Charles Rich (U.S. Representative)

Charles Rich (September 13, 1771 – October 15, 1824) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a Democratic-Republican United States Representative from Vermont.

Charles Rich
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont's At-large district
In office March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815
Preceded by	Martin Chittenden
Succeeded by	Asa Lyon
In office March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1821
Preceded by	Chauncey Langdon
Succeeded by	Henry Olin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1821 – October 15, 1824
Preceded by	Chauncey Langdon
Succeeded by	Henry Olin
Personal details
Born	September 13, 1771 Warwick, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America
Died	October 15, 1824 (aged 53) Shoreham, Vermont, U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse(s)	Molly Watts
Relations	John Tyler Rich (grandson) John Dewey (great-grandson) Davis Dewey (great-grandson)
Children	11
Profession	Farmer

Biography

Rich was born in Warwick in the Province of Massachusetts Bay to Thomas Rich and Millicent Conant.[1] He received a limited education. He moved to Shoreham in the Vermont Republic in 1787, and worked on the family farm. He served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1800 to 1811. He was a county judge in Addison County, Vermont for six years.[2]

Rich was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 13th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1813, to March 3, 1815. He was elected to the 15th United States Congress, 16th United States Congress, 17th United States Congress and the 18th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1817, until his death on October 15, 1824.[3] Rich died in Shoreham, Vermont, and is interred in the family vault on his farm there.[4]

Family life

Charles Rich (1802-1872), Sheep rancher and Michigan politician and judge.

Rich married Molly Watts in 1791, and they had the following children:

• Clark Rich, b. March 17, 1792, Shoreham, Addison, Vt.
• Davis Rich, b. February 17, 1794, Shoreham, Addison, Vt., d. March 23, 1879, Shoreham, Addison, Vt.
• Polly Rich, b. June 15, 1796, Shoreham, Addison, Vt.
• Hiram Rich, b. September 15, 1798, Shoreham, Addison, Vt., d. March 2, 1859, Brandon, VT.
• John Thurman Rich, b. October 12, 1800, Shoreham, Addison, Vt, d. October 12, 1846, Shoreham, Addison, Vt.
• Charles Rich, b. July 30, 1802, Shoreham, Addison, Vt., d. July 16, 1872, Lapeer, Mi.
• Quintus Cincinnatus Rich, b. September 18, 1804, Shoreham, Addison, Vt., d. November 4, 1879, Shoreham, Addison, Vt.
• Clarissa Rich, b. 1806, Shoreham, Addison, Vt.
• Virtulon Rich, b. 1809, Shoreham, Addison, Vt, d. May 10, 1891, Shoreham, Addison, Vt.
• Gasca Rich, b. October 13, 1811, Shoreham, Addison, Vt., d. December 18, 1894, Shoreham, Addison, Vt.
• Catherine Rich, b. 1813, Shoreham, Addison, Vt.

Charles Rich Jr. served on the Michigan Board of Agriculture, as a county court judge, and in other offices.[5]

John W. Rich's son John Tyler Rich, was a United States Representative from Michigan and the 23rd Governor of Michigan.[6]

Davis Rich fathered Lucina Artemesia Rich who married Archibald Dewey of Burlington, Vt. Their sons included the famous philosopher and educator John Dewey and the MIT economics professor Davis Dewey.

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)

References

1. "History of an American Family". Ancestry.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
2. "RICH, Charles, (1771 - 1824)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
3. "Rep. Charles Rich". govtrack.us. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
4. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
5. "Rich, Charles, Jr. (1802-1872)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
6. "John Tyler Rich (1841-1926)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 6, 2012.

External links

• United States Congress. "Charles Rich (id: R000207)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The Political Graveyard: Rich family of Michigan
• govtrack.us
• Charles Rich at Find a Grave