RIDLONS OF HOLLIS, MAINE.
633
issue four children, of whom hereafter. He was carried from Saco in his
father's arms when but six weeks old, and passed his early days in a new
clearing. He worked on his father's farm till grown to manhood, and
then, having purchased land of his father, he built him a house on the
hill about a half mile from the Saco River; into this house he moved with
his young wife the day after their marriage, and made it his home all his
days, having slept out of it but two nights for about seventy years. Mr.
Ridlon was of nervous, impulsive temperament, and possessed a will as
inflexible as iron. In all his purposes and views he was positive, de-
termined, and persistent; never would yield to an obstacle, but with his
wonderful courage and resolution encountered and surmounted every-
thing that stood in the way of the execution of his plans. His composi-
tion seemed destitute of the element of fear. In his prejudices and
preferences he was strong and unchangeable; he was raised to stormy
passion with small provocation, and would as soon become calm and gentle
as a summer morning. His words were few and full of meaning; when
he had expressed an opinion, or gave his answer, none who knew the man
ever made an attempt to change his mind. He was frank and outspoken,
and his word was regarded as good as law; those who knew him reposed
implicit confidence in his promises. Quick to resent an insult, he would
as readily forgive when a proper confession or acknowledgment was made.
He was possessed of quick perception and sound judgment; his advice was
sought by many. No man knew better how to attend to his own business.
He was naturally retiring and reserved in his habits, and strangers judged
him cold and reticent; when he became better acquainted he was social,
genial, and conversational. He embraced religion late in life, and be-
came a devoted Christian; he maintained a consistent walk, and was
literally a man of prayer. He was acknowledged by all who knew him
to be a good man; it is not known that he had an enemy in the world.
In his business management he was very careful, and demanded a clear
statement and definite understanding of all with whom he had dealing.
His papers, now in my possession, attest the extreme care with which he
kept his accounts, and his promptitude in making his payments for land,
cattle, and help. Whatever he undertook was done with alacrity; noth-
ing was allowed to drag on his hands. His motto was "one thing at a
time." He had been employed in running many of the town lines, and
had placed so many landmarks that he was looked to as the best authority
in the establishment of boundaries. His experience in working lumber
made him a valuable attendant for parties who went to view trees, and
he was frequently called upon to accompany timber-buyers on their explor-
ing tours, and when his judgment was followed the purchaser never
regretted it. He was a good neighbor, cheerfully adapting his circum-
stances to the comfort and interest of others, though at a sacrifice of time
wife of her cousin, a Mr. Boston. Joshua Decker, 2d, settled in La Grange, Me.,
and became the father of a most remarkable family of children, noted for their
great size and gigantic physical powers. The son Samuel early settled in the Brit-
ish Provinces, and but little is known of his posterity. One of the other three
settled at Boothbay, Me., and left descendants there. The other descendants of
this branch are in Standish, Casco, and Hollis, Me., and three children of Joseph,
the Massachusetts Prophet," Daniel, Joseph, and Rachel (whose maternal grand-
mother, Rachel Field, was a daughter of Matthias Redlon, 1st), are now living, ad-
vanced in years. Other branches descended from John Decker, the first ancestor,
are living in eastern Maine, among them, Dr. Decker of Fort Fairfield, a very
erudite and able man. In the West many spell the name Decher.
