Richea Myers Marx  

Richea Myers Marx was the daughter of Myer Myers, famed colonialsilversmith, and his second wife, Elkalah MearsMyers. Raised in New York, Richea was one of thirteenchildren, including half siblings from her father’s first marriage.Her family fled to Connecticut as the British moved to take New York,and they spent the war in Norwalk and subsequently Stratford.

The war was noteasy for Myer Myers and he struggled to re-establish himself afterits conclusion. When, in 1795, he suddenly died, a couple of Richea’sbrothers, Samuel and Moses Mears, headed down to Richmond, where theysoon established themselves in business. RIchea and her motherfollowed, and there Richea met her husband JosephMarx.

Joseph too hadrecently suffered the loss of his father and moved with his family toRichmond, in search of economic opportunity, although he had come amuch greater distance—from Bremen. Marx experienced great successas a merchant and investor in real estate. They had nine childrenwhom they raised in an opulent mansion, Hanover House. One son,Samuel, became director of the James River and Kanawha Canal Companyand president of the Bank of Virginia. Another son, Frederick, afterstudying in Philadelphia and Europe, returned to become one of themost widely respected physicians in Virginia. Their daughter Harrietmarried Benjamin Etting, son of Reubenand Frances Gratz Etting. The marriageof another daughter, Adeline, proved tobe something of a scandal in Richmond society, and she and herhusband fled to New Jersey.

Richea Myers Marx  

c. 1825