Giles Richards
Giles Richards, the father of George Richards, was one of the old pioneers of Colerain township, a man of considerable ability, foresight, and sagacity, and one who did much towards public improvements, for both State and county. He was the projector of the Colerain turnpike, of the river bridge on that road, and also of other undertakings. During the war he contributed about sixteen thousand dollars of his own funds in various ways for the furtherance of its cause. He was born January 6, 1792, in Boston, Massachusetts, was a mechanic, merchant and farmer, and made his money during the War of 1812. He then had a button factory and made buttons for the army, and saddlery ornaments of various kinds. He came to Cincinnati in 1820, where he soon had a saw-mill, grist-mill and woollen factory. In 1830 he purchased a large tract of land, of several hundred acres, surrounding what was then the thriving town of Colerain. Mr. Richards was successful in accumulating a large amount of property, and also in securing an enviable reputation among his fellows. He died in 1876, having lived during the last two years with his son George, who was born in 1843, and in 1869 married to Miss Josie Johnson.
From History of Hamilton county, Ohio, Henry & Kate Ford, L. A. Williams & Co., Publishers, 1881