Source:Ridgways-funeral
"Ridgway's funeral Thursday: Family to have charge of the services and city officials will honor the dead director: Public buildings are draped in black." Pittsburg Press, Dec. 31, 1907, pp. 1–2. Newspapers.com 142159194, 142159269.
Preliminary arrangements for the funeral of Frank Ridgway, director of public safety, who died early this morning, were effected at a meeting held in the director's office this afternoon, in which the following took part: E. H. Ridgway, of Beaver, the director's brother; John Dilworth, a brother mason and intimate friend of the director; Elias Johns, the director's chief clerk; T. A. McQuaide, superintendent of police, and Ordinance [sic] Officer Murray G. Livingston.
It was decided to hold the funeral on Thursday. The exact time has not been determined. Public services wil lbe [sic] conducted in the First Presbyterian Church, and the director's body will lie in state there, if the church can be secured. The board of trustees has been called to meet late this afternoon, and the matter will be laid before them. Mr. Ridgway was a member of the church. The Rev. Dr. Maitland Alexander, the pastor, has been asked to conduct the funeral.
The Masonic order will not have charge of the services. Mr. Ridgway's brothers and sisters will have charge. Members of the Masonic organizations of which Mr. Ridgway was a member are expected to be present in their uniforms, however. The city officials, police and fire bureaus will also be largely represented. Details of policemen will stand on guard outside the church.
Superintendent McQuaide this morning arranged to have all the police stations draped as the result of the death of Director Frank Ridgway. A plain crepe decoration was placed on all the outside police stations and the entire safety building was dressed in black.
Mayor George W. Guthrie, this afternoon, made the following statement:
"In the death of Director Ridgway the city has lost a faithful and efficient officer, and I have lost a warm and loyal friend.
"Mr. Ridgeway gave to the duties of his office his unstinted and devoted services, and I believe that the long continued tax on his strength undermined his constitution and largely contributed to his death.
"He never prostituted the great power of his office to promote the interests of a friend or obstruct those of an opponent, but honestly and conscientiously sought at all time [sic] to be just and fair to all.
"The whole community is the better for the life which he gave in its service."
BODY REMOVED.
The body was removed from the West Penn Hospital to the undertaking rooms of T. B. Moreland, of Penn avenue, East End, at 10:45 o'clock this morning.
Six police officers guarded the body, while it was at the hospital.
The city engine houses were draped in black today.
The employes about the Safety building were gathered in groups discussing the death of Director Ridgway. While his death was expected by the employes about the building they were sorry to hear of his rather sudden end. Mayor Guthrie will continue to look after the affairs of the department. Superintendent McQuaide has been carrying on the affairs of the department under the supervision of Mayor Guthrie.
FLAG AT HALF-MAST.
The flag on the Safety building was placed at half-mast this morning.
The director of public safety succumbed to typhoid-pneumonia at the West Penn Hospital at 12:46 o'clock this morning. His brothers and sisters were with him at the time of his death and for many hours previous. Hope of his recovery had practically been abandoned on Saturday night, when he suffered a turn for the worse. At midnight it was seen that he would not last until dawn, and the end came within an hour.
Director Ridgway was removed to the hospital from his apartments at Center avenue and Craig street on December 5, suffering from la grippe. It latter [sic] developed into typhoid, which was subsequently complicated by a severe attack of pneumonia.
This is the second vacancy in Mayor George W. Guthrie's cabinet to be caused by death. About a year ago James W. Clark, director of public works, died of Bright's disease.
Mr. Ridgway was a self-made man and passed away in the height of his success. He was born near Newark, N. J., on December 20, 1859, and was the oldest of four brothers and three sisters. When he was still a boy his parents died and upon him devolved the responsibility of caring for his brothers and sisters. He managed to obtain a common school education.
ENLISTED IN SIGNAL CORPS.
In 1879 he enlisted in the signal corps of the army. He spent much time in Arizona and New Mexico during the Indian uprisings, and operated telegraph lines and manipulated the heliograph through the sage bush and on the cliffs of the Rocky mountains when danger was often nigh. Colonel W. R. Shafer, who later commanded the American forces in Cuba, was Mr. Ridgway's commanding officer.
Mr. Ridgway entered the service as a private, but it was not long until he advanced to sergeant. He continued in the signal service until the weather department of that service became the weather bureau of the department of agriculture. In the meantime he had been transferred to Washington. During this period he also served as an observer at Cape May, N. J., Cape Henlopen, Del., Sandy Hook, N. J., Manchester, N. H. and Atlantic City, N. J.
In the latter part of May, 1888, he went to Harrisburg as weather forecaster, and completely reorganized the weather bureau station of that city.
In 1895 he came to Pittsburg. His affable manners, his devotion to duty and his kindness of heart soon won the new weather bureau official a host of friends. He was a strict disciplinarian and won for the local weather bureau office the reputation of being in a high state of proficiency.
He took little part in politics, but usually voted the Republican ticket. His distinguished appearance and his charm of manner won him friends among all political factions. He was a pronounced social favorite.
NOT ACTIVE IN POLITICS.
It was not surprising that Mayor Guthrie on April 1, 1906, appointed him director of the department of public safety in a reform administration. Doubt was expressed as to whether Mr. Ridgway would accept the office. It was soon announced, however, that he had been granted a leave of absence from the weather bureau and would take charge.
He had his own ideals as to the organization of a police force, and at once instituted his own measures. He trampled ruthlessly on old traditions, but declared that all the changes were made for the improvement of the service. He commanded and won the respect of every man in his department.
He joined the Masonic order and became a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight Templar and a Shriner while located at Harrisburg. He always took an active part in all Masonic gatherings in this city, and served upon the staff of Grand Master LeRue Thomas. In October, 1905, he was made a thirty-third degree Mason at the meeting in Indianapolis.
Mr. Ridgway was never married. His family ties throughout his life were devoted to keeping his younger brothers and sisters in one household. When they were in childhood he looked after their education. One brother, Edward, and the three sisters, Catherine, Frances and Lilah, now reside in Beaver. Catherine Ridgway is a trained nurse, Frances is a teacher in the public schools of Pittsburg, and Lilah is a member of the senior class of the State Normal School of California, Pa. George Ridgway, another brother, lives at Harrisburg, P. Wilmer, the third brother, lives at Ashland, Ky.
Mr. Ridgway was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the Duquesne Club and of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
