The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-04-04
THE RIDGELY FAMILY.
The Historian iof the AlIeghenies
Contributes Another Article.
To the Editor of the Rarnhlican

10 the Editor OF the Republican.
1t has been a considerable while
since anything has appeared in
your paper in reference to the old
families of Allegany and Garrett
counties. The subject, however,
has not been exhausted. There are
yet untouched other families whose
sketches, if properly given, would
interest many people. The Ridgely
family, on account of its high re-
spectabllity and prominence, natu-
rally presents itself to view.
Eli RidgleY was its founder, a
good old Marylander, born IN Fred
erick county. He married Eleno-
rah Hardman before leaving his
native county. She was very ami
able and quiet, and devout in
religion. Eli Ridgely was of
Scotch-Irish composition, and pos
sessed all the traits that usually
belong to a good citizen-honest,
industrious, enterprisirg, positive
and straightforward, with all very
generous and hospitable. There
was no home more so than the
Ridgley mansion. In early days 1t
was the resort for young people of
both sexes, where gaity was prom
inent feature.
Ridgely seated himself on "Shaw-
nee War" (that was the name of
his place. about the year 1915, and
carried on farming in all of its
branches during his life. In his
earlier years he cultivated tobacco,
now one of the lost items in farm
ing in these two counties. He was
successful and left q comfortable
estate for the times; was staunch
Wing, but never wanted or held
office, yet he always contended for
good and fit men for office. No
unsuitable man could get his vote,
but IN those good old times not
MANY such could be found on the
ticket of his party. He was some
what positive in his ways and
nature, and occasionally had his
neigbborly difficulties. An anus
ing incident was the result of one
of them. An offended neighbor of
poetical turn of mind composed a
song about him, and on the occa-
sion of an election down at the
Little Crossing, he sang it to a
crowd in an old-time bar room in
the presence of the subject of it,
who took in the situation good
naturally by dancing to the music
of the English brogue of the song
ster.
Ridgley had line children, two
sons and seven daughters, William,
Jacob, Elizabeth, Mary, Ellen,
Julia A., Isabella and Rebecca.
William was an energetic young
man and became tax collector of
old Allegany when quite young, land
died IN 164S before completing the
lutles of his office. He married
Catharine Hoye, with whom he had
but one child. John Hoye Ridgley,
lately judge oyer the circuit court
for Seneca county, Ohio. He is
again in the practice of his profess
sion. The widow in after wears
became the wife of Samuel Engle,
who died in 1888. She is still
living in excellent health and pres
ervatlon at the old Engle mansion
near Grantsville, with every com
fort and satisfaction at command.
Jacob, the other son, went to the
far west among the Rockies when
very young, and as was understood,
killed in the great Mountain Mead
ow Massacre. But few particulars
Of his fearful death ever reached
home.
Mary, the eldest daughter, mar
ried William Stanton, in after years
a prominent and very respectable
citizen of the old county. He died
in 1868, leaving number of chill
dren of both sexes. The oldest
son, Eli, owns and runs a large
milling establishment at the Little
Crossings. He served term some
some wears ago In the legislature.