Ellen Earle

Wife of Dr. John Ellen Richardson. Her father was Fountain R. Earle and mother was Amanda Buchanan.Ellen Earle Richardson, who wrote this history of the early settlers, churches and schools of Cane Hill, was the granddaughter of John and Ellen (Crawford) Buchanan, who were among the earliest settlers in Washington County.

Mrs. Richardson Ellen Earle Richardson, who wrote this history of the early settlers, churches and schools of Cane Hill, was the granddaughter of John and Ellen (Crawford) Buchanan, who were among the earliest settlers in Washington County.

Mrs. Richardson's mother was Amanda Buchanan, who graduated frrom the Ladies Seminary at Oxford, Miss., and.Mt.Holyoke Seminary. She was an instructress in Cane Hill College when her future husband, F.R.Earle, arrived in 1859 to assume the presidency of the college. Major-Earle served in the Confederate army. After the war he returned as president of Cane Hill College and became an influenti

Ellen Earle was born at Cane Hil1. September 17, 1872. She graduated in music from the Female Senubart in Lebanon, Tenn., in 1892. She then taught in Texas, where she was married to .J.A.Richardson. She returned to Cane Hill after her husband's death in l905; moved to Fayetteville in 1914 to put her sons in the University; later lived in the old home at.Cane Hill.

On her·8lst birthday, September 29., 1953, in the presence of a large gathering of her friends arid neighbors, Mrs, Richardson received the "Distinguished Citizen" citation from the Washington County Historical Society. Miss Jobelle Holcombe, in presenting the citation, said of the honoree: "Anyone who can read the story of her life and her service must find there an inspiration from a character so worthy of emulation."

Mrs. "Richardson ·died on October 3m 1953. She sleeps in the old Cane Hill-burying ground among her pioneer ancestors.

=====

Mrs. Ellen Earle Richardson wrote these recollections of

old Cane Hill about 1940, with the intention of publishing

them in book form. Years of illness, ending with her death

in 1953, prevented their publication. The manuscript, which

is in the possession of her son, Dr. Fount Richardson, is in

finished form and is being published in our Bulletin Series

just as she wrote it.

Because Mrs.·Richardson was herself a direct descendant of

the Buchanans, one of the earliest Cane Hill families, and

the daughter of Rev. F. R. Earle, president of Cane Hill

College, she was eminently qualified to tell the story of

this historic Washington County community. Besides her

ancestry, Mrs. Richardson had other qualifications for writing

the story of Cane Hill. She had collected documents,

letters, photographs, and other material -- much of which is

now in the keeping of the Library of the College of the

Ozarks at Clarksville. Also, she had a flair for historical

writing, as is shown by her articles in newspapers, the Arkansas

Historical Quarterly, and other periodicals.

The Washington County Historical Society honored Mrs.

Richardson in 1953 by presenting her with the citation of

"Distinguished Citizen", in recognition of her illustrious

ancestry and her devotion to the cause of pioneer history.

It is fitting that the Washington County Historical Society

publish her account of 11The Early Settlers of Cane Hill."

I myself received my introduction to the romantic history

of Washington County from this gracious lady and I consider

it an honor to have had a part in the publication of her

manuscript.

Fayetteville, Arkansas

January 1955

W. J. Lemke

Mrs.Richardson

Ellen Earle Richardson, who wrote this history of the early settlers,

churches and schools of Cane Hill, was the granddaughter of John and

Ellen (Crawford) Buchanan, who were among the earliest settlers in

Washington County.

Mrs. Richardson's mother was Amanda Buchanan, who graduated from the

Ladies Seminary at Oxford, Miss., and Mt.Holyoke Seminary. She was an

instructress in Cane Hill College when her future husband, F.R.Earle,

arrived in 1859 to assume the presidency of the cbllege. Major-Earle

served in the Confederate army. After the war he returned as president

of the Cane Hill College and became an influenti
educational activities in Arkansas.

Ellen Earle was born at Cane Hil1. Sept. 17, 1872. She graduated in

music from :the Female Seminary in Lebanon, Tenn., in 1892. She then

taught in Texas, where she was married to J.A.Richardson. She returned

to Cane Hill after her husband's death in l905; moved to Fayetteville

in 1914 to put her sons in the University; later lived in the old home

at.Cane Hill.

On her·8lst birthd~y, September 29, 1953, in the presence of a large

gathering of her friends and neighbors, Mrs. Richardson received the

"Distinguished Citizen" citation from .the Washington County Historical

Society. Miss Jobelle Holcombe, in presenting the citation, said of

the honoree: "Anyone who ·can read the ·story of her life and her service

must ·find there an inspiration from a character so worthy of

emulation."

Mrs. "Richardson died on October 3, 1953. She sleeps in the old Cane

Hill-burying ground among her pioneer ancestors.

=====