Nicholas Henry RIDGELY
Birth:
27 Apr 1800
near Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland
Death:
31 Jan 1888
Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois
Burial:
Oak Ridge Cmtry, Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois
Marriage:
29 Jan 1835
St. Louis, Missouri
Father:
Blocked
Mother:
Blocked
Notes:
He was a prominent businessman in early Springfield:
telegraph, gas plant, and a distinguished horticulturist. His wife's
obituary describes him as the owner of Ridgely National Bank.
BIRTHDATE: given as 27 April 1800 in CORNEAU 0009 and in the
Historical Encyclopedia. Given as 27 August 1800 in the International
Genealogical Index - 1993 Edition - Version 3.02 (Batch 7727008 Sheet
64, Source Call No. 1126121, Type Film). Copyright 1993 by The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0013 lists Nicholas H. Ridgely's two wives, their
children, and their grandchildren. It is undated, but was compiled at
some point after 1923 and prior to 1935.
SOURCE: Sangamon County, Illinois 1850 Federal Census (CORNEAU 0068)
gives his age as 50, his occupation Cashier, Bank, his value
and his birthplace as Maryland.
SOURCE: Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois 1912, volume 1, page 451:
After leaving school he was in the dry-goods trade for a time;
came to St. Louis to assume a clerkship in the branch of the United
States Bank just organized there. In 1835 a branch of the State Bank of
Illinois was established at Springfield, and Mr. Ridgely became its
cashier. When it went into liquidation, he was appointed one of the
trustees to wind up its affairs. He then became President of
Exchange Bank in Springfield, and when this bank went into liquidation a
few years later, he went into the private banking business as
Ridgely Bank, which in 1866 became the Ridgely National Bank. It was
one of the strongest financial institutions in the State outside of
Chicago. He was one of the Springfield bankers to tender a loan to the
State at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. He was also one of the
purchasers of the Northern Cross Railroad, (later part of the Wabash
system) extending from the Illinois river to Springfield, from the State
in 1847. He was one of the builders and principal owner of the
Springfield gas-light system. His business career was an eminently
successful one, leaving an estate at his death in 1888 valued at over
$2,000,000.
SOURCE: Illinois State Journal-Register, Springfield, Illinois, 14
October 1956, Ridgely Family Were Prominent in Springfield. The
Ridgely National bank subsequently merged with the Farmers National
Bank.
SOURCE: undated newspaper article Men Who Made Springfield (CORNEAU
0009): Mr. Ridgely was born near Baltimore, Maryland, April 27, 1800,
where he received his education. He came to St. Louis in 1828, and
during the year 1829 was appointed to a a responsible position in the
branch of the old United States Bank in that city. In May, 1835, he was
appointed cashier of the newly chartered State Bank of Illinois. This
position brought him to Springfield to make his home. The great
influence of this man is manifested in many ways in the growth of
Springfield. One of the first things to which Mr. Ridgely turned his
attention, upon his arrival here, was the school system of the town.
This was before the days of public schools, and the result of
was seen in the building of the old Academy which stood on the west
side of Fifth Street between Monroe Street and Capital Avenue. This
became a good school, and every man who ever attended it blessed its
memory. In 1848, Mr. Ridgely, in connection with the late Colonel
Mather, bought the railroad running from Springfield to Naples, and
rebuilt it, thus giving to the city communication with the
The State Bank failed in 1841, and he was appointed by Governor Carlin
as one of the three trustees to settle its affairs. This was
1852, and Mr. Ridgely became interested with some New York capitalists
in opening Clark's Exchange Bank. This lasted but two years, when Mr.
Ridgely succeeded to the business in his personal name as a private
banker. In 1856, his son Charles was admitted to the partnership with
him under the name of N.H. Ridgely and Company. To this firm, his son
William was afterwards admitted, and the business continued until
October 1866, when the Ridgely National Bank was organized. He became
its president and so continued until his death. In 1854, Mr. Ridgely,
again in connection with eastern financiers, built the Springfield Gas
Works. He was the president of the company from the time of its
organzation to the time of his death. Mr. Ridgely was a lover
His great influence was felt in the artistic and architectural
development of the city. The old bank building where the present Marine
Bank now stands was built under his advice by a St. Louis architect, Mr.
Barrett, whom he considered the greatest of his time. It was a pure
example of a Corinthian temple, and was considered a very beautiful
building. At a later date he build a small cottage on a tract
the east part of town, which he called Ridgely Cottage garden. Here
were combined the aesthetic values of flowers and shrubs and
demonstrations of practical utility of the osage orange and fruit
grafting. This garden was the city's proudest boast, and a subject of
praise from all who saw it. For some years it was quite an element in
the flower shows and horticultural exhibitions which were held each
year in the state house. One of the attractive spots on the
Ridgely's home was his greenhouse. Here he had growing all sorts of
varieties of rare grapes which bore all seasons of the year. Very few
were allowed the privilege of entering his sacred precinct, but it was a
source of pleasure to him. Mr. Ridgely was instrumental in building the
old Third church which stood at the corner of Sixth and Monroe Streets.
