Yolo-Tehama County CA Archives Biographies.....Ridley, Edward 1882 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com January 18, 2006, 4:45 pm Author: Tom Gregory (1913) EDWARD RIDLEY Not long after gold had been discovered in California and throngs of fortune-seekers had begun to seek the western coast, the family of James Ridley crossed the plains with wagons and ox-teams, taking with them such absolute necessities as the arduous trip demanded. With the caravan traveled a small boy, James Taylor Ridley, a son of James, Sr., and a native of Missouri. A girl, Vianna Pope, also came with the same expedition, having joined her parents in removing from her native Missouri to the unknown regions of the west. Destiny later united the fortunes of the young people, who married during the pioneer period of our state history and settled upon a farm in Tehama county, later returning to Yolo county and settling at Dunnigan, where the wife, who survives her husband, still makes her home. The head of the emigrating expedition, James Ridley, Sr., developed a large tract of raw land near Black's Station and remained in Yolo county throughout the balance of his life. There were thirteen children in the family of James T. and Vianna Ridley and all but two of these are still living. The youngest, Edward, was born in Tehama county, this state, September 3, 1882, and at the age of six years accompanied his parents to Yolo county, where he attended the Dunnigan public schools. While yet a mere lad his business tendencies began to assert themselves. With an eager desire to earn a livelihood he took up any occupation that offered a moneyed recompense, but from the first his inclinations were toward the care and management of horses. He can scarcely remember when he first began to be interested in equine flesh. Few men are more competent than he to judge their merits or discover their blemishes. No defect escapes his keen glance. On the contrary no good point is overlooked. With such tastes as these it is natural that he should embark in the livery business. When only eighteen he started a livery business and built a barn at Dunnigan, where he continued for a considerable period. Desiring to avail himself of the enlarged business opportunities afforded by Woodland, during 1907 Mr. Ridley removed hither, having sold his livery outfit at Dunnigan and rented the barn there. Shortly after his arrival here he started the Pacific stable on Main street, and remained in that place for two years, after which, in July of 1909, he bought the Fashion stable. Since then he has devoted his attention to a general livery business and has maintained the excellent reputation held by the concern of which he is the proprietor. With exacting scrupulousness he gives himself to the work at hand, neglecting no small detail, but carefully overseeing the horses, caring for the large equipment of vehicles and keeping the harness in first-class condition. As yet he has devoted his time to business to the exclusion of politics and has taken no part in public affairs other than voting the Republican ticket, but he keeps posted concerning questions of vital importance to the country and is particularly zealous regarding the progress of the commonwealth. His wife, like himself, has the proud distinction of being a native Californian. She bore the maiden name of Amanda Hiatt and was born in Sutter county, Cal., but during girlhood lived near Dunnigan. She received the educational advantages of that section, being a graduate of the Woodland high school and the Woodland Business College. Their marriage was solemnized in Sacramento and has been blessed with one daughter, Velma Ellen. The family has a high social standing among the people of Woodland and contributes to many of the movements for the upbuilding and permanent welfare of the city. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/ridley358bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb