RIDLEYS OF OXFORD, NORTH CAROLINA.
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legal profession, and at an early period located at McMinnville, Tenn.,
where he continued the practice of his profession until the voice of his
adopted State called him to preside as chancellor over one of the most
important divisions; and he continued on the bench from his first election,
in 1840, down to the second year of the Southern war; a period of more
than twenty years. His commission as chancellor was from Gov. James
K. Polk. He also served with distinction in the legislature of the State,
and I have before me a letter to him from President Andrew Johnson, in
which he refers to the acquaintance formed between them in the State
Assembly. As a lawyer he was courteous, manly, and respectful to the
members of the bar with whom he practised. He was a genial, social
companion; warm-hearted and true in friendship. He possessed courage
coupled with forebearance; independence with defference, and always
held his opinion fast. He professed religion and united with the Cumber-
land Presbyterian Church in the autumn of 1843, in which capacity he
lived a highly respected and active member; he was a ruling elder, and
was frequently a lay representative from his presbytery in the general
assembly of the church. Chancellor Ridley died Aug. 11, 1869. In
personal appearance he was noble and commanding; born of robust stock
he had a fine physique; was six feet in height, and weighed over two
hundred pounds. His death was recognized and his character eulogized
in the courts, and high tributes pronounced by distinguished contem-
poraries. In a sermon preached by his pastor at his funeral I find many
beautiful expressions relative to the high esteem in which he was held in
the several prominent capacities of his life. As a citizen he was said to
possess a character "as high as any in the city, State, or land; none were
possessed of sounder principles, purer motives, loftier patriotism, or more
unselfish public-spirit. Few could claim a broader range of intelli-
gence; none were endowed with more indomitable energy. As a states-
man few men had studied more carefully and analytically the constitution
and laws of the State and of the United States than he; and having no
small experience in legislation, and having had the society of the greatest
and best men in the land, he was not only learned but eminently practical
and useful. As a Christian his practical piety, though not as active and
aggressive as some, was, nevertheless, a living commentary on, and recom-
mendation of, the Christian religion. He did not, like a comet, dash and
blaze periodically, and then retire to be seen no more during long, dark
intervals, but shone as steadily and truthfully as the polar star, and as
modestly as that unpretending light. His religion bore the tests incidental
to his diversified life; in the law, in politics, in peace, and in war, among
friends or foes, with the serious or gay, in contact with Christians or men
of the world, always and everywhere he maintained his integrity as a
Christian." He was a noble and devoted husband; a kind, faithful, and
exemplary father. Before the Rebellion Judge Ridley was considered a
very wealthy man. He owned more than a hundred slaves, and after
their emancipation by the President of the United States, these all took
the names of their former master. The following beautiful description
of Judge Ridley's home was written by his daughter and published in the
Murfreesborough Monitor in 1867:-
"Fairmont' is two or three miles north of a direct line from Nashville to Mur-
freesborough, twenty miles from the former and twelve miles from the latter, the farm
lying on each side of Stones River, which cuts the Milton and Nashville turnpike
at an acute angle from south to north about half a mile to the east of the homestead.