In many ways, he was able to influence the architectural effects of both
business and dwelling houses, making Springfield a more beautiful town
in which to live. The beautiful Ridgely home stood on the block bounded
by Sixth and Seventh streets, Cass and Lawrence avenue, the lawn a
perfect park with a rose garden to the south which knew no equal. Mr.
Ridgely was most emphatically of a modest and retiring disposition.
High public position was in easy reach, but he preferred the
his own home and the companionship of the beautiful flowers with which
he was always surrounded. He was a great patron of the arts, and an
authority on literature, painting and sculpture. His whole
one grand achievement of good.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0057 (Road of Remembrance) describes him thus:
There was never the slightest question who was the head of our family.
It was our grandfather, Nicholas Ridgely, in whose home I lived until my
fifth year. He was not only a commanding figure in life, he dominated us
even after his death. I was just twelve years old when he died, in his
eighty-seventh year; not from disease, for he was still strong with all
his faculties, but from an accident. It seemed to me, and to all his
descendants, as if a tent-pole had fallen. Physically our Grandfather
was a small man, sparely built, but what he lost in impressiveness of
stature he made up for by the dignity of his bearing, and the
his features. His Roman nose and long, firm upper lip indicated plainly
that he was not used to opposition. He decided everything. The most
trivial question was referred to him for answer. My Grandmother, Jane
Huntington, was his second wife, and twenty years his junior. She and
her family had gone to St. Louis from Boston in the late '30's to open a
young ladies' school. She was young, gay, and pretty and engaged to be
married to a contemporary when Grandfather met her. Grandfather was
one of the large Ridgely clan, whose original ancestor had come to
America with Lord Baltimore and settled in Maryland. Grandfather had
been born near Baltimore in 1800, and had gone to St. Louis in 1828 to
take a position in the old United States Bank. He was a widower with
five children when he met my future grandmother, who was 20 years his
junior. Some of his children were almost as old as Grandmother. One of
his daughters he placed in the Huntington school, and through
have met young Jane, and determined to marry her. Soon after their
marriage he was sent to Springfield, Illinois, to be cashier of a state
bank, newly chartered, and here his young wife and his own five children
were established. The new family all lived over the bank, and were
served by a black girl, called Becky, whom Grandfather had bought on the
block in St. Louis. Children came thick and fast, until they had added
eight to Grandfather's original five. The family was growing, the bank
was rapidly expanding and had become a private enterprise under
Grandfather's name. No longer did the family live over the
large, pleasant brick house in four acres of grounds.
gray beard, contrasting with his wife's brown curls, was the outward
and visible sign of the disparity in their ages; he determined to put an
end to it. One day after a business trip to St. Louis he returned to be
greeted by the children with the amazed exclamation Father, your hair
and beard are black How did it happen? They turned black in a
thunderstorm said Grandfather calmly, and that explanation had to
suffice. Grandfather elected that no water should be poured [at the
dinner table] until the last crumb was eaten. It hinders digestion he
decided; so there the empty glasses waited for his signal to fill them.
One got used to waiting. One accepted Grandfather's rules as
the Medes and the Persians were accepted. Long after his children had
left his roof for those of their own, they too drank no water until the
meal was at an end.
Grandfather was simply omnipotent. His will was iron. In his day
rocking chairs were the fashion. He announced that in his house there
was to be no restless swaying and thumping of heels. One day one of his
daughters, of an impulsive temperament, rocked violently, disturbing
meditation. Grandfather summoned a carpenter, blocks were nailed
under every rocker, so that thereafter only the slightest movement was
possible.
It was quite easy to arrange an informal dance at a minute's notice.
Grandmother would go to the piano and begin the music for a quadrille ,
Grandfather would be persuaded to call off. Of course he knew the
order of the figures. He knew everything. Often he got out
and accompanied the piano. But he was not the musician Grandmother
was. One night he struck a false note. Grandmother laughed.
Immediately Grandfather put up the fiddle, walked up to the attic and
laid it under the eaves, where it remained ever after. No one ever
laughed at Grandfather again.
In spite of his memorable slip on that occasion he loved music, and he
never lost a chance to entertain any visiting musician. He
to buy tickets for a concert. When he went to New York he heard opera.
