Matthew Patterson Rippey

LOUDEN, MCKIBBAN, RIPPEY

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/12/2005 at 13:18:14

For many years Dr. Matthew Patterson Rippey lived in .Lincoln township and was active in the practice of medicine but he is now retired and makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. James McKibban. He was born in New Jersey on the 15th of November, 1833, and is a brother of J. C. Rippey, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He passed his boyhood and youth in his native state and attended school, both public and private, there and in Delaware. His excellent general education proved of value as a foundation for his professional study in the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia. After completing his medical course he joined his parents, who had previously removed to Keithsburg, Illinois. He practiced in that place for some time and then went to Missouri, conducting a drug store at Springfield.

In 1874 he arrived in Madison county and found employment in a drug store in Winterset, to the management of which he devoted his time until he located upon his mother's farm in Lincoln township. He continued to reside there and to practice his profession until 1894, when he took up his residence with his daughter in Lincoln township. He suffered a stroke of paralysis a number of years ago and is quite feeble but still prescribes for some of his neighbors. He won the confidence of his colleagues as well as that of the general public and during his active years had a large and profitable practice.

Dr. Rippey was married in Keithsburg, Illinois, to Miss Isabelle Loudon, who was born in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, December 13, 1828. Her father, James Loudon, was also a native of Pennsylvania but her grandfather, Archibald Loudon, was born in Scotland. He emigrated to the United States and fought in the Revolutionary war. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Maloney, died when Mrs. Rippey was but four years of age. The latter, one of the oldest residents of the county, is exactly fifteen days older than "Uncle Billy" Hartsook, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, and they have been neighbors for forty years.

Dr. and Mrs. Rippey became parents of six children, three of whom lived to maturity namely: Loudon Rippey, the deputy auditor of Audubon county, Iowa; Mrs. McKibban; and Dr. John H., of Kingsley, Iowa, who died in 1906.

Dr. Rippey gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. During the forty-one years that he has resided in this county he has made many warm personal friends and he is rich not only in years but in the honor and esteem of his fellow citizens.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman