Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-05-21
From the St. iouls Democrat
Family Record GIesed-'Ehree
cc.ernfinns EgiOtlcti Ont On Earth

family, beloved ana IGNORED IN o.
Louis To all of our older citIzens,
Joseph Ridgway, of the copartner-
ships, successiveiy, of ErskiDe L Rldg-
way, and of Erskine, Gore & Ridgway,
was well known. In their day those
trims were an1oi G the largest and most
prominent I'D this city. OF their mem
bers, Mr.. Greene Erskine alone sur
wives.
After these firms were dissolved Mr..
Ridgway devoted himself solely TO the
care OF his private estate, residing Ill
family mansion built by himself, OF
the northeast corner of Seventh and
Walnut stree, which he sold to Gen
eral Blair about 1856, at which time
he removed to the vicinity OF Boston
for the education of his two daughters
his only children. ADout 1868 he
leased the well-known residence OF
Horatio Greenough, the celebrated
sculptor, at Cam bEid &c, IN which, sur
rounded by it's wealth of art, he re-
NAMED until his daughters had flush
ed their studies at the school founded
by Professor Agassiz. At that time
tie daughters of several st. Louis cit
liens were also pupils at the same
school. Those school days having
ended, Mr. Ridgway, after a European
tour with his family, returned with
them to St. Louis about 1860, and
purchased a residence on Lucas
Place. Among tbs yolng ladies then
just entering society none were more
lovely aud attractive than Misses Liz
zie and Clara Kldgway-the compan-
ions in that brilliant circle of many
who are now young wives and moth
ers, residents here and in Eastern
cities 1t was here. about 1861, that
Miss Lizzie became the wife OF Chas.
w. Walter, a merchant of New York,
but previously a partner in the firm Of
Thomas H. Larkin & Co., OF ST.
Louis. That marriage, with the con-
sequent residence Of the married pair
in New York, induced the 1e-
moval of the Ridgway family to
that city about the year 1867, where,
to be with his family, Mr.. Ridgw ay
purchased a residence on Folty third
street, anticipating that at last Lls
wanderinge had ceased.
About the year lo69-'69, his young
er daughters health required, nIder
the advice oil some eminent physl-
clans, her instant removal to South
eru France. Leaving the married
daughter Lizzie) and her two chill
dren III New York, Mr.. and Mrs.
hideway hurried with the younger
daughter (CIaru) through ParIs, con
oultlng there with DR.. Pope, to the
nsignborhOod of Nice.
The day after their arrival their
daughter died. The sorrowiug parents
hastened home al once, with the dead
body, to leuru for the first time, OIL
reaching New York, that their eide,
daughter, with her children and hus
baud, had been during the winter ana
was still at Montmorency, S. c., as
the last hope, under medical direction
o. saving her waning life.
Instantly the ia her and mother
i joined her and the grand children. Ii
the latter par: OF April Mr.. Il dgway
telegraphed to friend in St. Louis o1
the improved health of the invalid
daughter, and of his Intention to re
turn early in May with tine remaining
family via st. Louis to New York, t,t.C
requested the needed Recommendations
The succeeding day brought teie
gram from Mr.. Walter that Mr.. KIdg
way had suddenly died the previous
night, leaving MS wife, Invalid daugh
ter and little grand-chl ldrcn IN SouIt
Carolina, and that the Survivors won c
proceed directly to New York. A few
weeks later another di-patch sum
mored St Louis friends to New Iorl
IT. witness the departure for the Iyro
lean alps OF the surviving daughter.
During that summe: repeatt d teie
grains gave encouraging accounts o.
restored health, until at last came tie
sad message that she he'd died, with
out premOnltion. on the margin OF {
lovely lake III Northern Italy. Tie
afflicted husband, grandmother aut
grand children returned home, be ring
the remains of her for whom this las
European tour had been ventured.
Thus, at length, through e4traor.
binary suffering and affection, the sac
remains of the family, the grand
muthcr and two little grand children
with the discOnsOlate son in-law, reach
ed New YORK
a few weeks ago voyage of love
aud devotion was planned. The grand
mother could not be content until she
had again visited the sad scenes il
, Europe where her daughters haa died
Full of this thought, which she freely
communicated 10 her friends here, shc
took passage on the Inflated Scniliel
with her niece, sOn-in- law, ganGchiId
rem and servant Tan enanclpateC
slave of olden time.) The voyage WA.
one of devotion to the memory of hel
departed daughters. Her thought.
Were solely of those in the spirit land
| and Of the two grandchildren to whom
she SO fondly chung.
Thus, on this last and sacred mir
sion, the aged grand t't..r, with these
two lift 10 or.eS aud their father, start
"a on their fatal voyage.
The sad news indicates that she anC
those dearest to her have sooner thar
she expected met those loved ones
for reunion with whom she pineG
daily, yet with an ever agonized feal
that she would go alone, leaving the
dear little ones to follow in an indefi
mite thereafter. Her hottest wish is
tultilled--she and those little ones
have gone together; all Of the three
generations left a united family al
last.
Within five years there have thus
disappeared three generations of thai
one family.
All that ample fortune and human
skill could accomplish, and all thai
devoted affection could achieve were
IN vain, for deisplte them all this
family record was closed when the
Schl Ter went down into the ocean
depth with her precious freight OF
human life and love.
1t is seldom that thus, within so few
years, an entire family, favored by
fortune. passes away leaving SO many
startled and sorrowing friends to Ia
ment their melancholy fate.
Marriage OF Raphael Semsnes,
Daughter in Mobile.
A letter from Mobile, Ala, 9th inst,
to the Memphis Appeal says The
nuptiais of MIR. G. B. Bryan. of this
city, were celebrated here to-day at
The residence Of the brides fatner.