[p. 430] formerly one of Mahoning Township's most substantial citizens and esteemed residents, died on his farm of 198 acres, on which he had practically resided all his life, on December 11, 1883. He was born on the northwest corner of Mrs. Ripple's present farm, which is the old Ripple homestead, in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1834, and was a son of Joseph and Sarah (Ferral) Ripple.
The late James Ripple belonged to a family of old standing in this part of Lawrence County and through his long life he was worthy of the name he bore. He devoted himself exclusively to agricultural pursuits and met with ample returns. In politics he was a Republican, but he was never a seeker for office.
On September 25, 1862, Mr. Ripple was married to Elizabeth Graham, who survives him and is one of the most highly esteemed ladies in Mahoning Township. She was born in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, July 1, 1839, and was a daughter of Robert and Jane (Johnson) Graham. The father was born in Scotland and the mother in Ireland. The Graham family is a representative Scotch one, possessing all the characteristics which have made natives of that land notable for thrift, intelligence and integrity, all over the world. When Mrs. Ripple was ten years old she accompanied her mother and the other children, which numbered three girls and two boys, to America, where they joined the father who had already established himself one year previously near Lowellville, Ohio. She was reared there on her father's farm and the family remained there until the death of the father. The mother subsequently died in Mahoning Township. To the parents of Mrs. Ripple were born six children, the three surviving daughters being: Jennie, who is the widow of John R. Grist, resides at Lowellville; Annie, who is the wife of Leander D. Robinson, resides at Lowellville, and Mrs. Ripple, who lives on her home farm in Mahoning Township. The ones who are deceased were: Margaret Bissel, of Missouri, and William and Robert, who were both killed, Robert on March 11, 1908, by the flyer on the P. & L. E. Railway at Robinson's Crossing. Thirty years before, William was going to mill and crossing the canal near where Robert was killed, the bridge broke and he was injured, dying three years later.
Mrs. Ripple has five surviving children, namely: Cora M., residing in North Beaver Township, is the wife of William Davison; James C., William G., who married Catherine Burres, has five children, four boys and one girl; Albert D. and Robert J. Mrs. Ripple is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Previous Biography | Table of Contents | Next Biography
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 22 Oct 2001