John Ridgeway, 1797-1852, Podcast #1

Hello, my name is George E. Ridgeway Jr.

This is a podcast of my fifth generation grandfather, John Ridgeway.

Allow me to register this disclaimer before I begin this narrative.

"The things I am about to tell of John Ridgeway are valid as far as I know. If I have noted something that is not true, please let me know in this blog and I will review it and correct if need be. Thank you."

John Ridgeway was born in Ohio in 1797 of Samuel Ridgeway and Catherine Atwood. I know little about John's life in Ohio except that he married Mary Ann Cooper on August 31, 1819. John's mother, Catherine, died almost 3 months later on November 24, 1819. John and Mary Ann had three daughters in Ohio early in their marriage, Nancy, Catherine and Elizabeth or Betsy.

Five years later in 1825, Permilia, another daughter was born in Illinois. Then came Jeremiah (1828) and finally William (1830).

In 1820, John Ridgeway and family were living in Pee Wee Township, Pike county, Ohio.

He had brothers Jonathan, James and David who were living in Ross county, Ohio. That year John and brother David left Ohio and struck out to Peoria, county, Illinois with Jeremiah Cooper. Not much is mentioned about his wife Mary Ann. I am guessing that Jeremiah was probably her brother.

History books state that John Ridgeway was the 2nd settler in Steuben Township, Marshall county and settled where Grantville, Illinois stood.

On July 5, 1832 in Northampton, Peoria county, Illinois, John Ridgeway married my 5th generation grandmother, Ann McGee. I can only assume that Mary Ann, his first wife, died between 1830 and 1832, probably of complications of child birth. She was born around 1800 and she would have been only 32-33 years old at the time of her death. Or John and Mary Ann Cooper separated. I have had contact with another family that maintains that she died in Missouri around 1878.

Ann McGee Ridgeway was only 15 years old when she married John. I think she was born around 1816 in Ohio. Although future censuses have her born in Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. John would have been 35 during their marriage.

Melvina or Melinda was born around 1837. Jonathan was born July 7, 1838 in Sparland, Illinois. Rebecca was born in 1845. Elizabeth "Eliza" was born in 1846. Ezra was born in 1849. And finally, Barzilla Franklin Ridgeway, my 4th generation grandfather was born in October 1852 in Marshall county. I almost didn't make it on this earth. John Ridgeway died on October 8, 1852. Sadly, Barzilla would not have know his father and John probably didn't even know that Ann bore him a son.

In my next podcast, I will tell more about John Ridgeway's life. He has proved to be a pioneer, a family man and a real puzzle. His and Ann McGee Ridgeway death have been a brickwall. Until next time, Good Day and keep on searching.