In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1856
From 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908)
CHARLES T. RIDGELY,* a well-known resident and highly respected business man of Springfield, was born here in February, 1856, and is a son of J. F. Ridgely, one of the leading business men of the city, who came here in 1852 from Maryland, where he was born.
Charles T. Ridgely was reared and educated in Springfield and early in life began learning the painter's and paper hanger's trade, at which he worked for about seven years when he was obliged to give up painting on account of ill health. He then devoted his time wholly to decorating for eleven years, during which time he was employed by C. H. Pierce, and in 1885 invented the first trimmer. In 1890 he took charge of the wall paper department for another fii"m in Springfield, remaining there one year, when he organized the Ridgely Decorating Company, later selling his interest in the business and also his trimmer patent. On August 15, 1903, he became one of the incorporators of the Bookwalter Hotel and also operated a news and cigar stand until 1906. In July of that same year he organized the Standard Trimmers Company for the manufacturing of wall paper trimmers, straight edge folding pile tables and boards, seam rollers, smoothing rolls, base and casing cutters, and plumb and level combination tools, in fact a full line of paper hanger's tools. Mr. Eidgely is president and general manager of the Standard Trimmers Company, which is incorporated and has a capital stock of $50,000. He is also financially interested in the United States Nursery of Rich, Mississippi. Mr. Ridgely was united in marriage to Nellie Sharp of Troy, Ohio, and to them have been born two sons — Charles Verrey, and Roderick Leigh. Fraternally Mr. Ridgely is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen, and the B. P. 0. E.
As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.