Howard County IN Archives Biographies.....Ridgeway, William E. 1868 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 16, 2006, 3:13 am Author: Jackson Morrow WILLIAM E. RIDGEWAY. To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy persistence, the unswerving perseverance and the wise economy which so prominently characterize the farming element in the Hoosier state. Among this class may be mentioned the subject of this life record, who, by reason of years of indefatigable labor and honest effort has not only acquired a well merited material prosperity, but has also richly earned the highest esteem of all with whom he is associated. Mr. Ridgeway has preferred to spend his life in his native community, believing that richer opportunities existed near his own threshold than elsewhere, having been born in Ervin township, Howard county, Indiana, July 25, 1868, of noble parentage, his father being the well known "Squire" Ridgeway and his mother bore the maiden name of Mary Lee, the former being a native of Howard county and the latter of Kentucky. After their marriage they settled on a farm in Ervin township where their lives have been singularly happy and prosperous and where they still reside, being the proud parents of five children, of whom our subject is the third in order of birth. They were named as follows: Calvin, deceased; Jennie, deceased; William E., our subject; James, deceased; Nora. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and educated in the common schools; being an ambitious lad from the first he succeeded admirably at his studies, laying a broad foundation for the subsequent building of a good education through home reading and habits of observation. The farm has always appealed to him as being the most independent life of all, and, having been taught much of how to successfully conduct a farm by his father, he began work on a farm of his own accord early in life and has always followed agricultural pursuits, now owning forty acres of well improved land which yields a good living, owing to the skillful management which it receives from year to year. Our subject was united in the bonds of matrimony in Ervin township, December 20, 1887, to Cora Wilson, a daughter of Ambrose and Phoebe (Griffith) Wilson. Mrs. Wilson passed away in Ervin township after becoming the mother of seven children, of whom the subject's wife was the third in order of birth, having been born December 25, 1869. Two winsome and interesting children have been born to the subject and wife, brightening their hearthstone not a little. They bear the pretty names of Gladie A. and Hazel R. Being a man of recognized loyality [sic] to his county, state and nation and a well read man, deeply versed especially in political matters, and a good mixer with his fellows, it is no wonder that Mr. Ridgeway was called upon to perform public service in his native community, consequently he was nominated and elected township trustee of Ervin township in 1894, which position he filled to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, having begun his official career in January, 1905. He has always voted with the Republican party, taking an active part in all the township offices and lending his time and influence in the support of the worthy candidates in each election. The subject is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In all his relations with the people of Howard county, whether public, fraternal or industrial, Mr. Ridgeway has shown that he is a man of the highest integrity and honesty and one in whom the utmost confidence can be reposed. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA BY JACKSON MORROW, B. A. ILLUSTRATED VOL. II B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (circa 1909) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/howard/bios/ridgeway333nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb