Arizona republican., 1909-03-26

Col. Ridley served through the civil war with the confederacv and emerged a lieutenant-colonel. whip ped. but not reconstructed. He went
 from the south to Mexico at the time
 AlaNimilian invaded it and attached
 himself to the force of that adven-
 turer While so employed he was offered service in the army of France
 as an officer of the Foreign legion. and always regretted that he did not accept it.
 Alter the downfall of Maximilian. Col Ridley remained in Mexico for
 many years, though how he managed to do so and preserve his life could not be ascertained. He entered the employ of the British company that built the railroad between Vera Cruz and the City of Mexico. and served the company well for many years
 Finally in 1877 he returned from Mexico and came into this part of Arizona, joining Dr. Jones, his old time friend. when the doctor lived at Smiths Mill. a gold mill working the
 VultUre ores and situated on the Hassayampa river a few miles south of Wickenburg where now nothing can be seen but an old tailings dump. From that time his home was with Dr. Jones for many years, coming with him when he settled on what is now the Norton farm southeast of the city and dividing his time be- tween the doctors home here and the doctors ranch on upper Salt river between here and the present site Of the Roosevelt dam.
 Dr. Jones, himself a notable Ari- zOnian. died a few years ago and Colonel Ridley was made the admin istrator of his estate. Until this time he was still unreconstructed, believed that Fate had made a mistake in the settlement of the war. refused Ameri- can citizenship or the right of fran chise and always declared himself a citizen of the Empire" of Mexico, that was. In order to qualify as ad- ministrator, however, it became nee essary for him to take the oath of allegiance, which he did gracefully and was since understood as a full nedged American citizen again, ac- cepting the condition of things, not as right. but as the necessary order of things.
 After settling up the Jones estate, Col Ridley. as recited. went to Ha- vana and remained a year, intending then to make it his home, but he did not like it and returned. Tempe has been his home ever since his return, and notwithstanding his peculiar con tentions concerning the way history has been made, he was highly re- spected and recognized as a man of inc highest personal honor
 Captain Calderwood says he was at one time a mining partner of a cousin of Col. Ridley in California and knew other of his relatives there, now long since dead. It seemed that the colonel early broke off relations with his home people in Maine, prob ably through neglect as much as any thing else He was very much sur prised one day on meeting in Phoe- nix Mrs. Harriet P Hine, mother of TT w Hine, at one time leading citizen of Phoenix. and now a leading citizen of Eureka, Cal Mrs. HIne was a cousin of Colonel Ridley and +bev had not met since childhood. It | is related that when Mrs. Hine told | the colonel of the death of his broth | er as a union prisoner of war Tn Llp- ,y- prison he was deeply affected and l moved to tears. Nevertheless person | al sorrow did not waver his convlc- lions and never would he be con rinced that in the ordering of his | fife he had not always chosen the | side of honor and duty in the mo- conflicts in which he en- | gagged