After several moves on the part of the Richards brothers, they became united, together with Dan Thomas and Thomas D. Lewis, brothers-in-law, and being desirous of going into business for themselves, they began looking around for a place, and in their travels through the south land after the war, and seeing so much scrap iron, they decided, after looking over several places, that Knoxville was the one most desired, one of the reasons being that here was an old mill all ready for someone to take hold and run it.  The other reason, and one that seemed to carry the day, was that while in the mill, the older Richards told his brother Joe to scrape off the dirt that was thick on the lug of the old-fashioned crocodile squeezer, and see if he could find a mark, that of a circle and a square, and finding it, he exclaimed: "Why, boys, this is the very squeezer on which I did my first day's work after coming to this country."  It was like meeting with an old friend.

Then again, it must be said that the people of this town, then only containing some 8,000 to 9,000 population, received them with open arms -- the greeting being much more cordial than at any other places visited.  Especially was this so on Sunday, when the menfolks went to the Second Presbyterian church.  Rev. Nathan Bachman being the pastor.

Second Presbyterian Church, Knoxville (1860-1906)

After the deal for the mill was completed and our people began work, their families being here, this church insisted that our folks come to them, and gave them the use of the chapel (while the little Welsh church on Atkin was building) to hold Welsh services in, our evening services commencing at 6 o'clock and being out by the time the service began in the main building.  A special arrangement was made for a Welsh class, that was placed in one corner of the assembly room of the chapel.  In this connection it might be just the place to mention that in the six o'clock service, conducted in Welsh, singing the grand old hymns and each one seemingly interested, just such as you and I -- the older ones here -- have often witnessed.  A number of the young people of that church came, first out of curiosity, then attracted by the singing, then the earnestness of the worshippers, and it was only a little while before the chapel was too small to hold the crowd, so that services were moved to the main building, and at the close of the Welsh service, the English service began; those not desiring to stay or not understanding English, being dismissed.

The older people also were interested.  Especially do I remember old Judge Nelson, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Dickenson and Mr. Richardson, with Mr. Bachman, were often with us.  One night, that will be remembered by many now, Mr. Bachman had made an earnest appeal to the young folks, and at the close requested all who felt a desire to become followers of the Master to remain after the benediction.  This was p pronounced, and to the surprise of Mr. Bachman and the officers of the church, there wasn't a single young person left -- they all remained, and there followed a revival the like of which had never been seen before in the old Second church, and many additions were made.  Some of the young folks were heard to say that because of seeing the Welsh folks, strangers in a strange land, worshipping as they did, it made them feel that there was something in their religion that they, too, desired to taste and see.  Among the young men that became members of that church at that time, I remember the names of Tom Nelson, since then, Judge Nelson; Tol Logan who, too, was a judge; Will Chamberlain and his partner in the drug business, Capt. Jack Albers.  All of these, with many more, became the pillars that held up the church, and their offspring, some of them, are officers in the new church, just a little below where the old church stood.

Going back a little, it might be well to say that David Richards married Miss Susan Lewis in the year 1849.  They were known as Uncle Davy and Aunt Susannah to all -- some of whom may be here tonight.  They lived their days, served their generation, and have both gone home to await the coming of their loved ones to the land over there.  To this couple were born three boys and seven girls, only one of the boys now living, and three of the girls, Mary, now Mrs. Fred McArthur; Susie, now Mrs. Walter McCoy; Mattie, now Mrs. David F. Baker.