WILLIAM RIDGELY, cashier of the Ridgely National Bank, of Springfield, is the eighty of thirteen children of Nicholas H. Ridgely, and was born in the upper story of the old State Bank of Illinois, in Springfield, January 12, 1840. He was educated in the Illinois State University of Springfield when Rev. Francis Springer was President. In July, 1856, he went to St. Louis and spent a few months as shipping clerk in a large milling and wholesale establishment; went thence to Chicago, and was clerk in the commission house of Burrell Bros., until they failed, when he returned to Springfield. In the fall of 1857, he entered as clerk in the Merchants' Bank of St. Louis, and six months after was made paying teller, at a salary of $1,200 a year, remaining till December 1, 1860; then came to Springfield to go into his father's banking house, in which he became a partner in 1864, under the firm title of N. H. Ridgely & Co., and about that time succeeded his brother Charles to the Secretaryship of the Springfield Gaslight Company. October 1, 1866, the Ridgely National Bank was organized and William was elected its cashier, which position he has filled to the present time. He has never failed in twenty-one years to be present the first of every month to make out gas bills and close up the monthly business. He has held the office of Treasurer of the Springfield City Horse Railway since April, 1878. He remains unmarried.