Singleton and Related Genealogy Pages
A history of many families.
1843 - 1884 (40 years)| Name | Guignard RICHARDSON [2] | |
| Birth | 6 Aug 1843 | |
| Gender | Male | |
| HIST | Reflections by Sammy Way: Guignard Richardson: A man of many talents and accomplishments Gen. Guignard Richardson was buried in Sumter Cemetery. He was born Aug. 6, 1843, and died April 6, 1884. SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Posted Saturday, March 7, 2026 6:00 am BY SAMMY WAY Sumter Item archivist and historian Gen. Guignard Richardson was a man of many talents. He endeavored to serve both his city and his state, and his name became one of the more recognizable in the city. Data and photos used for this piece were acquired from The Item archives, Wikipedia Encyclopedia and the writings of Cassie Nicholes. In April of 1884, The Watchman and Southron reported, "General Guignard Richardson died on a Sunday morning, April 8, 1884, at 11 o'clock, from an attack of acute pneumonia. His death was a shock to many who knew him. Most had heard nothing of his illness and had seen him a few days earlier. According to one of his close friends, 'Gen. Richardson filled a place in this community which many could not have filled. His home and heart were open to all, and it was improbable that his greatest weaknesses were the direct result of his unrestrained generosity. He was ever ready to cry out, all hail! to everyone he met, and not often was he welcomed in other than the warmest way by everyone who knew him; many can attest that it seemed to afford him pleasure to undergo personal privation in order to gratify those whom he desired to please and honor." Guignard was the only son of the late J.S.G. Richardson, long known as one of the ablest members of the Sumter bar. He was born on Aug. 6, 1843, and died in his 41st year. He was 17 years old when the Civil War came; he joined as a private in Company, D., 2nd Regiment of S.C. Volunteers (This company was the first one to volunteer for 12 months in the Confederate service.) and was present at the first battle of Manassas. In the fall of 1861, he was appointed a lieutenant in Lee's battalion of artillery and was assigned to serve on the islands around Charleston and played a conspicuous part in the defense of the Wagner Battery in 1863. Following the death of his superior of his company, he was promoted to the rank of captain and became known as one of the most efficient and gallant officers in the regular army. When Charleston was evacuated in 1865, his command marched to North Carolina to serve under Gen. Hardee and participated in the battle of Averysborough, where Capt. Richardson was thought to have been mortally wounded by his comrades. However, he recovered and was sent home to convalesce. After the war, no man in Sumter was better or more widely known. At the time of his death, he was appointed Master of the County of Sumter in 1881. He also assumed the position of captain of the Light Infantry and was promoted to brigadier general of the S. C. Volunteer Troops, an office he held until his death. Richardson later became one of the owners of The Sumter Watchman Newspaper from 1876 to 1881; he was first connected with Col. J.J. Dargan and afterward with McLaurin & Co. in its management. In addition, he served in many positions of honor and trust, faithfully discharging those duties. According to the writings of Dr. McKay, "Guignard Drive is named for Richardson who owned property in this area. His house was located on the corner of Guignard and Liberty. Richardson's house was originally built by Robert Bradford, whose father owned both First and Second Mill. As Guignard Drive extends further north, it lies on the old bed of what was the Northeastern Railroad owned by Col. Wilson." Guignard Richardson shall ever be remembered as an honest man, a genial comrade, a true and sincere friend. He was survived by a wife, three children, mother and sister. [1] | |
| _UID | DFA4F4AB85E4440DBB0B43EF93279682A689 | |
| Death | 6 Apr 1884 [1, 3] | |
| Burial | Sumter Cemetery, 700 W. Oakland Avenue, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina  |
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| Person ID | I77005 | Singleton and Related Families |
| Last Modified | 7 Mar 2026 | |
| Father | James Sanders Guignard RICHARDSON, b. 1815 d. 1879 (Age 64 years) | |
| Mother | Mary Plowden WILDER, b. 1822/28 d. 1902 (Age 74 years) | |
| Marriage | 1840 | |
| _UID | 3909D180FB384AA28228802B9E72E9D7D73D | |
| _UID | 3909D180FB384AA28228802B9E72E9D7D73D | |
| Family ID | F16585 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family | Gertrude E. DICK | |||||
| _UID | 8A9296D06552429AA32142826D5D88E9D80B | |||||
| _UID | 8A9296D06552429AA32142826D5D88E9D80B | |||||
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| Family ID | F53496 | Group Sheet | Family Chart | ||||
| Last Modified | 23 Mar 2026 | |||||
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