Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-12-08
CyslJS - RIPLEY

In the death Of Mr.. Ripley the town
OF Paris loses one OF is most valued
citizens, and the state % Maine one who
for many wears was an active and faith
ful public servant. Mr.. Ripley was
born in Paris in September, 1919, and
was thus az the time of his death a little
over - years of age. His father was
Uriah Ripley, and his mother WAS l.u-
cinda. daughter Of Jesse Briggs. His
early life Was spent upon his father :
farm. His education was that furnished
by the common school system Of 90
wears ago, but he made good use Of his
opportunities and acquired training
which enabled him 70 ill many impor
tant positions In his after life At the
age Of about u he was married, and
shortly after took charge of the old poor
farm. a position which he held for five
years. He afterwards became the land
lord OF the MON House, and Of the Old
stage House on Paris Hill, which posi-
lions he held for two or three wears. In
l>6l he was appointed private messen-
ger 20 the governor aud council, posi-
ton which he held for seven wears
After this he served for ten years as
government stOrekeeper AZ Portland, TO
which position he was appointed under
Israel washburu. ln lS6S he bought
the farm upon which his family has lived
since that time, and for the past l.
years his time has been given 10 its i'm
prOvement. He was born and bred a
farmer. aud a farmer he lived. he had
a great interest in everything that tend
cd 20 the Improvement OF his land. He
worked intelligtntly, and the place on
which he lived showed the result of his
labor. He was good example of the
sturdy hard-working New England
farmer.
Mr.. Ripley married Olive r., the
daughter Of John Cooper, by whom he
had six children Mary a, who married
Benjamin ;. Doe, aud who died in 1879 /;
Phiio Clark, WhO died in infancy; Ada
f.. who married John Pierce, and who
died in ISIS; Sarah Eliza, who married
Judge William {. Greene and settled in
Sag Harbor, y Y; Flora l., who mar
red Mr.. ". ). Montgomery Of 81. Paul,
MINI and Olive \ who married Mr..
\. W. Hammond. and settled in Berlin,
y. III.
Several years ago Mr.. Ripley's health
began 10 show signs Of falling, and
about Is months since he had the mis-
fortune to fail aud 20 break his collar
bone, since which time he has been con-
fined mostly to the house, and for the
past six months he has been a great suf-
ferer from trouble with the heart, which
n prevented him almost entirely from
lying down. lie died early sunday morn
ing. Nov. 20, and has been buried in the
Norway Pine Grove cemetery. The
funeral service at his house was simple
but impressive, the first part OF it being
conducted by the Rev. Ii. A. Roberts
and the Rev. L. ". Pierce, aud the last
part by the fraternity Of Odd Fellows,
Mr.. Ripley having long been member
Of that association, as well as of the
Free MasOns-
In spite of his loag continued suffering
Mr.. Ripley's mind continued wonder
fully clear GO the last, and his interest in
the outside world was undated; aud
when he could no longer hold the paper
Ia his own hands il was read 10 him TO
his entire satisfaction. He frequently
spoke Of his near approach TO the other
world, and expressed himself as ready
TO go at any moment, and had not the
slightest fear of death. He had in a
long life of honest toll faithfully per-
formed his duty, and in so doing had
prepared himself to commence the new
life whenever it should come.