RIDLEYS OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE.
499
J.-W.-B. Ridley (1), only son of Beverly² (1) by his second wife, was
born in Davidson County, Tenn., April 27, 1830.
John Ridley (2), only son of John² (1), was born in Georgia (date
unknown), and having been left an orphan when young, was brought up
among his kinspeople in Tennessee. He was murdered by one Willis
Mullen, of Jackson County, Tenn., who eluded the law and escaped.
Elizabeth Ridley (1), eldest daughter of John2 (1), was born in Geor
gia (date unknown), left an orphan, carried to Tennessee when a child,
and reared among her relatives. She died when about twenty years old,
unmarried.
8
Mary Ridley (2), second daughter of John² (1), was born somewhere
in Georgia (date unknown), and after the death of her parents was carried
to Tennessee and brought up among her Ridley relatives. She became
the wife of Alexander Buchanan, her cousin, and bore him eight children,
whose descendants are now promiscuously scattered through Tennessee,
as useful citizens.
George-Martin Ridleys (4), eldest son of Vincent2 (1), was born in
Sparta, Tenn., Oct. 2, 1800; married in 1819 to Martha-Louis, daughter
of John and Elizabeth Young (she was born Aug. 13, 1800), and died
Aug. 9, 1873, having had issue ten children, of whom hereafter. He
moved with his father to Maury County, Tenn., in 1809. In 1829 he
went to Claiborne parish, La, but having lost his health, he returned to
his old homestead in Tennessee in 1832. In 1852 he migrated to San
Marcus, Tex. He organized a Masonic Lodge at the latter place in 1853,
which was one of the first west of the Rio Colorado. He cleared a farm
in 1854 on the upper Gaudalope River (then in a Republic), now Kerr
County, Tex. In company with his son's family, in 1859, he moved to
DeWitt County, Tex.; thence to Fort Worth in 1859, and in the spring.
of 1865 returned to Kerr County, where he broke up house-keeping, and
went to live in his daughter's family. Mr. Ridley was a mason of high
standing, and assisted in the organization of many lodges in Texas; also
several times elected delegate to the Grand Lodge. He was a consistent
Christian, devoted to his Bible, and died in the assurance of a resurrec-
tion from the dead to immortality at the second appearing of Jesus Christ
on earth.
Elizabeth Ridley (2), eldest daughter of Vincent2 (1), was born in
Sparta, Tenn., and was married to Ward, a carpenter by trade. No
particulars.
Thomas-Everett Ridley (3), second son of Vincent2 (1), was born
in Sparta, Tenn., in 1803; married Asenath-Reese Hudson, and had isssue
four children, of whom hereafter. Mr. Ridley was a farmer in middle
Tennessee till the excitement about California gold-mines caused him to
visit that territory. He assisted in the organization of Mariposa County,
and was elected to the first session of the State Legislature.
On his way
home to get his family he was seized with cholera, and died off Key West.
John-Topp Ridley³ (3), third son of Vincent2 (1), was born in Smith
County, Tenn., June 22, 1806; married Lovinia Klyce, Jan. 24, 1826, and
had issue nine children, of whom hereafter. He received a fair English
education; apprenticed himself to learn the trade of wagon- and coach-
builder, and acquired a handsome fortune in that business. Was a farm-
overseer in Alabama a year. Carried on business at Columbia four years;
