New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-18

RENARKABLE MEMORY IN DEBToR-A CURIOUS
CAsE-In the year 1910, syoupg joiner doing business
on the corner of Pelham and Cherry Streets in this
city, became involved in his pecuniary affairs to
extent that rendered it necessary for him to ask the
indulgence of his creditors, and many Of them signed
release. In the course of the following year ISL
he obtained discharge from his debts under the State
Insovent Law, when the Hon. X. G. Van Wyck was
Recorder Shortly afterward this young Joiner left
the city for Cayuga in this State, where he obtained
employment for while, at one dollar per day. Here
he became acquainted with Jethro Wood, the inventor
Of the castron plows and for whom he then went to
work, made his patterns, and erected q small IRON
foundery using horse to drive his bellows. He then
manufactured and peddled the Wood plough for about
Eve years. at the expiration Of which period he re-
moved to Columbus, Chic, and established himself in
the plow and foundery business. which he has con-
tinued up to the present time.
During the past year he made quantity of cast
pgs for a railroad company, in payment for which he
received draft on firm in this city amounting to
nearly g. 600, when he resolved to carry into effect
long cherished wish to visit the Empire City seek out
all his old creditors, if living or some of their chill
dren For the past fortnight he has been in the city,
actively engaged in the endeavor to carry out his
intentions. He however, found but only Of his old
creditors living, Wis Mr.. Robert Edwards of No. 3S7
Hudson street. On calling at the residence of that
gentleman and inquiring of him if he recolected
young man by the name OF Joseph Ridgeway, JOINER
who, in 1910, occupied place in Cherry street. Mr.
Edwards, who is now about eighty years of age, re-
piled: 81 have some recollection of the boy; and
believe he owed me something when he left the city
but don't remember how much" Mr.. Mdgeway,
who is now seventy.four years old, then addressing
himself to Mr.. Edwards, said: II was that boy; and
I have now come to pay you double the amount OF
that debt to which you refer He then took from his
pocket and unroled list Of his old debts amounting
in the aggregate to about $4,000, varying in sum,
from SO 30 to $224 In liquidation Of the latter In
debtedness he handed over to living daughter of his
creditor the of 4S to the of another creditor
he paid $3.50 in discharge of debt of half that
amount On offering to iquidate the last amount MIR.
Ridgewsy was referred to an executor; whereupon he
replied, ~ want to see no executors am legally dis
charged from the debt; besides, your father released
me- and debt of AZ years standing must be out
lswed No, obey the law of conscience aud if any
of my creditors not living, pay to their children
the respective amounts of my Indebtedness" This
he has done with all whom he has been able to find;
but with the exception of Mr. Edwarcs, he has
not found single creditor or representative OF his
old creditors who had any knowledge OF MI e~a!
much less any claim against him; and in d'charging
these self-imposed Obligations he has not in single
instance taken an acknowledgement of the fact from
any one that he had paid the moneyto
We would further take occasion to observe that Mr.
Ridgeway has not been induced to take this honorable
step in consequence of having more of this worlds
goods than he knows what to do with, might be the
case with Others; or with view of establishing for
himself good name among business men. On the
contrary there is mortgage upon Mr.. Ridgeways
property to the amount Of so OOO while at his time of
life, and without family, he has no particular desire
or expectation of extending his business affairs.
Mr. Ridgeway represented the Columbus district,
Ohio, in Congress for six yearshe last two years of
Mr. Van Burens administration and the entire term of
the Harrison and Tyler administration. 1t would be
well for the country if it were always represented by
men of Mr. Rldgeway's stamp.