Home < 1907 Bios

Greene County IAGenWeb

1907 Past and Present Biographies

Melvin Ridenour

Click image to enlarge

Melvin Ridenour, deceased, was a worthy and respected resident of Paton township, where for many years he lived and labored as an enterprising agriculturist, owning one hundred and sixty acres of good land on section 18. He was one of the world’s workers and his busy life enabled him to acquire the handsome competence that he left to his family. He was born in Cedar county, Iowa, on the 14th of April, 1852, and pursued his education in the common schools. He chose farming as his life occupation and started out upon an independent business career as a renter, thus cultivating land in Cedar county until 1880. In that year he removed to Greene county and bought eighty acres a mile and a half south of Paton. This was an improved farm and the purchase was made possible by reason of the capital which he had saved from his earnings in earlier years. The farm which he purchased had already been improved to a considerable extent, but he took up the task of its further development, carrying on the work of the fields in practical and able manner. He was systematic in what he did and from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn be carefully conducted his work with the result that he garnered rich harvests and found a ready sale on the market for his products.

In 1874 Mr. Ridenour was married to Miss Elizabeth Barkley, who was born in Cedar county and is a daughter of John and Mary Barkley, now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ridenour were born seven children who are yet living and they also lost two. Those who still survive are: May, the wife of Harry Shiley, a resident of Minnesota; Harry, who married Stella Ladd and is living in Gowrie, Iowa; Bertha, the.wife of Victor Pratt, a resident of Oklahoma; Blanche, the wife of William Burgoon, whose home is in Wisconsin; Fannie, Gayle and Hazel, who are yet with their mother.

Mr. Ridenour was a republican in politics and kept well informed concerning the political condition of the country and the issues before the people, yet he never sought nor desired public oflice. Fraternally he was connected with the Modern Woodmen camp at Paton, and he was an earnest Christian gentleman, holding membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he served at one time as trustee. He was neglectful of none of the duties of citizenship and realized and fully met his obligations to his fellowmen. In business he was honorable and trustworthy and he thus gained the confidence and good will of all with whom he was associated. His best traits of character, however, were reserved for his own fireside and to his family he was a devoted husband and father. He died June 16, 1904. Mrs. Ridenour still resides on the home farm but rents the land. During her husband’s lifetime he remodeled the dwelling, built a new barn and otherwise improved the property and thus left a good farm to his family.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer