HARRY R. RIPLEY

Harry R. Ripley, who for twenty years has been connected with the newspapers in Tipton and for nine years closely associated as half-owner and manager of the Advertiser, one of the leading papers of the county, was born in this city, April 28, 1870. He is a son of James H. and Lydia R. (Johnston) Ripley, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume. At the usual age he entered the public schools, therein pursuing his studies to the age of fourteen years, when he began working on a farm, devoting his summer months to the labors of the fields and meadows, while in the winter seasons he continued to attend school.

In 1889, however, he permanently put aside his text-books and on the 1st of September entered the office of the Advertiser as “devil”. He was with that paper for a year and a half and from 1891 until 1894 with the Tipton Conservative. He then returned to the Advertiser, with which he was connected until 1900, when he went to Fullerton, Nebraska, with Edwin J. Wolf, another employe in the Advertiser office, and purchased the Fullerton News. The following year Mr. Ripley sold his interest to his partner and returned to Tipton, where he purchased the Cedar County Republican, of which he took charge on the 2d of June, 1901. He changed the paper to a semi-weekly, the first to be published in the county, and conducted it until the 1st of October, 1901, when it was consolidated with the Advertiser, with which he has since been identified as half-owner, publisher and manager. Thus he is now in close connection with the paper on which he received his initial experience and training. Entering a field of labor which he found entirely congenial, he has remained steadfastly therein and has progressed with the advancement of the times, whereby the methods of newspaper publication have been largelyrevolutionized. The Advertiser attracts many readers by reason of its entertaining discussion of public questions and also as a distributer of news of general interest, and, moreover, the paper is accorded an extensive advertising patronage.

On the 4th of June, 1902, Mr. Ripley was united in marriage to Miss Edith Casad, who was born in Tipton, Iowa, April 21, 1872, and is a daughter of John W. and Ida L. (Gilbert) Casad. Her father is now deceased but her mother is still living in Tipton. They are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Ripley is a member of Tipton Chapter, O. E. S.

Mr. Ripley gives unfaltering political allegiance to the republican party and in 1805 was appointed city clerk to fill a vacancy. He was then reelected to the office, which he continued to fill until 1900, when he resigned, retiring from the office as he had entered it, with the confidence and goodwill of all concerned. He holds membership in Cedar Lodge, No. 11, A.F. &A.M.; Siloam Chapter, No. 19, R. A. M.; and Manitou Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O.F. He served seven years as a member of the local militia company, holding the position of orderly sergeant when he was mustered out. He deserves the somewhat hackneyed but altogether expressive title of a self-made man for from the age of fourteen years he has been dependent entirely upon his own efforts, achieving success through the recognition and careful utilization of opportunity.