708
RIDLONS OF HOLLIS, MAINE.
During these years Mr. Ridlon had devoted much time to this work,
and in writing for the press, and by overwork so taxed his brain that he
suffered a partial paralysis of the right side, which so impaired his mem-
ory and the right hand that he was compelled to turn away from study
and the use of his pen, and seek rest for his weary mind and body. After
consulting the best medical advisers with but little encouragement and no
permanent improvement, he resumed work at his trade for one year, and
was so far recovered that he settled as pastor of the Christian church at
Manchester, N. H., a city with a population of forty thousand, where he
has continued about three years. He has baptized over five hundred souls
during the past fourteen years, and gathered four new churches. Served
as secretary of the New England Christian Convention. Was a member
of a conference in western Maine about eight years, but declared his in-
dependence and left to escape a spirit of intolerance and coercion, and
has since been one of God's freemen, looking to no man or body of men
for his authority, but to Him who commissioned him to preach the gospel
to all the world.
Mr. Ridlon served during the war of the Rebellion in the Seventeenth
Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, and endured many hardships
from long marches and exposure. During his early years, possessing an
ardent love for the woods, and a spirit of adventure, he spent many weeks
each year with dog and gun, roaming along the rivers and lake shores of
northern Maine and New Hampshire, and in camp among the mountains,
hunting and trapping. He has always been a student of nature, and is
charmed by the beauties of shady woodland and flowery field; he sees the
wisdom and goodness of the Creator as clearly revealed in His handiwork
as displayed in the great, unwritten book, as in the inspired volume, and
draws much of the subject matter, woven into his sermons, from these
sources.
From early years a persistent reader, he has cherished a love for books,
and has now a rare collection, many of them purchased in Europe. He
has also many interesting, beautiful, and rare pictures and engravings.
Having an interest in antiquarian pursuits, he has spent considerable time
in researches for ancient documents, and has much valuable material of
an historical, biographical, and genealogical character stored away, which
may some day be found in print. He has been a correspondent for sev-
eral English and Scottish historical and genealogical publications, and has
contributed frequently to the historical magazines of this country. Being
a member of several historical and literary societies, he has formed the
acquaintance of, and corresponded with, many distinguished historians
and men of books, and his files of letters contain the autographs of men
that are of eminence in America and Europe.
Mr. Ridlon has written and published works entitled "The Early Set-
tlers of Harrison, Maine," and "Contributions to the Genealogy of the
Burbank Family," and has assisted in compiling several other genealogies
and town histories. He has devoted much attention to the science of her-
aldry, and has become sufficiently acquainted with the system to draw
coats-of-arms from the heraldic descriptions in abbreviation. During the
fourteen years in which he has applied himself to this book, he has grati-
fied his love for traveling and sight-seeing, by several tours through the
Western and Southern States; going there in search of genealogical in-
formation, and for the purpose of seeing his kindred, for whom he enter.
tains a profound esteem. He proposes making a tour through England,