His daughters were given every chance to learn to play the piano and to
sing; but caterwauling he had no mind to endure. Serenades were the
order of the day. On one summer night some ambitious young men
brought a small melodian to his lawn in a wheelbarrow. One of them
struck up a tune, the others burst into a song. The daughters
windows ready to toss bouquets but Grandfather stopped the ill-merited
award. His head in a night cap suddenly appeared from his window.
Gentlemen, he said distinctly, that is enough for this
to the girls' mortification the melodeon was hoisted onto the
wheelbarrow and its custodians could all be heard crunching down the
graveled path to the gate.
But once having established authority in that great family, Grandfather
was kindness itself. He was like the everlasting arms in need. In
sickness he was the one who took charge of the case, administering the
nauseous doses in which every one believed. In a cholera epidemic that
swept the town he went from house to house fearlessly caring for the
sick, helping to give the dead decent burial. When his children lost
children they looked to Father for comfort and support. But it was
Uncle Redick who owed him the greatest debt of gratitude of all.
Word came one night to Grandfather that this son had met with a terrible
railroad accident in a neighboring town, and the doctor there, asked for
permission to amputate one of Redick's legs, warning the family that
gangrene would set in if permission was withheld or even delayed. Of
course, Grandfather being grandfather, refused consent until he saw for
himself the extent of the injury. There was no train for hours, so he
hired a handcar and disappeared down the tracks. When he reached his
son's side he examined the shattered leg for himself and decided it was
not necessary to amputate, flouting the doctor's advice. And Uncle
Redick's leg healed, as Grandfather had decreed it should heal. Except
for a slight stiffness in one knee it was a perfect leg. It did Uncle
Redick service for over eighty years. The general faith in Grandfather
was confirmed every time Uncle Redick went swinging by the house
During the Civil War, Grandfather lived in a lone minority. He was
southern born. He had grown up under slavery and sincerely
its evils were exaggerated. (No child of his was ever allowed to read
Uncle Tom's cabin). Although he had bought his cook, Old Becky, on the
block and his removal to Illinois had automatically given her freedom,
nevertheless she still lived with him, and looked upon his family as her
people. He detested war and felt that the religious people,
true to their Christian teaching, ought not to countenance it
His daughter Anna's journal records a veritable explosion against what
he felt was sheer hypocrisy: My father has been talking to me
to all of us of this terrible war that is upon us and he says that it is
brought about by religious people. He considers them all hypocrites and
denounces the whole sect. He read in the paper that at a Lord's Day
convention a resolution was passed to oppose battles being fought on the
Sabbath. He says that the people of the North who feel this
ones who allow the soldiers in Virginia to plunder the people,
houses and commit all sorts of depredations but when a battle is fought
on the Sabbath the whites of their pious eyes go up not on
loss of life in the battle but because it was fought on Sunday. Then he
asked me if I did not think it was better for those people to love their
enemies and not be at war. Of course I thought so but what
spoke of war in the Bible and tried to prove that it was sometimes
necessary but his arguments were stronger than mine. If it is wrong to
kill a man why not more so to kill a thousand? He argues...
soldiers take a chaplain with them to battle? He thinks that preaching
and war are incompatible, and that it would be better to leave the
chaplains at home.
...in his thirty-sixth year [our father, Nicholas] was pronounced a
consumptive and ordered south. In New Orleans he consulted two well
known doctors, one of whom pronounced his left lung gone, the other his
right. Now my Father had a logical mind as well as a racking cough. If
both doctors were right, he was surely going to die. If neither of them
were, which he began to suspect, there was hope of recovery. He
determined to return home and see what happened. [He lived to the ripe
old age of 87] 2 TYPE Keyword
2 TYPE Keyword
2 TYPE Keyword
Jane Maria HUNTINGTON
Birth:
7 Oct 1814
Boston, Massachusetts
Death:
4 Jan 1883
Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois
Burial:
Oak Ridge Cmtry, Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois
Father:
Mother:
Notes:
BIRTH: Born in Roxbury (now Boston) Massachusetts.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0008 (Kith and Kin Mailing List Feb 1936) lists the
following Huntington relatives: Mrs. Kate Terry Pearson, Mr. James W.
Pearson, Mr. J.B. Henkle, Mrs. William L. Patton, and Mrs.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0013 lists Nicholas H. Ridgely's two wives, their
children, and their grandchildren. It is undated, but was compiled at
some point after 1923 and prior to 1935.
FROM HER OBITUARY: Mother of nine children, one of whom died in
infancy. No worthy poor person was ever turned away from her door.
