Aged 78y 6m 8d

William Ridgely, president of the Ridgely National bank, died unexpectedly at 11:00 o'clock yesterday morning, aged 78 years, at his apartment, 327 1/2 South Fifth street. Mr. Ridgely had been in failing health for some time, but it was thought by relatives and friends that his condition was not serious. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at St. Paul's Episcopal church.

Mr. Ridgely was known as the dean of Illinois bankers, having served for fifty-one years with the bank which bears his name. He has always been in the banking business, having accepted a position in the Merchants bank of St. Louis at the age of 16. In 1859 he returned to Springfield and became connected with N. H. Ridgely & Co., predecessor of the Ridgely National bank, of which he became president.

William Ridgely was born in Springfield, Illinois, January 12, 1840, in a two-story building that stood on the east side of the square where the Workman building now stands, the first floor of which was at that time occupied by the State Bank of Illinois. The second floor was used as the residence of Nicholas H. Ridgely. He received his early education in Springfield, attending the old Springfield academy and was later one of the first students to attend the Illinois State university, organized by Rev. Francis Springer, which later became Concordia college.

Mr. Ridgely began his banking career at the age of 16, accepting a position in the Merchants bank of St. Louis. In 1859 he returned to Springfield to enter the banking firm of N. H. Ridgely & Co., organized by his father and his elder brother, Charles Ridgely. This business became the Ridgely National bank in 1866 and William Ridgely became cashier. On the death of his father in 1888 he succeeded to the presidency and which position he held up to the time of his death. This continuous service has made Mr. Ridgely the oldest bank officer in the state.

Surviving him are one brother, Henderson Ridgely, of St. Louis, who is a director of the bank and four sisters, Mrs. James L. Hudson, Mrs. Charles E. Hay, Mrs. James T. Jones and Mrs. Charles D. Roberts, all of this city.

Mr. Ridgely was a bachelor, though a quiet modest man, who never sought to attract attention and was more inclined to listen than to express opinion. Mr. Ridgely has in his lifetime played a very important part in the development of this community. He asked liitle for himself, but devoted himself unflinchingly to every duty he assumed and always was ready to do his full part in any public enterprise. Hundreds of men all prominent in business, started with him in his youth, and retain the fondest memories of his kindness. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 7-21-1918


WILLIAM RIDGELY, cashier of the Ridgely National Bank, of Springfield, is the eighth 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. 1881 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1881

Aged 78y 6m 8d

William Ridgely, president of the Ridgely National bank, died unexpectedly at 11:00 o'clock yesterday morning, aged 78 years, at his apartment, 327 1/2 South Fifth street. Mr. Ridgely had been in failing health for some time, but it was thought by relatives and friends that his condition was not serious. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at St. Paul's Episcopal church.

Mr. Ridgely was known as the dean of Illinois bankers, having served for fifty-one years with the bank which bears his name. He has always been in the banking business, having accepted a position in the Merchants bank of St. Louis at the age of 16. In 1859 he returned to Springfield and became connected with N. H. Ridgely & Co., predecessor of the Ridgely National bank, of which he became president.

William Ridgely was born in Springfield, Illinois, January 12, 1840, in a two-story building that stood on the east side of the square where the Workman building now stands, the first floor of which was at that time occupied by the State Bank of Illinois. The second floor was used as the residence of Nicholas H. Ridgely. He received his early education in Springfield, attending the old Springfield academy and was later one of the first students to attend the Illinois State university, organized by Rev. Francis Springer, which later became Concordia college.

Mr. Ridgely began his banking career at the age of 16, accepting a position in the Merchants bank of St. Louis. In 1859 he returned to Springfield to enter the banking firm of N. H. Ridgely & Co., organized by his father and his elder brother, Charles Ridgely. This business became the Ridgely National bank in 1866 and William Ridgely became cashier. On the death of his father in 1888 he succeeded to the presidency and which position he held up to the time of his death. This continuous service has made Mr. Ridgely the oldest bank officer in the state.

Surviving him are one brother, Henderson Ridgely, of St. Louis, who is a director of the bank and four sisters, Mrs. James L. Hudson, Mrs. Charles E. Hay, Mrs. James T. Jones and Mrs. Charles D. Roberts, all of this city.

Mr. Ridgely was a bachelor, though a quiet modest man, who never sought to attract attention and was more inclined to listen than to express opinion. Mr. Ridgely has in his lifetime played a very important part in the development of this community. He asked liitle for himself, but devoted himself unflinchingly to every duty he assumed and always was ready to do his full part in any public enterprise. Hundreds of men all prominent in business, started with him in his youth, and retain the fondest memories of his kindness. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 7-21-1918


WILLIAM RIDGELY, cashier of the Ridgely National Bank, of Springfield, is the eighth 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. 1881 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1881