Coleman D. Richardson

Coleman D. Richardson was the eldest son of John P. and Nancy Freeman Richardson, born around 1845. He was a great grandson of James Elkin(Rev War Veteran). He enrolled in Company C, 8^th Kentucky, on September 23, 1861 under Capt. John Wilson. He was later transferred to Company A of the same regiment. One story which has filtered down from his service during the war has Dee pulling some cannons up a mountain side with some fellow soldiers, hotly pursued by a band of enemy soldiers. They had exhausted their ammunition and were on the verge of being captured when Dee suggested that they turn the cannons loose. They did so, and the cannons rolled over and through the enemy killing some and causing enough confusion to facilitate their escape. He was discharged at Chattanooga, Tennessee on the 17^th of November 1864.

Dee married Martha Ann Gabbard in Estill County, Kentucky, on April 18, 1865. They had at least eight children: Nancy Bell, Sarah L, Lucy E, James P, William E, Rosa E, Mary E, and a twin to William, male who died at the ago of three in 1876. According to affadavits signed by Littleton horn and Turner B. Brinegar in 1902, Dee and Martha were never divorced.

Dee left Kentucky headed west sometime around 1880 with Sarah Trent. He was in Arkansas by 1885 where his wife, which is assumed to be Sarah, died on December 24, 1885 near Waldron. There was one child, Mattie L. I have no record of a marriage between Dee and Sarah. On November 6, 1886, Dee married Minnie M. Womack in Scott County Arkansas. There were at least five children born to this union: Maude M, Benjamin M, Effie M, William McK, and Cora D.