 1885 he also purchased half interest in the TT Wilson Coal, Lime, and Wood business in Chattanooga.

Joseph was well known for his church activities when he first arrived in Knoxville and helped form the Welsh Church on Atkin Street. In the years leading up to the construction of the Presbyterian church in Oliver Springs, he traveled to cities like Knoxville and Chattanooga raising funds for that purpose. The church was organized in 1885, the same year Joseph was ordained. 

Joseph had traveled to Knoxville by train for business the day before his passing. He had complained a little going back on the train but when he reached home he grew worse and died within forty-eight hours at the age of sixty-two.