Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Bishop, Richard Moore

BISHOP, Richard Moore, merchant, b. in Fleming co., Ky., 4 Nov., 1812; d. in Jacksonville, Fla., 2 March, 1893. He received a limited education, became a clerk when he was seventeen years old, and was admitted to partnership with his employer when he was twenty-one. Later he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and established himself as a wholesale grocer. He was elected a member of the city council, 1857, its presiding officer, 1858, and mayor on a citizens' ticket, 1859. During the latter service he rigidly enforced the laws that provided for observance of the Sabbath, laws that provided for observance of the Sabbath, received President-elect Lincoln, then on his way to Washington, and the Prince of Wales, and presided over the great Union war meeting. He was president of the national commercial convention in Baltimore in 1871, in 1873 was a member of the last constitutional convention of Ohio, and in 1877 was elected governor as a Democrat. He was a member of the Disciples or Christian church, was president of the Ohio state missionary society from 1859 till 1869, succeeded Alexander Campbell as president of the general Christian missionary convention, and held office till 1875. Gov. Bishop was connected with many of the benevolent interests of his city and state, and gave largely of his means to the institutions of his church, and to educational and charitable enterprises.