August Paul Richter was born in West Prussia. In 1868 he came to the United States to work on German language journals. In 1873 he returned to the study of medicine and came to Iowa in 1876 to practice medicine in Lowden, Iowa (Cedar County). In 1884 he gave up practicing medicine when he accepted a position as editor of the Davenport German language newspaper, Der Demokrat. During his years as editor Richter collected materials (especially newspaper clippings) for the planned publication of a 2 volume history of Davenport and Scott County. The first of these volumes was published in 1917 under the title: Geschichte der stadt Davenport und der County Scott : nebst seitenblicken auf das territorium und den Staat Iowa. This narrative deals primarily with the period around 1856 and emphasizes the role of German immigrants in the history of the area. Due to anti-German sentiments fueled by World War I Richter incurred significant financial losses with the publication of the book. Richter later published an English language history of Davenport and Scott County which appeared in installments in the Davenport Democrat from April to November of 1922. This series was titled A True History of Scott County : its People, Cities, Towns and Institutions. This series covers the history of the area through the mid 1890s. Interest in this series resulted in a request that he contribute additional chapters to The Daily Times. This second series ran from May 3, 1924 until January 3, 1925. Richter retired from Der Demokrat in 1913 and moved to California to be with his daughters. He died there in 1926.
From the description of August P. Richter papers, ca. 1884-1925. (Iowa Sate Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 58390511
