born on january 6, 1862, in weathersfield, vermont, the son of rev. j. deforest richards, a congregational church pastor and harriet bartlett jarvis. at the age of ten, after his father died, richards was sent to phillips academy in andover, massachusetts. after graduation in august 1879, richards moved west to cheyenne, wyoming to recover his health in the outdoors, a prescription similar to that given later-president theodore roosevelt. bartlett richards, however, became involved in the cattle business, and elected to remain in wyoming rather than return to the east. by the time the year was over, he had purchased 1000 head of cattle and established the ship wheel ranch on the belle fourche river in northeast wyoming.