E.F. Richmond Residence

1880: Edwin F. & Julia F. Bennett Richmond Residence
Home of Albert W. Johnson Member of US Congress 1963 - 1977

photo credit: Ross Porter Collection

Home was originally built for popular Smethport Pharmacist
Edwin F. Richmond & his wife Julia F. Bennett Richmond

Edwin Richmond, son of pioneer Smethport residents Nelson & Amanda Richmond. Edwin's younger brother Frank O. Richmond was the long time passenger conductor for the Bradford, Bordell and Kinzua. According to an interview with Kenton Abbey in 1982, the home was designed and constructed for the Richmonds by architect/builder Nathan W. Abbey, Kenton's grandfather, and completed in 1880. Edwin served as the first superintendent of the County Poor Farm after its completion in 1884. In 1926 Edwin and Julia's Grandaughter, Virginia Balsey, married Albert W. Johnson and the couple resided in the Richmond residence following Julia's death in 1930.

home of Member of US Congress Representative Albert Walter JOHNSON b. 1906- d. 1998
JOHNSON, Albert Walter, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Smethport, McKean County, Pa., April 17, 1906; graduated from Smethport High School in 1923; attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, 1926-1929; member, Smethport Borough Council, 1933-1934; John B. Stetson University Law School, Deland, Fla., LL.B., 1938; was admitted to the bar in 1939 and began the practice of law in Smethport; member of the State house of representatives, 1947-1963, serving as majority whip in the 1951 session, minority whip in the 1955 session, majority leader in the 1953, 1957, and 1963 sessions, minority leader in the 1959 and 1961 sessions; elected as a Republican, by special election, November 5, 1963, to the Eighty-eighth Congress, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Leon H. Gavin; reelected to the six succeeding Congresses and served from November 5, 1963, to January 3, 1977; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1976 to the Ninety-fifth Congress; died September 1, 1998, in Boca Raton, Fla.

Johnson Campaign Poster: Mark & Claudia Caminite Collection

CAPTION I
CERTAIN piece, parcel or tract of land situate, lying and being in the Boro of Smethport, McKean county, Pa. bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at the northwest corner of square No. 41 in said Borough; thence East by the south line of Green Street 4 perches o a corner; thence South 7 perches to a corner in south line of alley; thence West 4 perches to a corner in the eats line of Franklin Street; thence North 77 perches to the place of beginning. Containing 28 square rods of land be the same more or less and being part of Lot No.1, in square No.41 in the general plot of said Borough;

CAPTION II

ALL THAT CERTAIN piece, parcel or tract of land situate, lying and being in the Boro of Smethport, McKean county, Pa. bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point in the south line of Green Street the northeast corner of land conveyed by N. W. Abbey and wife to Orpha Callar; thence East along the south line of Green Street 4 roads more or less, to the northwest corner of land conveyed by N. W. Abbey and wife to Wm. Gifford thence south along the west line of said Gifford lo 7 rods to an alley; thence west along the north line of side alley 4 rods to the southeast corner of said Callar lot; thence north along the east line thereof 7 road to the place of beginning. containing 28 square perches of land, be the same more or less and being part of square No. Forty (41) un the General Plat of said Borough of Smethport.

No. 1

DEED
Julia F. Richmond, Widow
(No search against Grantor)
to Rena R. Balsley

Date August 29, 1912 Recorded September 4, 1912 Deed Book Vol.162, page 160 Consideration $1.00 conveys by General Warranty Deed, duly acknowledged,
the land at CAPTION I.
Also granting and conveying the use of a certain alley 2 roads wide running east and west along the south line of the above described lot, to be laid out and kept open by the grantor in a certain deed for the same premises made by N.W. Abbey and wife to J.F. Gallup for the use of the contiguous land owners and being the same premises conveyed to the said Julia F. Richmond by Orpha A. Caller by deed date March 10, 1886 and recorded in Deed Book Vol. 32, page 52, McKean County Records. Excepting and Reserving to the said Grantor the use, income and enjoyment of the above conveyed premises of record in Re Estate of Julia F. Richmond, above named grantor.

No. 2.

DEED
Mollie Richmond, Widow of Harry N. Richmond,
deceased, Nelson L. Richmond and Helen
Richmond, his wife, Margaret Wiendemaier
and Philip Wiendemaier, her husband and
William e. Richmond ad Pauline Richmond,
his wife, next -of-kin and heirs-at-law
of E. f. Richmond deceased.
(No search against Grantors)
to Rena R. Balsley

Date December 9, 1930 Recorded June 28, 1932 Deed Book Vol. 222, page 145 cOnsideration $1.00 Conveys by Quit claim Deed, duly acknowledged, the land at CAPTION II.
Recites being the same premises conveyed by the heirs of N.W. Abbey to jay B. Abbey by deed bearing date June 16th 1891, and recorded in Book 64, page 471 of MvKean County Records; and also being the same premises conveyed by the said Jay B. Abbey and wife to E. F. Richmond. by deed date June 28th, 1894 and recorded April 30, 1895 in Deed Book 82, page 54 of McKean County Records.
The said Mollie Richmond, widow of Harry n. Richmond deceased, Nelson L. Richmond Margaret Wiendemair and William E. Richmond , grantors and the said Rena R. Balsley, Grantee, being the sole and only heirs-at-law of the said E.F. Richmond, deceased. No. 3 DEED
Rena R. Balsley, Widow
to Virginia B. Johnson.

Date June 14, 1932 Recorded June 28, 1932 Deed Book Vol. 222, page 146 Consideration $1.00 Coveys by Special Warranty Deed, duly acknowledged, the lands at CAPTIONS I and II Grating same rights and subject to same exceptions, etc. as at Abstract No.1.
Excepting and reserving to the Grantor first herein before named the use occupancy income and full enjoyment of the lands and premises herein before described at and in Items ''First and second'' for and during the term of her natural life.
NOTE: Register's Docket S, page 305 shows Rena .R. Balsley died on April 13, 1936.