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Transcribed from the Adair County (Ky.) News, August 12,1908.
(Mr. Richardson was a native of Logan County.)
Kentucky Orphan Sends a Talisman to W.J. Bryan.
Central City, Ky., July 27.--J.F. Richardson, a one-armed ex-Confederate, member of the Orphan Brigade, sent to the Hon. William J. Bryan a half dollar coined in 1807, with the following letter:
"Central City, Ky., July 17, 1908.--The Hon. William J. Bryan, Lincoln, Neb.--Dear Sir: I send you this day a talisman in the shape of a coin, of which is a coin issued during the administration of the Father of Democracy. Carry it with you through your coming campaign and it may protect you from every harm. With Jefferson's coin at one end of the line and the Great Commoner, William Jennings Bryan, at the other end, no power on earth can beat us. This talisman is sent by a member of the famous Orphan Brigade, who lost his left arm and [was] shot through the right hand at Shiloh on April 6, 1862. I was born Nov. 8, 1840. Your friend,
"J.F. Richardson.
"Company A, Ninth Kentucky Infantry.
C.S.A"
Mr. Richardson gave $2 for the coin, which is well preserved, and bought it to present to Mr. Bryan when he was nominated again. He says that with that half dollar in his clothes no Republican rabbit foot can freeze him.
* * *
William Jenning's Bryan had received the Democratic nomination for President about a week before this letter was penned. He had previously been accorded that honor in 1896 and 1900. The author of the letter, Joseph F. Richardson, died April 26, 1912, age 71 years.
A photograph and a very nice biographical sketch of Mr. Richardson appears in Otto Arthur Rothert's "A History of Muhlenberg County," (1913), pp 333-334. This sketch may be viewed online by entering into a search engine the terms "joseph f richardson" and "otto arthur rothert" (including the quotation marks).
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