626
RIDLONS OF SACO, MAINE.
While
Dea. Daniel Ridlon¹ (3), eldest son of Matthias (2), was born in
Saco, Me., April 4, 1773; married for his first wife a Miss Williams, who
was a daughter of his father's second wife; and secondly, Mary McKen-
ney, of Saco, June 2, 1822. Mr. Ridlon settled on land adjoining his
father's farm in Saco, near where Lewis McKenney now lives.
living here, and at work in his field, he heard the voice of a minister who
was preaching at Mr. McKenney's house, and was so deeply convicted for
his sins that he left his work, went to the meeting, was soundly converted,
and became a devoted Christian; he united with the primitive Freewill
Baptists and was chosen a deacon. Mr. Ridlon sold his farm in Saco, and
removed to Wayne with his brothers, subsequent to 1800, and spent the
remainder of his days there. He changed his name to Ridley after mov-
ing to the Kennebec Valley. He died in Wayne, and was buried near
his residence; his second wife died at the home of Lewis McKenney, in
Saco, in 1872, very aged; she was blind several years. Mr. Ridlon was
above medium height, broad-shouldered, and compactly built; his hair was
black, eyes gray, brows long and thick, features coarse, and of the old
Ridlon mould. He was of passionate temperament, and quick to resent
an insult, but generally calm and quiet in his habits. All of his relatives
have said "Uncle Daniel was a good man." He had issue ten children,
all by his first wife, of whom hereafter.
Samuel Ridlon (1), second son of Matthias (2), was born in Saco,
Me., Aug. 22, 1774, and was baptized by Rev. Paul Coffin in Buxton, July
24, 1775; the same day with his mother. The record of his birth on the
leaf of an old family Bible is "1781." I find no mention of another son
of this name, and think the first date the correct one. He married Aug.
23, 1804, to Polly, eldest daughter of Thomas and Martha (Merrill) Rid-
lon, his cousin, of Phillipsburgh (now Hollis). He lived some years in
Hollis, but about the year 1808 removed to Wayne, and settled near his
father and brothers; he lived in Wayne about ten years and then returned
to Hollis. Mr. Ridlon built him a house in Hollis on the exact spot
where that of Thomas C. Sawyer now stands, on the road to Bonnie
Eagle Village, from the materials taken from the house formerly owned
by his uncle, Jacob Redlon, who lived on the farm since known as the
"Wells Farm," on Buxton side of Saco River. While living in this
house he was coming from Bonnie Eagle Village in the evening, and fall-
ing down the almost perpendicular ledge that borders on the river, was
drowned. His hat was found upon the bank, but his body was not recov-
ered till the following spring, when it was found some six miles below
where he was drowned, in the Bar Mills boom; his clothes were gone, but
he was identified by a gingham handkerchief still around his neck. There
is but little doubt that Mr. Ridlon's death was caused by rum, as a jug
containing that damning liquid was found with his hat upon the brink of
the river, where he had probably sat down to rest and drink. Mr. Ridlon
lived a while in a part of the house of his father-in-law, in Hollis, and at
a subsequent date in a house between the Stephen Higgins place and the
house he afterwards built on the knoll above. He was a carpenter and
builder, and many old houses now standing in town bear the marks of
"Uncle Sam's" tools upon their frames. He was something of a cooper
and "shingle-weaver," and had an iron stamp made with which to brand
his name on his wooden wares; this stamp bore the name "S. Ridlon,"
and I have many times burned his name with it when a boy. Mr. Ridlon
was tall, but not very broad; he had dark nearly black hair, gray
-
