Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. Published
by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago.  Reprinted by Southern Historical
Press.  p. 138.  Jefferson County.

ADOLPHUS EDWARD RICHARDS, of Louisville, was born in Loudoun county,
Virginia, May 26, 1844.  His parents, Jesse and Eleanor Richards, and his
grandparents, both paternal and maternal, were natives of the Old Dominion.
His father resided in the southeastern part of Loudoun county, near the
town of Upperville, devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits, and
the future Kentucky judge enjoyed the freedom of farm life and aided in
the labors incident to the cultivation of the fields.  His early education
was acquired in a military academy of Upperville, and subsequently he
entered Randolph Macon College, where he pursued his studies until the
war-cloud burst upon the country.  Laying aside his text-books for the
rifle, he marched from the college campus to the battle-field and entered
the service as a private of the cavalry troops under command of General
Turner Ashby.  After the death of that commander he served as aide on the
staff of General William E. Jones, who succeeded General Ashby in command
of the cavalry forces in the valley of Virginia.  The published war
records show that he was twice mentioned in the reports of General Jones
for gallantry in action and his military career was throughout one of
brilliance and valor.  In September, 1863, he resigned his position on
the staff of his general and enlisted as a private of the Forty-third
battalion of Virginia cavalry, commanded by Colonel John S. Mosby.  On
the 15th of December of the same year he was elected first lieutenant of
Company C, and on the 26th of April, 1864, was promoted "by the president
to the captaincy of Company B., for gallantry and skill displayed in
action."  On the 6th of December, 1864, he was made major of the battalion
"for valor and skill on many occasions," and although not then twenty-one
years of age he commanded in several important engagements, detailed
accounts of which are published in the "Records of the Rebellion."
     When the war was over Major Richards, who had just attained his
majority, returned to Virginia and for two years thereafter was a student
in the state university.  Through the first year he pursued the branches
forming the collegiate course and in the second year devoted his energies
to the mastery of the law course under the direction of Professor John B.
Minor, a most able educator.  His professional education was completed
in the University of Louisville, and in the spring of 1868 he was admitted
to the bar in that city, where he has since engaged in practice.  From
the beginning his course has demonstrated the possession of superior legal
talent, and in his extensive practice he has been unusually successful.
He was first associated with Lee C. Woolfolk, who was afterward county
attorney, and his second partnership was with General Basil W. Duke,
later commonwealth attorney.  In August, 1862, he was honored with the
nomination for judge of the superior court on the Democratic ticket and
in August of that year was elected for a four-years term.  He did not seek
re-election, but in 1886 again resumed practice as a member of the
Louisville bar, as a member of the firm of Richards & Harris, his
associate being Judge W. O. Harris.  Subsequently Judge Richards entered
into partnership with Hon. Royal Weissinger and Hon. John B. Baskin,
under the firm name of Richards, Weissinger & Baskin, and on the death of
Mr. Weissinger the firm name and style was changed to Richards, Baskin &
Ronald, by the admission of A. G. Ronald to a partnership.
     Judge Richards has argued many cases and lost but few.  No one better
knows the necessity for thorough preparation and no one more industriously
prepares his cases than he.  His course in the courtroom is characterized
by a calmness and dignity that indicate reserve strength.  He is always
courteous and deferential toward the court, kind and forbearing toward
the court, kind and forebearing toward his adversaries.  He examines a
witness carefully and thoroughly, but treats him with a respect which makes
the witness grateful for his kindness and forbearance.  His handling of
his case is always full, comprehensive and accurate; his analysis of the
facts is clear and exhaustive; he sees without effort the relation and
dependence of the facts, and so groups them as to enable him to throw their
combined force upon the point they tend to prove.  His opinions while on
the bench showed great research, industry and care and challenged the
approval of, and commended themselves to, the bench and bar.
     On the 11th of May, 1870, Judge Richards married Miss Mattie Tyler,
daughter of John W. Tyler, formerly a distinguished lawyer at the
Louisville bar.  They have two children, John Tyler and Jesse Richards
Ronald.
     The Judge is a prominent member of the Protestant Episcopal church and
is now chancellor of the diocese of Kentucky.  He has always been a firm
supporter of Democratic principles, was elector at large for the state of
Kentucky in 1880, and during the same year was made chairman of the
Democratic state central committee, which position he resigned in order to
become a candidate for the superior court bench.  With liberal intellectual
endowments and great moral courage, broad culture in literature, he is
fully equipped for the science of law, which is almost limitless in its
possibilities.  He has ever the courage of his convictions and his justice
and fairness to others has won him the highest respect of all.

Richards Minor Woolfolk Duke Harris Weissinger Baskin Ronald Tyler
=
Jefferson-KY Loudoun-VA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/richards.ae.txt