OBITUARY: Death notice, Illinois State Journal, Springfield,
January 1883: The sad news of the death of Mrs. Jane M.
of W.H. Ridgely, Esq. [newspaper misprint, should be N.H.
city, was received with the deepest of sorrow by a wide circle of
friends and relatives of the deceased, yesterday morning. Her death
occurred at about 8:30 o'clock. She had been critically ill for several
weeks and during the past few days her death was hourly expected. She
was 68 years of age and was the mother of nine children, eight of whom
are now living. She was born in Boston, Mass., her maiden name being
Jane M. Huntington. She came West to St. Louis with her father, who was
for many years a resident of that city. She was the possessor
number of intimate friends in the Episcopal church, having
member during her life.
CORNEAU 0057 (Road of Remembrance) describes her: Jane Huntington,
and her family had gone to St. Louis from Boston in the late
a young ladies' school. She was young, gay, and pretty when Grandfather
met her. Grandfather was a widower with five children when he met my
future grandmother. Some of his children were almost as old as
Grandmother. One of his daughters he placed in the Huntington school,
and through her he must have met young Jane, and determined to marry
her. Soon after their marriage he was sent to Springfield,
cashier of a state bank, newly chartered, and here his young
own five children were established. Springfield was a small, muddy
town, lying stark on the prairie. A change indeed it must have been for
young Jane after Boston, where she had grown up. Crude as her new
surroundings were, Grandmother had one solace. She had brought her
piano with her. Family tradition affirms it was the first to enter
Springfield, but other pioneer families contest this claim. At least it
was enough of a novelty to attract great attention. When the farmers in
their muddy boots came to the bank to do business they would ask
wistfully, Won't your woman play on that thing for us again?
Grandmother being of a gay and lively temperament lent herself good
naturedly to their entertainment, and seated herself obligingly at the
instrument. She played and sang very well indeed, every one
had a good musical education in Boston. Children came thick and fast,
until she had added eight to Grandfather's original five. No
family live over the bank but in a large, pleasant brick house in four
acres of grounds. Grandmother had everything that heart could desire:
silk dresses, a velvet cloak, pearl and onyx jewelry, a rockaway, a
beautiful garden in which to stroll, laid out by a landscape
had come down from Chicago to make the plan. The house was always
full of visitors; there seemed no end of them. The Ridgelies came up
from the South, the Huntingtons came from the East. Every bed was
always full; but the garden was large, service was cheap, and no one
minded in the least.
After her death, our Grandmother seemed to hover above the pulpit of the
Episcopal Church, which had been commissioned in her memory. She had
been gone so long we could only dimly recall how she used to look
standing before her rose-wood bureau arranging her hair. Two
enchanting toilette bottles had always stood on its marble top, one for
bay-rum, the other for eau de Cologne. No lady of course, had used
perfume.
SOURCE: GEDCOM posted by Robert Thomas Reed, Sr., on America Online's
Genealogy Forum 20 July 1998. 2 TYPE Keyword
2 TYPE Keyword
2 TYPE Keyword
Children
Marriage
1
Birth:
17 Jan 1836
Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois
Death:
11 Aug 1910
Notes:
Obituary Information from the Sangamon Valley Collection of the
Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois gives his date of
1910, describes him as identified with progress of City and State.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0008 (Kith and Kin Mailing List Feb 1936) lists Uncle
Charles' family as including: Mrs. Franklin Ridgely, Mrs. John
Phelps Brown, Mrs. Reynolds G. Clark, Mrs. James S. Parrish, Jr., Mr.
Phelps Brown, Jr., Mr. Charles Ridgely, Mr. Edward Ridgely, Mrs. S.
Wallace Murkland, Mrs. Edwin S. Strong, Mr. Charles A. Vincent, Mr. John
A. Vincent, Mrs. Lloyd Canby, and Mrs. Joseph S. Barker.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0013 lists Nicholas H. Ridgely's two wives, their
children, and their grandchildren. It is undated, but was compiled at
some point after 1923 and prior to 1935.
SOURCE: Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, by J.D.
Warfield, pp. 82-83., available from Maryland State Archives: He is
described in Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties as Mr.
Charles Ridgely, of the Springfield ironworks, and president of a bank.
SOURCE: Illinois State Journal biography (published 1956) of Jane M.
Huntington (Mrs. Nicholas Ridgely): He was president of Springfield Iron
Co. and the Ridgely National bank.
SOURCE: Illinois State Journal-Register, Springfield,
1956, Ridgely Family Were Prominent in Springfield.: He was First
Vice-President of the Ridgely National bank.
SOURCE: Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois 1912, volume 1,
was educated in private schools and at Illinois College; after leaving
college spent some time as a clerk in his father's bank at Springfield,
finally becoming a member of the firm and successively Cashier and
Vice-President. In 1870 he was Democratic candidate for State
Treasurer, but later was affiliated with the Republican party. About
1872 he became identified with the Springfield Iron Company, of which
he served as President for many years; had also been President of the
Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis and, for some time, was a
Director of the Wabash Railroad. Mr. Ridgely served some time as a
Trustee of Illinois College.
