JAMES T. RIDGEWAY, a representative of one of the old and honored pioneer
families of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, is a native of this county, born in
Tippecanoe Township, March 2, 1840, and is a son of RUNAH RIDGEWAY.  The
father of our subject was born in Fayette County, Ohio, February 19, 1812, a
son of JAMES RIDGEWAY, who died when his son 

RUNAH was in his boyhood.  RUNAH RIDGEWAY came to this county when a young
man, and was married in Tippecanoe Township, September 28, 1837, to MISS
REBECCA CLEVINGER, a daughter of BASIL CLEVINGER, who was also 

One of the county's pioneers.  RUNAH RIDGEWAY came to this county a poor man
 settled on a new farm which he cleared and improved, making a comfortable
home out of the forest for himself and family, living on the land on which
he first settled until his death, which occurred March 30, 1872, at the age
of sixty years, one month and eleven days. 

He was in politics a Whig until the organization of the Republican party, of
which he was a staunch supporter until his death, and when the war of the
Rebellion broke out, none were more ardent in sustaining the old flag than
he; and when the Confederate General Morgan invaded Indiana, he took part in
the expedition that expelled him from the State.  He and his wife had born
to them twelve children, eight of whom grew to maturity, and six are still
living--JAMES T., LORENZO D., SAMUEL K., MARY ELLEN, SARAH A. And
WILLIAM P. As will be seen, JAMES T. RIDGEWAY, whose name heads this 
sketch, is the eldest of the surviving children. 

He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlising August 15, 1862, in
Company G, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, in which he served until the
close of the war.  He was made a Corporal on the organization of his company
 and about a year later was appointed Second Sergeant, in which capacity he
served until the end of the war.  He went direct to Memphis, Tennessee, and
soon after engaged in battle at Holly Springs, Mississippi.  From there he
went to Grand Junction, Tennessee, and 

Participated shortly after in the battle of Colliersville.  He also
participated in the siege of Vicksburg, battles of Jackson, Chattanooga,
Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain.  From there he went to Knoxville, thence
back to Chattanooga, taking part in the Atlanta campaign and in the siege of
Atlanta, Georgia.  He was also in the battles of Jonesboro and
Griswoldsville, and in the march with Sherman to the sea.  From Savannah he
went to Columbia, South Carolina, thence to Goldsboro, North 

Carolina, after which he took part in the engagements at Mill Creek and
Raleigh, North Carolina, the last battle in which he took part.  He marched
to Washington and was in the grand review of Sherman's army, and was
mustered out in that city on the 8th of June, 1865. 

Besides the engagements already mentioned, he took part in the battles of
New Hope Church, Peach-Tree Creek, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, and Allatoona
Mountain, where he was much disabled.  He was never wounded in battle, but
his health was much impaired by the hardships and privations which he
endured while in the army.  For a year after the war he traveled for a drug
firm, after which he followed farming in Benton County for four years.  He
was married January 17, 1867, to MISS 

CATHERINE STANFIELD, a daughter of JOHN STANFIELD, and of the ten children
born to this union six are living: FLORA J., REBECCA A., CORA ALICE, DORA B.
 JOHN S. And JOEL P.  Those deceased are MARTHA, SHERMAN, ERNEST and CARRIE.

In November, 1869, MR. RIDGEWAY settled on his present farm in Tippecanoe
Township, where he has seventy-two acres of well-improved land, under a fine
state of cultivation, and is classed among the enterprising farmers of his
township.  Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. 

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF TIPPECANOE CO. IN  pg. 541-542
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888.