Robert P. Ridley, 1805-1887

RIDLEY

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/11/2009 at 18:31:37

Death of Robert P. Ridley
Robert P. [Purrington] Ridley departed this life Monday, April 18th, 1887
after an illness of one week.

In the death of Father Ridley one of the old land marks of the pioneer life of Emmet county and northwestern Iowa, has passed away. He with his family moved to what was then the wilds of this beautiful locality thirty years ago, and in all these years has been identified with its history and development.

He came of ancient and historic stock, as his family genealogy is traced back by authentic records for a thousand years.

The first settlement of his branch of the family in this country was made on Harpswell Island, Maine, on the coast between Portland and Bath, over two hundred years ago. Here Father Ridley was born, Jan. 31, 1805 and resided until a young man. Afterward living in Litchfield, Maine, he met with and was united in marriage with Miss Sophronia Watson, who has so faithfully fulfilled those sacred marriage vows pledged Feb'y 3, 1827, sixty years ago. They returned to the old homestead on the island where they resided until their removal to Iowa.

He with his wife were among the number that were originally organized as the Free Baptist church of Estherville, by Revs. Berry and Coats, some eighteen years ago and has been connected with it since that time, always loyal to the cause and steadfast as a professor of religion.

His rugged constitution and undismayed fortitude have been nobly manifest in the hardships of pioneer life, and he bravely met and cheerfully bore all the discomforts of such a life, and after a pilgrimage of 82 years -- many more that the three score and ten--his spirit went to God who gave it.

The funeral which was held in the baptist church Tuesday afternoon was largely attended, Rev. R. A. Coats of Spencer, an old time friend and pastor, officiating.

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett. Source: the Northern Vindicator, Estherville, Emmet County., Iowa, April 22, 1887.