This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: RISDON, FREDERICKS, GOLDSMITH, LEWIS Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.ohio.counties.erie/806.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: page 810 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO Elial Risdon E. RISDON, a venerable citizen of Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Genesee county, New York, November 20, 1820, son of Almore and Cynthia Risdon, both natives of that county. Almore Risdon was a man of prominence in his day. He filled the office of County Sheriff in Genesee county. In 1838 he came "West and settled in Vermillion, Erie county, Ohio, where he opened up a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits the rest of his life. He was accidentally drowned in the Huron river in 1835, aged forty-four years. His first wife, the mother of our subject, died in 1822, at the age of twenty-five, leaving three children: George, and E. and Eliza, twins. George, a prominent farmer of Erie county, Ohio, died January 26, 1893, aged seventy- five years, leaving a widow, Charity (Goldsmith) Risdon, and four sons and five daughters. By his second wife, Elcina (Lewis) Risdon, the father of our subject had two sons and four daughters, all deceased except one son. The mother of these children died some time in the '50s. In early life Mr. Risdon sailed the lake and superintended a dredging- machine in the employ of the United States for four years, and for Her Majesty's Government in Canada for a little more than twelve years, performing page 811 faithful and efficient service. He took out every coffer-dam from Ogdensburg to Montreal. After leaving government employ, he located at Conneaut, and engaged in ship-carpentering. This was in 1858. He worked at that business for a period of thirty years, at the same time being interested in farming operations. Mr. Risdon's first visit to Conneaut was in 1835, and since 1837 he has called this place his home. For fifty years he has voted the Democratic ticket here. For the past five years he has conducted the sprinkling business of the town. He was Street Commissioner twelve years, and was Marshal about six years. Mr. Risdon was married in 1844, to Miss Lucretia M. Fredericks. Her father, John Fredericks, a Hollander by birth, was a soldier in Bonaparte's war. He went on board an English vessel, came to America, and at New York deserted. He lived to be ninety-three years of age, dying about 1867. His wife died twenty years before. They had a family of four sons and three daughters, six of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Risdon have five daughters, namely: Harriet, wife of Glover Ashley, has three children, Frederick, Lulie and Freddie; Emma Jane, a member of the home circle; Mary, wife of John Cummins, of the Conneaut Canning Factory, has four children, Thomas R., Mabel, Margaret and Robert; Clara, wife of Burton Thayer, has four children, Lee, Alice, Hazel and Harry; and Helen, wife of Burt Capron, has one child, Bertha. Mr. and Mrs. Risdon are attendants of the Presbyterian Church. He has long been identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of the blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery; has been Tyler in the four bodies for twenty years, and during all this time has never missed more than half a dozen meetings. He has attended all the conclaves until the one at Denver last year, and has been in all the State conclaves. Mr. Risdon is also a member of the Knights of Honor, of which organization he is second officer and a Steward. Few men in Conneaut are better known or have more friends than Mr. Risdon.