Notes:
SOURCE: Sangamon County, Illinois 1850 Federal Census (CORNEAU
0068) gives her age as 12, and her place of birth as Illinois.
SOURCE: She is listed in CORNEAU 0005 as an honorary member of the
Every Wednesday Club of Springfield, Illinois; the comprehensive subject
for the Club for 1893-1894 being the Philosophical Study of United
States History; her residence is given as Chicago, Illinois.
RESIDENCES: According to CORNEAU 0057 (Road of Remembrance) she
grew up in Springfield, Illinois; moved to Indiana when she married. At
the time of her niece Catherine Grey Roberts' marriage in 1910, she was
living in London, England.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0008 (Kith and Kin Mailing List Feb 1936) lists Aunt
Julia's Family as including: Mr. Ridgely Rea, Mr. Edward L.
Rea, and Miss Lillian Rea.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0013 lists Nicholas H. Ridgely's two wives, their
children, and their grandchildren. It is undated, but was compiled at
some point after 1923 and prior to 1935.
SOURCE: From letter in CORNEAU 0044 (Kith & Kin)
LETTER FROM COUSIN LILIAN REA
Third Generation--daughter of Aunt Julia Ridgely Rea and Uncle John
Huntington Rea
There were originally five children born of the union of John Huntington
Rea and Julia Pearson Ridgely - Ridgely, Eliza Huntington, Mary Ridgely,
Wallace and Edward Lawrence
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0057 (Road of Remembrance) says of her: In the midst
of the heartbreak of the [Civil] war Anna's oldest sister was married,
and that entailed hours of sewing by the family and a seamstress. The
times were too stormy to risk a shopping tour to St. Louis.
silk must be purchased in Springfield, every stitch taken at home; but
somehow a simple trousseau was achieved. Julia was married in a white
corded silk and wore a veil. She went away in a grey silk
with black bands to match, and a bonnet faced with blue. The wedding
cake, too, had to be made at home as a matter of course. The house was
filled with flowers from the garden. The gifts are all listed in Anna's
journal. Such simple gifts as they were - although no one thought they
were. A small quantity of silver, a half dozen spoons was considered a
handsome present, a copy of More's poems, a gold handkerchief ring. Her
sisters each made her some little thing. She left with her young
husband to live in Indiana. As travel was difficult it would be hard to
visit back and forth and the hearts of the family were all but broken to
have her go so far away.
3
William RIDGELY
Birth:
Abt 1840
Illinois
Death:
Marr:
Notes:
SOURCE: Sangamon County, Illinois 1850 Federal Census (CORNEAU
0068) gives his age as 10, and his place of birth as Illinois.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0013 lists Nicholas H. Ridgely's two wives, their
children, and their grandchildren. It is undated, but was compiled at
some point after 1923 and prior to 1935, and identifies William Ridgely
as a bachelor, who never married.
SOURCE: letter of Alice Watts Luehrs in CORNEAU 0044 (Kith & Kin):
Always at Christmas time our memories go back to those joyous
occasions when Uncle Bill made it possible for us to gather and sing
carols, dance and receive beautiful gifts.
UNCLE BILL'S CHRISTMAS PARTY SONG
Family, Family,
You can't beat us if you try
R-I-D-G-E-L-Y
Family, Family,
Cousins, Cousins by the dozens
Family.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0044 He was cashier of the Ridgely National bank and
secretary of Springfield Gaslight Co.
SOURCE: Illinois State Journal biography (published 1956) of Jane M.
Huntington (Mrs. Nicholas Ridgely): William Ridgely was president of
Ridgely National bank and other Springfield business institutions.
SOURCE: Illinois State Journal-Register, Springfield, Illinois, 14
October 1956, Ridgely Family Were Prominent in Springfield.
Notes:
SOURCE: Sangamon County, Illinois 1850 Federal Census (CORNEAU
0068) gives her age as 8, and her place of birth as Illinois.
SOURCE: She is listed in CORNEAU 0005 as the Corresponding Secretary
of the Every Wednesday Club of Springfield, Illinois; the comprehensive
subject for the Club for 1893-1894 being the Philosophical Study of
United States History; on December 27, she led the discussion on
National and State Governments; her residence is given as 1130 South
6th Street.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0008 (Kith and Kin Mailing List Feb 1936) lists Aunt
Anna's family as including: Mr. Charles R. Hudson, Mr. James
Mr. Ridgely Hudson.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0013 lists Nicholas H. Ridgely's two wives, their
children, and their grandchildren. It is undated, but was compiled at
some point after 1923 and prior to 1935.
