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EARLY SETTLERS OF SANGAMON COUNTY - 1876
By John Carroll Power

These biographies were submitted by a researcher and evidently abstracted from the 1876 History of Sangamon County, IL. Errors could occur, so one should always verify the correctness by obtaining copies of vitals and performing all necessary research to document what is contained herein.



RIDGELY, NICHOLAS H., was born April 27, 1800, on his father's tobacco plantation in Maryland, near Baltimore; was educated in Baltimore, and was engaged in mercantile business there until April, 1828, when he removed to St. Louis, Mo., and became a clerk in the United States branch bank established there shortly after his arrival. He continued in this position until May, 1835, when he was appointed cashier of the State Bank of Illinois, incorporated in that year, which office he held until the termination of the charter of the bank, and was one of the trustees who finally closed the business of the bank. While engaged in this closing process, and afterwards, he carried on a private banking business on his own account, and organized "Clark's Exchange Bank of Springfield," and continued his connection with it until it was discontinued, and all its obligations promptly and fully discharged. In 1866 he, in connection with Charles and William Ridgely--his sons,--J. Taylor Smith, and Lafayette Smith, organized "The Ridgely National Bank of Springfield." He became President, and has continued in this office ever since. He has thus been actively engaged in the banking business constantly for forty-eight years. He has been married twice, and has a family of thirteen adult children living, namely:

SARAH married Rev. Richard V. Dodge, and resides in Chicago.

VINCENT is married, and now resides in Adams county, Illinois.

SOPHIA married J. Taylor Smith, of Springfield, Illinois. See his name.

REDICK M. is married, and now resides in Springfield, Illinois.

HENRY married, and now resides in Springfield, Illinois.

CHARLES married, and now resides in Springfield, Illinois.

JULIA married John H. Rea, now of Chicago.

WILLIAM is unmarried, and resides in Springfield, Illinois.

ANNA married James L. Hudson, of Springfield, Illinois.

MARY married Chas. E. Hay, of Springfield, Illinois.

JANE married James T. Jones, of Springfield, Illinois.

HENDERSON is unmarried, and resides in Springfield, Illinois.

OCTAVIA married Charles D. Roberts, of Springfield, Illinois.

N. H. Ridgely and wife reside in Springfield, Illinois.



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