660
RIDLEYS OF WAYNE, MAINE.
Ridley settled in Jay, Franklin County, many years ago, and has been a
leading, public-spirited man, filling many positions of responsibility,
always to the satisfaction of his townsmen, fully sustaining the confidence
reposed in him, and only declined to act in the capacity of a public ser-
vant, when advanced years and infirmities made it inconvenient for him to
discharge the obligations of office with that care and faithfulness which had
always characterized his administrative actions. Although he has retired
from public life, and to the comparative seclusion of a farm, remote from
popular society influences, he still uses the choicest language in conversa-
tion, and maintains the graceful carriage, address, suavity, and manners
of a gentleman of the old school. He is communicative, argumentative,
and positive, holding his principles with a peculiar tenacity of grasp; is
stable-minded, impulsive, high-tempered, a keen observer of human na-
ture discriminating in investigation, and cool in judgment. His word is
taken as authority by those best acquainted with him. His home is
among the mountains, surrounded by heavy woods; cool brooks and
springs babble and send forth the sweetest water near his dwelling, and
the specimens of landscape viewed from his door, composed of mountains,
woodlands, rocky craigs, vales, green fields, and glimpses of the shining
Androscoggin, are picturesque and pleasing to every lover of nature.
Mr. Ridley is now in the winter of his days and past hard labor, but he
is kindly cared for in the family of his dutiful son; pretty grandchildren
climb upon his knee and mingle their sunny curls with the patriarch's
silvery beard. He retains his faculties well, and spends nearly all his time,
especially in winter, over his books and newspapers. In summer he culti-
vates a nice garden and takes pride in its productions. In personal ap-
pearance he resembles the old Ridlon stock, and that of the family of
Field, from which he is descended maternally. He stands about the me-
dium height, has broad shoulders, and a compact, well-knit body. His
head is round, high-crowned, and intellectual, his hair (originally jet-
black) almost snow-white and worn long, beard heavy, long and nearly
white, falling like waves of water over his breast. His eyes are black
and piercing, brows long, features regular and of the Norman type, and
his facial expression calm, serious, and determined. His wife died in 1882.
Dea. Daniel Ridley (7), third son of Daniel (3), was born in Saco,
Me., Sept. 27, 1802; married Sally Winter, and settled in the town of
Wayne, whither he had gone with his parents in 1814. His father failed
to meet the payments on his land purchased of Stephen Boothby, and
promised him one-half of the lot if he would pay what was then due;
consequently he engaged for a lumber company, entered the logging
swamp, and worked hard nearly a year, but lost all his pay by the failure
of his employers. He then commenced work for Mr. Boothby, and con-
*In a communication addressed to the author in 1872, Jonathan Ridley says:
"The Ridlon family, according to my best knowledge of them, are a moral, intel-
ligent, and hospitable people; and if they have any fame, it has been purely adven-
titious, for they have never sought it. Thus it was with our common progenitor:
he took his life in his hands through a sturdy will and purpose to be free, to be a
man. And if our kindred have not won distinctions, it was owing to their retiring
disposition more than their incapability. No man can question the courage of a
Ridlon when duty has called them to face danger; so we find them upon the battle-
fields of the Revolution, and in the army in defence of their country in every war
since. But perhaps I have said enough about the male persuasion; though I ven-
erate them, it is the women of our family who have my adoration. I have known
many of them, who were too pure for sin to have any place in their hearts."