RESIDENCE: Death notice of Suzanne Corneau, Illinois State Journal,
Springfield, Illinois, 23 May, 1918, p. 7: Suzanne Addison Corneau,
daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Addison Corneau, died at 2 o'clock yesterday
afternoon at the home of Mrs. Corneau's aunt, Mrs. J.L. Hudson [Anna
Ridgely], 1130 South Sixth street.
CORNEAU 0057 (Road of Remembrance) says of her: Our favorite aunt was
Mother's sister Anna. She had married late in life we were always
told, being of the ripe old age of thirty years when she was led to the
altar. No one, not even Grandmother, had the least expectation of her
marrying at all, unless, as Grandmother prophesied she took a widower.
She not only married, however, but she married a bachelor and most
happily. The squat two story brick house where they lived, with its
large barn, lilac bushes and maple trees was the pleasantest home in the
entire family. [In her youth, she had been in the] habit of
Sometimes she used to read to us from the stout little books over which
her pencil had run so rapidly week after week in 1859-1865. They were
entrancing chronicles. As she read a wand seemed to touch the
Springfield which we knew, the years dropped away, and the bankers of
the town with their gold-headed canes and high hats, the elderly women
in black silk and jet, became boys and girls again, going on picnics,
sitting in Grandfather's summer house, on those evenings when the young
men were not drilling with the zouaves in the armory as war was
threatened.
The country was threatened with civil war. Political rallies were being
held everywhere, and Anna attended them with various young men of the
town. Nicholas Ridgely, like Lincoln, had originally been a
that party passed out of existence he became a Democrat, and Lincoln a
Republican, so it was to the speeches of the Little Giant that Anna
largely listened. Wednesday evening runs the journal, Mary,
went to church. Douglas arrived here that night and there was a great
commotion, a large torch light procession passed by the church and with
the music and shouting it was difficult to carry on the meeting. The
election for President takes place this month and that long contest and
strife will be decided. I suppose Mr. Lincoln will be elected
not, for I tremble for our country.
After 1861 the Journal is filled with the reverberations of
Another week has gone . . . . It has been one of the most
of my life, for during these few days war has been declared,
of our beloved country is now prepared to attack the other half. The
whole country in a state of confusion and excitement. . . . On Monday
President Lincoln issued a proclamation to each Governor demanding
troops. Illinois was ordered to send six regiments, that is 60
companies, each consisting of eighty men. This has, of course, created
great excitement among all gentlemen. Every one is talking of war, the
news, the latest dispatch. I never knew such terrible times. In 1863
the War was still raging. Anna wrote on January 3rd I have begun a new
week. I have begun a new year. What a fitting time for
old year has gone. It has borne with it many friends whose faces are
shut from my sight forever, but I hope to meet them in the shores of
another and brighter land. Oh this ravaging war. Through
has raged - How many friends I have resigned to dust. Oh that the war
might cease. On New Year's Day[1864] Marshall Lamon [a family friend
Anna was visiting in Washington DC] took Jenny [his daughter] and Anna
to call on President Lincoln. They were admitted with the Supreme
Court and the Diplomatic Corp and Anna had a chance to see the foreign
ministers in their court dresses. Old Abe shook her hand but Mrs.
Lincoln was most gracious, talking with them and inviting them to walk
about the rooms in her company. A band of music played very finely and
the scene was a pretty one.
NOTE: A 48-page book of excerpts from Anna RIDGELY Hudson's journal
was published: Title A Girl in the Sixties: excerpts from
Anna Ridgely (Mrs. James L. Hudson)/edited by her niece, Octavia
ROBERTS Corneau, assisted by Miss Georgia L. Osborne; Author: Hudson,
Anna Ridgely, 1842-1926; Publisher: Springfield, IL: Journal
1929. Description: 48 p. illus. 23 cm; Notes: reprinted from
of the Illinois State Historical Society, v. 22, no. 3, Oct 1929. The
Illinois State Historical Library has (as of May 2000) a copy, call
#F896.3 H885g; and the Lincoln Library Main Sangamon in Springfield,
Illinois has a copy Call # BIOGRAPHY H8848a.
Notes:
SOURCE: Sangamon County, Illinois 1850 Federal Census (CORNEAU
0068) gives her age as 6, and her place of birth as Illinois.
SOURCE: She is listed in CORNEAU 0005 as President, and member of the
Executive Commitee, of the Every Wednesday Club of Springfield,
Illinois; the comprehensive subject for the Club for 1893-1894 being the
Philosophical Study of United States History; she led the November 8
discussion on the Growth of Representative Government; her residence is
given as 821 South 2nd Street.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0008 (Kith and Kin Mailing List Feb 1936) lists Aunt
Mary's family as including: Mr. Arthur Hay, Mr. John Hay, Mr. Arthur B.
