Johnson William Richardson

Johnson William "Billy" Richardson (1834 - 1862) (Virginia – Fort Laramie) is believed by many to have been the first westbound rider for the Pony Express. The newspaper account (written within hours of the actual event) in The Weekly West cites, "The rider is a Mr. Richardson, formerly a sailor, and a man accustomed to every description of hardship, having sailed for years amid the snows and icebergs of the Northern ocean." *1.

The photo of Richardson [http://www.historybuff.com/library/billy2.html] in a sailor's hat and jacket is standing next to Johnny Fry. Also pictured is Charlie and Gus Cliff, the other Westbound riders for Lewis' division.

Apparently, the expressmen had drawn straws to determine who would make the inaugural ride. Johnny Fry drew the shortest straw, which meant he would make the ride, but injured himself the day before, so Richardson who was next in line replaced him. *2.

Years later, a W. B. Richardson (1851 - 1946) claimed to be the Pony Express rider denied the honor, in an article titled "Uncle Billy Richardson, 91 Today, Disclaims Fame." W. B., who would have been about ten years old the day of the historic ride, boasts that his half brother Paul Coburn, who was the station manager, "accidentally" threw the "mail pouch" on his pony instead of Fry's horse and so he made the ride. His recollection contradicts all historic accounts.

Clearly, J. W. Richardson, the actual rider, was not W. B. Richardson, a nine or ten year old boy, but a grown man when he was hired by Lewis for Russell, Majors and Waddell. He rode for the company until the Transcontinental Telegraph went into service. According to his relatives he rode on to Fort Laramie and died later that year.

References

*1. Settle, Raymond W. and Mary Lund Settle. Saddles and Spurs: The Pony Express Saga. University of Nevada Press, 1972.
*2. Starnes, Lee "The Pony Express Mystery," Museum Graphic Vol. 3 (Winter 1951): 4, 10-11.

External links

* [http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/OregonTrail4.html Pony Express on Oregon Trail]
* [http://www.kshs.org/publicat/khq/1946/46_1_roothickman.htm#note358 Kansas Historical Quarterly]
* [http://www.nps.gov/poex/planyourvisit/site1.htm National Historic Trail - Pony Express Stables]
* [http://www.historybuff.com/library/refrichardson.html History Buff Primary Source]
* [http://www.nps.gov/archive/poex/hrs/hrs2e.htm Pony Express Resource Study - Chapter 2]