664
RIDLONS OF CLARENDON, VERMONT.
Rebecca Ridlon (3), sixth daughter of Samuel (1), was born in Hol-
lis, Me., in 1822, and died young, unmarried.
Betsey Ridlon' (6), eldest daughter of John (6), was born in Claren-
don, Vt., May 21, 1804, and was married, Oct. 29, 1822, to Alfred Colvin,
a farmer of Clarendon.
Jonathan-F. Ridlon" (5), eldest son of John (6), was born in Claren-
don, Vt., May 20, 1806; married Rosetta B., daughter of Benjamin and
Elizabeth Colvin, in November, 1830, and had issue five children, of whom
hereafter. Mr. Ridlon was a farmer in his native town. He was tall,
broad-shouldered, and had a gigantic frame, knit with powerful muscles.
His hair was black, and his beard heavy, long, and silvered with gray.
He was a real mountaineer and hunter, a man of unwavering courage and
fortitude, possessed of a vigor of constitution that could endure great
strain. He was nervous, impulsive, quick-tempered, eccentric, and as
firm as the granitic hills among which he lived. His eyes were light gray
and piercing, the expression of his face determined, and his general as-
pect formidable and aggressive. All the peculiar traits so conspicuous in
the old Ridlons seemed to be concentrated in this man.* The first sen-
tence spoken to me when introduced to him was, "Well, sir, I can han-
dle any Ridlon that was ever born "; at the same time he straightened
himself to his greatest height, shut his mouth firmly, and looked as de-
fiant as a Jehu. But with all his seeming coldness and sternness, he
had a very kind and tender heart. He died Feb. 2, 1875, and was buried
near his home. His portrait is in my collection.
Alma Ridlon (1), second daughter of John (6), was born in Claren-
don, Vt., in 1808, and died unmarried.
Thomas Ridlon5 (5), second son of John (6), was born in Clarendon,
Vt., March 20, 1810; married Hildee Baxter, in 1834, settled in his native
town, and cultivated a farm there. He married a second wife, whose
name does not appear. Children by both wives, of whom hereafter. Mr.
Ridlon sold his estate in Vermont, many years ago, and emigrated to
Minnesota, where he is supposed to be living at present, but nothing has
been heard from this family for a long time. Mr. Ridlon is said to be tall
and well formed; had black hair and beard, regular features, nervous
*To show the peculiar style of the man, I append the following story, told me by
Jonathan Ridley, of Vermont, as an apology, when I asked him to favor us with a
song. "When I was a boy my voice was the most wonderful that was ever known
in the State, and people came from far and near to hear me sing. I was so bash-
ful I could never do my best in company, but always knew there was something al-
most divine about my voice. Well, sir, one morning father sent me out to the
pasture for the horse, and as the air was clear and balmy, and no one near to hear
me, I thought I would do my best and bring my voice to the test; so, I climbed
upon the gate and commenced, and my singing so filled me with astonishment that
I became spell-bound and lost myself in the rapture of my own music.
How long
I sang I cannot tell, but when the spell was broken, behold! the birds of all kinds
had gathered around me by hundreds upon the gate, and were still descending from
the air in every direction; they seemed to be filled with wonder, and looked at me
in complete silence; this state of things filled me with fear, and I hastened on my
errand, wondering what it all meant. Well, sir, from that hour those birds have
never sung, nor have I." This was related with soberness and apparent good
faith; not a smile could be detected on his face, and when he was done he looked
me earnestly in the eye and asked, "And now do you blame me because I do not
sing?" Of course this was a story, but it was told as but few men could have
told it.
