Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-02-05
The Late Joseph Ridgwsy.

onera taue anu Tor several Year, carried on business
as master builder In the city iof New York. In 1911
he became involved and failed He gave up everything
10 his crediOrs all Of whom Satisfied Of his nteg
iiy and all but were willing to release him. That
pursued him with all the unrelenting rgor which the
law at that time allowed to obtain some advantage over
the others, by compelling Mr.. RIDowAy's hiends to
make advances for him. About a year afterwards, he
rescued from the grasp Of that creditor without CIV
Ing him any advantage whateveran removed to Auro'
ra near Cayuga Lake.
At Aurora he carried business as builder, engaged
10 the manufacture OF tanning Mills and Of wire screens
for Touring mills The latter he peddled during the
winter months, in the States OF Ohio and Indiana At
Aurora he became acquainted with Jethro Wood, and
aided him In the construction Of tho celebrated Woods
Patent Plow.'' n Hh EHfs
j In 1922 he moved westl and settled In Columbus,
where he built small foundry, in which the machinery
driven by single horse and most OF the work was
performed by himself In this small foundry he COM
menced the manufacture of the ''Wood Plow." His
business though small at first, prosperous, and as
his means increased, he extended his foundry. In o
few years he put up steam engine, the hrston which
was erected In Columbus. His business now increased
very rapidly, andhe supplied large portion of central
Ohio with his plows. The country was then compara-
low and money was scarce. Mr.. RIDGwAY appreciated
the condition OF the country and trusted large portion
of those who purchased ffrom him, until they were
able to pay him from the produce OF their lands The
confidence he thus reposed in the early settlers, was
rarely abused and as soon they were able bis debtors
discharged their liabilities with feelings Of unusual graf
itude.
When the Ohio canal was located It became necessary
to apprase the value Of the property appropriated by the
State and the damages arising from its construction
The office of appraiser was Of much importance and
responsibility The faithful discharge Of its duties re-
aured integrity, sound Judgment, and irmness which
could not be affected by private appeals, or the pressure
Of neIghboorhood feeling and excitement. The Canal
selected Mr.. RIDowAYas opeof the Board
OF Appraisers That he possessed the requisite qualih
cations In an eminent degree Is established by the act
that in all instances the Board Of which he was member
protected the State against imposition on the one hand
and secured to the owners of land along the ue their
substantial rights on the other
In 1928 andls30 he was elected member OF the Legs
lature by the electors Of franklin county, and faithfully
represented them in that body.
In 1899 he associated with him In his business, his
nephew JosEPu RiDowAY jr., and under their joint
care the foundry was continued In openon, down to
1885, when The cholera first visited this country. In
that year prevailed in this city to alarming extent
Many Of our inhabitants ned Very little business was
done. Few were seen in the streets. Mr. RiDewA'
closed his foundry and devoted himself exclusively to
the care Of the sick The aborers the poor and the
needy received his first attention. lie watched by them
supplied their wants and procured nurses and medicines
when they were needed. When the disease was at its
height and most fatal and he had been all night by the
side Of an old and valued end laid its grasp upon
him. before he could reach his home It assumed for
mdable type. His friends were alarmed, and all who
were about him were excited and apprehensve of the
suit He alone was cool and seifposssssed He gave
specific directions to every thing he wished done,
he prescribed and administered his own medicine, and
calmly awaited the issue. His selpossesson and will,
under Providence, saved him, As soon as he was re-
eyed he commenced again his visits Of kindness to 9TH
ers and Of danger to himself and continued them until
the dease abated aud men resumed their ordinary avo
cations. 1...r.
In 1886 he was nominated for Congress by the polt
cal party to which he belonged. There Eas decided
political majority against him in the District Party
feeling was very strong, and The election warm y
contested But no party drill discipline could
troll large POI ton Of his political opponents lie had
dealt with most Of the farmers appreciated their early
struggles, and conHded In them when confidence wal
more than money to them. They gave to his intelec
tual and moral worth the ascendency party ties
He elected by large majority. In 1888 and 1910 h
was reelected in the same District. As member
Congress he was quiet and unobtrusve. His discrimn
ating Judgment and remarkable integrity however, gave
him than ordinary influence With his fellow mem
bers.
In 1876 Mr.. RIDowAy was appointed one Of the Di
recto Of the Ohio Penitentiary. During his term, 10
the year $780, the cholera visited again, and
usually fatal in that institution The number Of new
cases and the mortality increased rapidly, that the
prisoners regarded themselves as doomed to certain
DEATH The panic so great that they yielded at the
first approach OF the disease and died when little con.
fdence would have enabled them to recover AZ he had
done years before with his fellow citizens in the city,
Mr.. RDowAy now devoted himsefto the care 1.-THE
victs. Through his fundamentally mainly the prison
were removed from the cells and allowed the free
dom Of the Shops the disapline was relaxed, and diff
ferent regimen adopted, in order to quiet their appre
tensions and inspire them with hope Of recovery II
they were attacked. The experiment succeeded de.
gree Of confidence and ehseuuess was soon Observed
and the disease began to abate. Mr.. RiDowAY was
again. consequence Of his exposure prOtraed by this
epidemic and by similar to the one previously
adopted under like circumstances, again restored to
health. f-H
The foundry was carried on by Mr.. RIDowAY and his
nephew until the death OF the latter in 1850 at which
time 1t was Of the largest establishments of the kind
in the west. After the death Of his nephew, he retired
as npidly poibefrom active business, and devoted
his time to closing up his affairs. " aSaA@
When he left the City OF New York and ever after
wards, Mr. RIpowAy cherished the hope that he would
one day be able II dischae his liabilities, contracted
prior to that time In 1857 the long looked for period
arrived and he returned to New.York in that year. to
search for and pay of his old creditors Some we're lv-
were dead and some had removed from the city,
Some were poor and some rich. After search Of
two months in the city and State Of New York, and in
New England, he found all who living, and the rep
resentatives Of those who dead He doubled the
original Indebtedness and paid each one. He thus ex
pended ten thouiand dollars. The unrtlentino creli-
tor, to soho 10 stood IN the relation of surety only,
and soho had confined him IN dtotos's prison for
thirteen months qoas dead; bat his Representatives.
aoers searched for, found and paid. Thrtyave years
had elapsed-he liabilities were all barred by the lapse
OF time and most q them had been forgotten by the cred
itors. This search was made, and this sum Of money
expended, on moral obligation.
When he went East on his errand, no one knew Of his
purpose but his confidential clerk He took pains to
concealit. His inquiries in New York lcadto dselo
sure Of some OF the facts which published in city
paper contrary to his intention aud desire. ~
The annals Of the human family, furnish few such ex.
amples OF integrity and honor.
Mr.. RtpowAYs moral character was without spotor
blemish. He took great pleasure in aiding his friends
and connections and relieving the poor No worthy ap
pcant for charity ever turned away by him unre