JAMES H. RIPLEY

No history of Tipton would be complete without extended mention of James H. Ripley, who for fifty-six years has here made his home. He has been an interested witness of the growth and development of this part of the state and as far as possible has taken active part in the work of its progress and improvement. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1831, his parents being Henry and Mary Ripley, natives of Ireland. The former was born April 5, 1789. They were married in Philadelphia on the 13th of April, 1817, and Mrs. Ripley died in that city, March 17, 1833, at the age of thirty-seven years. A year later Henry Ripley wedded Miss Margaret Swaggart, who died in Hardin County, Iowa. They came to this state in 1854 and in the fall of the same year removed to Hardin county, where Henry Ripley lived on a farm instead of following his trades of a carpenter and millwright, until called to his final rest April 10, 1872.

He served his country in the war of 1812 under two enlistments and afterward received two land warrants for his services, one for each enlistment. These he located in Hardin county, Iowa. The children of his first marriage were: Susan H., who died at the age of one year; Sarah R., who became the wife of David Swaggart and died in Hamilton county, Iowa at the age of eighty-six years; John H., who followed carpentering and died in Eldora, Iowa, in 1908; Susan H., who was only a year old at the time of her death; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Samuel Fraser and died in Ohio; and James H., of this review. The children of the second marriage were: Jacob, who was killed in the Civil war October 4, 1862, when twenty-seven years of age, losing his life at the battle of Corinth; Elias P., of Hamilton county, Iowa; Andrew J., now of California, who enlisted from Hardin county and was wounded at the battle of Red river and left on the field for dead, while twice he fell into the hands of the enemy; Louis L., who was taken ill at Fort Donelson while serving in the Civil war and suffered a relapse at St. Louis, which caused his death; and Mary J., who is living in Eldora, Iowa.

James H. Ripley was nine years of age when his parents removed to Virginia, now West Virginia, settling in the vicinity of Charleston. In 1840 a removal was made to Belmont county, Ohio, where the family home was maintained until 1854, when they came to Tipton, Iowa, where James H. Ripley has resided continuously since. When sixteen years of age he began working at the carpenter’s trade with his father, who was a carpenter and millwright, and throughout the entire period of his manhood he has continued in active connection with building pursuits. He worked with his father for one year but not liking the work of a millwright he went to St. Clairsville, Ohio, where he spent four years as a joiner and stairbuilder’s apprentice, receiving only his board and clothing in compensation for his services during that time. Since 1854 he has spent most of his time in and around Tipton, although for four years he was at Sioux City, employed in a planing mill, and spent a year and a half in Missouri and Nebraska, where he worked at his trade.

During the Civil war Mr. Ripley enlisted on the 29th of September, 1864, as a member of Company C, Second IowaVolunteer Infantry, under Captain W. G. J. Piepgras. He marched with Sherman to the sea, participated in the Carolina campaign and proceeded northward to Washington, where he was present at the time of the grand review. He did not take part therein, however, for he was detailed to look after baggage. At the close of the war he was mustered out on the 1st of June, 1865, and with a creditable military record returned to his home.

On the 10th of November, 1861, Mr. Ripley was married to Miss Lydia Rebecca Johnston, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1840, and came to Iowa in 1851 with her mother and family. Four children were born of this marriage: John Charles, who was born October 31, 1862, and died December 22, 1884; William Sherman, who was born July 22, 1864, and is living in Omaha, Nebraska; Harry Raymond, represented elsewhere in this volume; and James Earl, who was born December 7, 1872, and died December 12, 1884.

In his political views Mr. Ripley has always been a stalwart republican since the organization of the party and served for one term in the city council at Tipton, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. His fraternal relations are with William Beaver Post, No. 110, G. A. R., and Manitou Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O. F., which he joined June 26, 1856, being now its oldest member. He was also a charter member of Tipton encampment. He is widely known because of his active connection with building operations, although at the present time he is living practically retired, being now in the eightieth year of his age.