FRANKLIN COUNTY OHIO - BIO: RIDGWAY, Joseph Jr. (published 1880)
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History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties,  Ohio
Pub by Williams Bros,  1880

JOSEPH RIDGWAY, JR.,

was born on Staten Island,  New York,  April 23,  1800.  His father, 
Matthew Ridgway,  died while Joseph was in his early childhood,  and he
went to reside with an uncle,  after who he had been named,  and who was
then residing in Cuyahoga county.  This uncle was afterward a member of
congress from Ohio.  His nephew received an excellent education in one
of the New York academies,  making a specialty of the science of
engineering,  for which he had a great fondness.  In 1820,  he came to
Ohio,  with his uncle and settled in Columbus.  For several years he
devoted himself to his favorite pursuit,  being employed as an engineer
on the canal which was then in process of construction.  Later, he
became a partner with his uncle in a foundry at Columbus,  established
for the manufacture of a cast iron plow,  of which the elder Ridgway
owned the patent.  This plow marked an era in Ohio agriculture,  and the
"Ridgway Foundry"  was the pioneer in the Columbus iron manufacture, 
which has now become so important a branch of industry.

Mr. Ridgway threw his entire energy into the Ohio railroad,  becoming
one of the principle stock holders and a director of the Columbus &
Xenia road,  one of the oldest in the State.  It was to furnish this
road with rolling stock that he established a car factory at Columbus, 
and he was secretary of the company at the time of his death which
occurred August 23,  1850.  In 1844,  and again in 1846,  he was a
member of the Ohio Legislature,  first in the senate,  and afterward in
the house of representatives.  He was also,  for several years,  a
member of the board of State house commissioners.

He died greatly regretted,  having been identified with almost every
movement having in view the welfare of his adopted city.

He was married,  November 28,  1828,  to Jeannette S. Tatem,  daughter
of Charles Tatem,  of Cincinnati.



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