Lloyd, Mrs. Paul Noonan, and Mrs. Henry A. Tupper.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0013 lists Nicholas H. Ridgely's two wives, their
children, and their grandchildren. It is undated, but was compiled at
some point after 1923 and prior to 1935.
6
Henderson RIDGELY
Birth:
Abt 1848
Illinois
Death:
Marr:
Notes:
SOURCE: Sangamon County, Illinois 1850 Federal Census (CORNEAU
0068) gives his age as 2, and his place of birth as Illinois.
SOURCE: Illinois State Journal-Register, Springfield, Illinois, 14
October 1956, Ridgely Family Were Prominent in Springfield. He was
city comptroller in Springfield, Illinois during the 1880's.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0008 (Kith and Kin Mailing List Feb 1936) lists Uncle
Henderson's family as including: Mrs. Henderson Ridgely, residing at 519
Oak Street, South Jacksonville, Florida.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0013 lists Nicholas H. Ridgely's two wives, their
children, and their grandchildren. It is undated, but was compiled at
some point after 1923 and prior to 1935.
Notes:
SOURCE: Sangamon County, Illinois 1850 Federal Census (CORNEAU
0068) does not list her in the household of Nicholas and Jane Ridgely,
which, taken together with the marriage date of her parents, implies
that her birthdate falls after 1850.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0008 (Kith and Kin Mailing List Feb 1936) lists Aunt
Janie's family as including: Mrs. Leon Rhea, Mr. James A. Jones, Miss
Clarissa Wiggins Jones, Mr. James A. Jones, Jr., Mr. Nicholas
Roy W. Ide, Sr., and Mr. Roy W. Ide, Jr.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0013 lists Nicholas H. Ridgely's two wives, their
children, and their grandchildren. It is undated, but was compiled at
some point after 1923 and prior to 1935.
8
Jack RIDGELY
Birth:
Aft 1850
Death:
Marr:
Notes:
SOURCE: Sangamon County, Illinois 1850 Federal Census (CORNEAU
0068) does not list him in the household of Nicholas and Jane Ridgely,
which, taken together with the marriage date of his parents, implies
that his birthdate falls after 1850.
CORNEAU 0057 (Road of Remembrance) says of him: Uncle Jack used to be
seen strolling leisurely to the bank in a silk hat, swinging a
cane.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0008 (Kith and Kin Mailing List Feb 1936) does not list
Uncle Jack's family; it is not known whether he had descendants.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0013 lists Nicholas H. Ridgely's two wives, their
children, and their grandchildren. It is undated, but was compiled at
some point after 1923 and prior to 1935. Jack Ridgely does not appear
on this compilation.
9
Birth:
24 Aug 1852
Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois
Death:
17 Apr 1935
Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois
Notes:
SOURCE: Obituary (CORNEAU 0017): Mrs. C.D. Roberts dies;
held Friday. Lifelong Resident of Springfield Dies at Age of
Mrs. Charles David Roberts, 630 South Sixth Street, died at 5 a.m. today
at the residence, aged 82 years. Funeral services will be
Friday at St. Paul's Episcopal Churs, Rev. Edward Haughton officiating.
Interment is to be in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Mrs. Roberts was
1852, the daughter of Nicholas and Jane Huntington Ridgely. She was a
lifelong resident of Springfield [Illinois], and was the last
the 13 Ridgely children. Both she and her husband, whom she married
Sept. 3, 1874, were members of prominent families. The ceremony was
performed by Rev. F. M. Gregg in Springfield. Mrs. Roberts was for 60
years a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, was also a charter
member of the Springfield Woman's Club and a member of the Every
Wednesday Club. Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Barton Corneau,
Boston, Mass; Mrs. Addison Corneau, city; Mrs. Robert Hatcher,
and Miss Marianne Roberts, city; one son, Nicholas Roberts, Montclair,
N.J., and eight grandchildren. Mr. Roberts died in 1923.
NOTE RE MARRIAGE: CORNEAU 0062 (Children of the American Revolution
application form) lists marriage year as 1873, but her obituary gives it
as 1874.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0008 (Kith and Kin Mailing List Feb 1936) lists Aunt
Octavia's family as including: Mrs. Barton Corneau, Mr.
Mrs. Addison Corneau, Miss Catherine Corneau, Miss Marianne H. Roberts,
Mrs. Robert E. Hatcher, Jr., and Miss Jane Hatcher.
SOURCE: CORNEAU 0013 lists Nicholas H. Ridgely's two wives, their
children, and their grandchildren. It is undated, but was compiled at
some point after 1923 and prior to 1935.
