John Ridgeway, 1797-1852, Podcast #2

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."

In Podcast #1, I gave a general outline of John Ridgeway's life. It by no means was comprehensive. Because I have little information about his early life in Ohio, I will put my efforts to Illinois, where I was born and raised during the 1940s and 50s. To be honest, I did not know anything about my lineage until I had reached my 40s in 1980s. Little by little, I learned about my ancestors. It is ironic that I lived my early years in the same places as John, Ann 'McGee" and their children lived, worked and played. If only I had known, I would undoubtedly know more than I do now.

In 1819 John married Mary Ann Cooper in Ross county, Ohio. Shortly after November 10, 1824, John Ridgeway and his family joined George Love who settled near the present village of Mossville in Medina township, Peoria county, Illinois. John Ridgeway cast his fortunes in this new country and the Ridgeway family became a landmark and has frequently been mentioned in connection with early highways, elections and school districts. The next to appear here were Samuel Clifton, Edmund Weed Briarly, Henry Thomas and Abner Cooper. In the next few years the settlement was considerably augmented by other arrivals, many of whom became dissatisfied and soon left for other areas of activity.

In 1825, John and David, John's brother, are both listed on a military service list for the Black Hawk War (second campaign). John and his family show up in an 1830 census for Peoria county, Illinois. In the winter of 1831-32, John Ridgeway, Bill and Jerry Cooper and Simon Reed head north to trade furs with the Indians. They got as far as Penn township in Stark county. At Cooper's Defeat Creek not far from Boyd's Grove, the men were stranded by a really severe storm. John Ridgeway was the only man to survive that storm.

On June 15, 1836, John purchased 160 acres along the Illinois River about 4 to 5 miles South of Sparland, Illinois (NW Quarter S26 T12N R09E). He paid $1.25 per acre for a total of $200.00.

What was Illinois like when the Ridgeways settled there?

It was pretty rough. There were no established roads. Pavement was unheard of. Highway 29 between Chillicothe and Sparland was part of the Galena trail. In fact Chillicothe and Sparland and Lacon and Henry were not even cities yet and were not platted at the time. Most everyone who settled in the area where farmers or worked on fledgling river commerce. There were no grocery stores or clothing stores. No stop signs. No Dairy Queens. No McDonalds. You had to be pretty proficient. If you needed it, you had to grow it or make it. Fortunately, they were only 60 miles from Peoria, Illinois which was quickly becoming a thriving city. With a buckboard and horse they could make it there in 2 to 3 days one way and 2 to 3 days back.

There were no doctors in the area and edipemics were common. It is thought that John Ridgeway died on October 8, 1852 from a chloera epidemic that swept the area in 1852. One of his sons Jeremiah died the same year. John was only 55 which would be young according to today's standards. It appears he lived a full and hard life. He and his wife's bore 10 children into this world.

It is said that John is buried on the William Riddel farm, Rt. 17, Sparland in Marshall County, IL. This farm which is now the Riddel Hereford Polling farm is located 3 or 4 miles east of Sparland, Illinois. The Riddel's bought the farm in 1819 some 70 years after John was supposedly buried there. Noone has been able to locate the grave site because it was located in the pasture somewhere and is no longer visible. I went to the farm in the summer of 2009 and could not locate the grave. I have to register my doubts about John Ridgeway being layed to rest there. The first question that comes to my mind is Why would he be buried there when he had 160 acres along the Illinois River? It seems more logical that he and perhaps, Ann would be buried on the land they owned and loved. I am also thinking that some confusion may have occurred because the similarities in the first part of the names, Rid-del, Rid-egway.

John left 20 acres to his first child, Nancy (Cooper) Ridgeway (1-29-1854). She married Washington Lewis on April 1, 1844. In April 27, 1852 John willed a 1/3 quarter of the South part of Section 26 to his wife Ann. I am not sure if that was 1/3 of 40 (13) acres or 80 (26) acres. I am not sure how the remainder of the land was divided. I am sure that John's will divides it up. The is conjecture that John and Ann owned land where the Riddle farm now stands NorthEast of the Illinois River farm. I don't think so. If so, what happend to that land? Did they lose it? Supposedly John was buried there. Too many unanswered questions.

After John died, Ann still had a number of children to take care of. She lived another 36 years, had two more children and married two more times. My next podcast will be about my 5th generation grandmother, a pioneer woman who held the fabric of the Ridgeway, McGee, Purcell, Crotz and Spahr family together.

Until next time, Good Day and keep on searching.