Grundy County IL Archives Obituaries.....Ridgway, Dr Emmanuel 1903
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 20, 2007, 12:16 am

Morris Daily Herald, Oct 17, 1903
Dr. Emmanuel Ridgway died this morning at 12:30.

His death was not unexpected after the last sinking spell of yesterday, and 
the end came peacefully and without apparent suffering, the members of the 
family being at his bedside.

Up to a week ago Wednesday, Dr. Ridgway had been unusually vigorous for one of 
his age, but at that time he suffered a stroke of paralysis. The left side was 
affected the length of the entire body. He retained his mental faculities, 
however, and enjoyed seeing his numerous friends who called upon him. He was 
conscious of his surroundings until within a few hours of death, which takes 
from the community one who has long been one of its prominent citizens.

Had Dr. Ridgway lived until the 22nd of the month, he would have been 72 years 
old. He was a member of the G. A. R. and of the Lincoln club, the only orders 
with which he was identified.

The family has the sincere sympathy of the entire community in the hour of 
their bereavement.

The funeral will be held Monday at 1:30 p.m. from the home, Rev. O. C. Johnson 
and Rev. W. C. Magner officiating. The pallbearers will be the four sons of 
the deceased, Fred, Henry, George and Frank, Frank Fey and Al Holderman.

Dr. Ridgway was one of the oldest acting citizens and business men of Morris. 
He was born in Ohio, October 22, 1821. His father came to Illinois in 1834, 
settling on a farm closed to what is now known as the Walley cemetery. During 
the time of the construction of the canal, he did much of the stone work on 
the locks of the canal. Dr. Ridgway's mother died in 1837, and his father died 
in 1839, leaving him an orphan, and the doctor was taken back to Ohio by his 
mother's folks shortly after. He received the benefit of a higher school 
education at South Salem academy. Here he boarded with the folks of Wm. 
Sample, now living south of the river.

He began reading medicine with Dr. Wills, of Chillicothe, Ohio, and attended 
lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1855. He began the 
practice of medicine in Morris that year, and has not only been prominent in 
the medical profession for many years, but was also prominent in the business 
enterprises of the city. He continued the active practice of medicine for many 
years, receiving an honorary degree of the Chicago Medical college in 1878.

His first connection with the drug business was back in 1860, when the firm 
was known as Longworth & Ridgway. When the civil war began, Dr. Ridgway 
enlisted as a surgeon in the 76th Illinois Volunteers and served until August, 
1865.

He returned to Morris, and resumed the active practice of medicine and took 
quite a prominent part in the public affairs of the city and county. For 16 
years he officiated as the coroner of the county, was for a number of years 
the chief of the Morris fire department, and for 21 years served as a member 
of the Morris board of education in which he took a deep interest. In 1880 he 
dropped the more active practice of medicine and entered the drug business, 
which he continued until 1898, since which time he has devoted his attention 
to his farm interests.

Dr. Ridgway was married in Grundy county in 1869, to Alcinda B. Hoge, daughter 
of William Hoge, one of the oldest settlers of the county. Mrs. Ridgway and 
the children, Fred W., Henry A., George M., Franklin S., Mrs. Mary Fey and 
Miss Rachel, survive him. One brother, Samuel, older than the deceased, 
survives him, living at Carpoy, North Dakota.

Dr. Ridgway was a Presbyterian and a stalwart, loyal republican. He never had 
any use for independence in politics, but always wanted to see a man fight for 
his colors at all times. He was a member of the Lincoln club, and during the 
last days of good health before he suffered the stroke of paralysis, he took a 
deep interest in the building of the new church, having been one of the 
principal promoters in building the old church, and obtained much enjoyment 
from the recreation afforded by the Lincoln club rooms, and association with 
its members.

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