Almira Soper Ridley, 1849-1912

RIDLEY, SOPER

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/10/2009 at 06:48:05

THE PASSING OF A PIONEER
MRS. ALMIRA RIDLEY DIED WEDNESDAY
NIGHT, APRIL 3, AT 11 O'CLOCK

LIVED IN THIS CITY OVER FIFTY YEARS

Funeral Was Held From The Federated
Baptist Church Friday Afternoon
And Was Largely Attended

Almira Soper, daughter of Jacob and Celinda (Harvey), was born at Martell [Jones County], Iowa, April 5, 1849 and died April 3, 1912, at the age of 63 years. Her mother died when she was eight years old. She came to Estherville with her brother, Capt. E. B. Soper, by road wagon before there were any railroads to Estherville.

Estherville has been her home ever since. She was married to James Woodman Watson Ridley, Feb. 2, 1874. Together they lived and labored until her husband was taken away about twenty-five years ago. They first lived on the West Side and afterwards conducted the Emmet House.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ridley, Leroy J., Jesse and her twin brother, J. B., who died at the age of three months, and Esther, now Mrs. Lewis Cranston. The deceased is survived by two brothers, Capt. E. B. Soper of Emmetsburg, and F. S. Soper of Centerville, S. D. and one sister Mrs. Lillis Weaver of Lodi, Cal., one son, two daughters and several grandchildren and a large number of relatives. There is also one step-son, George I. Ridley, of San Francisco, Cal.

Mrs. Ridley was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, having descended from Timothy Soper, who served in the American Army throughout the Revolutionary War. He lived to the extreme age of 99 years, and saw the Mexican War before he passed away. The deceased was also a member of the North Star Chapter No. 200 of the Eastern Stars. She was a member of the Free Will Baptist Church. The first organization of that church took place at her home. She was one of the first members to unite with the church after its organization. She continued a faithful member of the church until her call came.

The funeral services took place on her birthday Friday, April 5th, from the Federated Baptist Church, conducted by the pastor and attended by a large number of relatives and friends. The Aid Society of the Federal Baptist Church and the Eastern Star attended in a body.

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett. Source: the Estherville Daily News, Estherville, Iowa April 10, 1912.