FRANK B. RIDGWAY, farmer and stock raiser, whose excellent farm property is situated in Haddon township, Sullivan county, is a native of Widner township, Knox county, Indiana, where he was born February 12, 1862. He is the son of John H. and Rachel (Watson) Ridgway. The father was born in Kentucky and the mother in Sullivan county, Indiana, where they were united in marriage. They resided in Knox for a long term of years, then removed to a section south of Carlisle, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father was a successful farmer. Politically, he favored the Democratic party, and he held the office of county assessor for one year. The children born to John H. Ridgway and wife were as follows: Frank B., Hester, Benjamin (deceased), William and Minnie (twins); William is deceased and Minnie is the wife of Harry Shaver, of Kansas, Illinois; Bert (deceased), and two who died in infancy.
Frank B. Ridgway was reared on his father's farm and began working for himself at the age of twenty-one years at farm labor and has been engaged in such work ever since. His farming operations have always been carried on within Haddon township, where he now owns a well improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres, upon which he lives. This place is situated four miles to the south of Carlisle. Both grain and stock raising are methodically carried on here by Mr. Ridgway, and he raises and feeds from four to six carloads of stock per annum. His farm gives evidence in every part of being one conducted by a man who thoroughly understands his business. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.
February 22, 1883, Mr. Ridgway was married to Anna (Wortman) Pearce, who was born in Haddon township, a daughter of Philip G. Wortman, a farmer of this section. Mrs. Ridgway's father was born in Wayne county, Indiana, and his wife, Nancy Gregg, was born in Patrick county, Virginia, September 16, 1822. She came with her parents to Hendricks county, Indiana, when young. Philip Wortman came to Haddon township with his mother, his father being dead at that time. Philip always followed farming pursuits, in which he was very successful. He served as a private soldier at the time of the Civil war, in Company D, Twenty-first Indiana Regiment.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Ridgway, as follows: Mabel, born December, 1883, wife of Henry Hale, of Haddon township; Rush W., unmarried and at home; one who died in infancy; Rachel, deceased: and Ivin. Rush was graduated from Carlisle high school with the class of 1906, after which he returned to the farm, being thoroughly equipped for a better understanding of agriculture or any other vocation he may later select.