OBITUARY: Death notice, Illinois State Journal, Springfield,
April 1935, p. 5: Mrs. Octavia Roberts Dies at Residence
of Nicholas and Jane Ridgely; Rites Tomorrow Mrs. Octavia Roberts, a
resident of Springfield all her life, died at 5 o'clock
at the residence, 630 South Sixth street. She was 82 years old.
Funeral services will be held at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at St.
Paul's Episcopal Church. Rev. Edward Haughton, rector, will officiate.
Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Mrs. Roberts, the last survivor of thirteen children of
Huntington Ridgely, was born in Springfield Aug. 24, 1852. Her marriage
to C.D. Roberts took place Sept. 3, 1874. Mr. Roberts died twelve years
ago.
Mrs. Roberts held membership in St. Paul's Episcopal Church for sixty
years. She also was a charter member of the Springfield Woman's club
and a member of the Every Wednesday club.
Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Barton Corneau, Boston; Mrs. Addison
Corneau, Mrs. Robert Hatcher, Jr., and Miss Marianne Roberts,
city; one son Nicholas Roberts, Montclair, N.J., and eight
CORNEAU 0045 (Kith and Kin, April 1936) says of her: Mother's hair was
black as coal. She dressed in what were called water waves across her
forehead. Our cousin, Kate Webster, from New York City had shown her
how to plaster them down with quince lotion. The effect was the last
word in style.
If there was sickness, Mother usually moved the sufferer into her room
and tended him or her day and night, as trained nurses did not exist. I
can see her alert little figure yet, in a neat little red
a white apron.
CORNEAU 0057 (Road of Remembrance) says of her: ...although she
respected her father and quoted him to the day of her death, there were
times when their wills clashed. They did so over her wedding. She was
married in 1874, the youngest and last of all the great family. There
was no question of expense in the preparations. Everything was to be
suitably done. Her trousseau was made at Marshall Field's in Chicago;
the silk of her wedding gown is as good today as it was when it first
knew the scissors. Friends were invited to be present for the ceremony
on a certain September evening. Flowers and fruit from the garden were
everywhere. There was only one point that caused discussion. Mother
was determined to have an orchestra and have dancing. Grandfather
refused his consent. A wedding he announced, was a serious occasion.
Dancing and hopping about was not fitting. Mother thought otherwise.
She persuaded one of her brothers to engage the musicians. Once they
are here she decided Father can't do anything about it.
The evening arrived, in trooped the guests, ladies in their bustles and
overskirts, gently fanning; gentlemen in their swallow tails , the older
ones in embroidered vests. In another moment Octavia Ridgely would
come floating down the stairs to the strains of the wedding march.
Evidently there was to be an orchestra, not just a piano, which had
sufficed for her sisters. There were the musicians filing
and taking their seats. Then suddenly Nicholas Ridgely saw
did not flush, or even look surprised; not a glance was exchanged with
one of the family, not even his wife, but quite deliberately he walked
towards the musicians now settled under the stairs. Gentlemen, he
said distinctly, your services are not required. And so, having
established his authority, he went back to the drawing-room and calmly
awaited the appearance of the bride and her party.
In the early years of the Springfield Women's Club, she was once asked
to quote her favorite line of poetry. Now Mother I knew, with her five
children to rear and her practical bent had neither time nor inclination
to memorize poetry, and I had an adolescent's moment of panic that our
family would be found wanting. But I need not have feared.
was ready if her verbal knowledge of poetry was slight. She arose
without a tremor and said gayly, My large family has of necessity made
my favorite quotation, 'Hush my babe, lie still and slumber'.
brought down the house. 2 TYPE Keyword
2 TYPE Keyword
2 TYPE Keyword
FamilyCentral Network
Nicholas Henry Ridgely - Jane Maria Huntington
Nicholas Henry Ridgely
was born at near Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland 27 Apr 1800.
He married Jane Maria Huntington 29 Jan 1835 at St. Louis, Missouri . Jane Maria Huntington was born at Boston, Massachusetts 7 Oct 1814 daughter of Jonathan Huntington and Ann Lathrop .
They were the parents of 9
children:
Charles Ridgely
born 17 Jan 1836.
Julia Pearson Ridgely
born Abt 1838.
William Ridgely
born Abt 1840.
Anna Ridgely
born Abt 1842.
Mary Ridgely
born Abt 1844.
Henderson Ridgely
born Abt 1848.
Jane Ridgely
born Aft 1850.
Jack Ridgely
born Aft 1850.
Octavia Ridgeley
born 24 Aug 1852.
Nicholas Henry Ridgely died 31 Jan 1888 at Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois .
Jane Maria Huntington died 4 Jan 1883 at Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois .