Sideroads: The Remarkable Ripley's Judge Colonel David C Ripley

Several of Joshua Ripley's children were as adventurous as he himself had been. And many left Appalachia for Iowa and Illinois. But for today, we will focus on his third child, David C. Ripley, the forefather of many of the northeast Iowa Ripley's.

David was born in Warren County, New York on 20 Feb 1798. He then moved to Gallia County, Ohio, deep in Appalachia, where his father had gone to preach the Baptist gospel. He married Easter Griswold on 13 Oct 1819 in Lawrence County.

He served his first term as Sheriff of Gallia County from 1834-1838. He then served a term as a state legislator for the term beginning December 1838. After his service in the legislature, he served as Sheriff again from 1845-1853.

After a visit to Iowa in 1853, he and his wife had seven children by the time he decided to join his oldest son, Sanford, in Riverton Township, in what became Floyd County, Iowa in 1854. Sanford had arrived in Nashua, Chickasaw County, the year previously. David's brother Joseph's entourage, of which Sanford was part, had arrived. "The following year he moved in 94 N 16 W, where he built the log house in the grove in which all early settlers were welcome to stay until they had their cabin or shanty finished." Joseph's family eventually moved on to Fremont County, Iowa. David's father Joshua (see previous post) and sister Roxie and husband John Dovenor, sister Cynthia and husband Stephen Johnson, and sister Phebe and husband George Carter all came to Cedar County some time prior to 1850. Phebe is reported to have died there in 1849. George returned eventually to Gallia County.

The Ripley's were one of the founding families in the area, along with several other Gallia County families including the Parishes, Warburtons, Wilcoxes, Clarks, Dyases, Gibsons and Perrys. He was elected County Judge which position he held during the old county seat fight.

Ripley Bridge, Ripley Crossing, Floyd County

This was rugged, untamed territory and after multiple skirmishes with Indians, including a solo foray by David into Minnesota after the raiding Indians, the David Ripley's pulled up stakes and relocated to Boulder in the Colorado Territory in 1861. There he again felt the call to serve and rode with the Territorial Rangers during the Indian Wars. He then served in the Colorado Territory Legislature, Third Session in 1863, where he served as the Chairman of the Education Committee.

In 1866 he came east, stopping in Missouri, where he lived one year. He then came back to Iowa, settling in Fremont County and Decatur County but by 1870 had returned to Riverton Township where he lived with his son Sanford. He suffered from prostate cancer for five long, painful years before dying in 1881. His wife Easter lived until 1893.

Judge Colonel David C Ripley & wife Easter Griswold Ripley

Judge Colonel David C. Ripley's funeral was attended by many. His son Sanford also made a mark in the Floyd County area. This sketch was published:

"Sanford Ripley was born in Gallia County, Ohio, July 27, 1829.  He left there in March, 1953 and came, via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, to Muscatine, Iowa; from there with a two-horse team, in company with others, to Red Oak Grove, Cedar County, Iowa; from there to where Nashua is now, June 4, 1853.  His father built the first house inside the town of Nashua.  George H Clark built one a little outside in 1851 or 1852.  In the fall of 1854, Mr Ripley moved to the place where he still lives, section 34, range 15, Riverton Township.  Snow being knee-deep and no house there, the family camped under the wagon till he could build a cabin.  He has 250 acres of well-improved land.  He married in 1846 to Susan Norton, nee Bumgartner, who was born in Gallia County, Ohio, in January 1820.  They have three childre, Esther, born Dec 31, 1855; Lovina, Oct 6, 1860; Maria, June 14, 1863.  He ran out with a compass and staked the first road from Nashua, going in a northwesterly direction till he struck section 1, range 94-17, which is now Union Township.  This continued to be the regular traveled road for may years. 

History of Floyd County, Iowa;  Together with Sketches of Its...Vol 2"

The sketch does not include his son William, who died in 1881 and is buried in Riverton Cemetery.

Sanford Ripley Family: Front Sanford & Susan Back: Lovina Ripley Parker, William Ripley, Mariah Ripley Lindaman, Easter Ripley Wert (before 1881)

Riverton Cemetery in Floyd County is chock-full of early settlers, incuding David Ripley, his wife Easter and many of his children. The names in this cemetery are rife through the early history of this area.

We'll head back to Nathaniel Ripley's son, William Young Ripley, of the Remarkable Ripley's of Rutland, Vermont, next.