Minerva Crist (Mrs. Seaman Ripley)

Minerva Crist

Mrs. Minerva Ripley
Mrs. Minerva Ripley, 81, who came to Illinois with her family in 1856 in a covered wagon from Mansfield, Ohio, died Saturday noon at St.Joseph hospital after a year's illness. For the last 16 years, Mrs. Ripley resided at the Harry W.Giese home, 903 West Grove street.
Mrs. Ripley was born October 16, 1850, near Mansfield, Ohio, a daughter of David and Sarah Crist. The family first settled in Illinois near Clinton and later her father opened a general store here on Front street opposite the old Mayor's hall where Abraham Lincoln's famous Lost Speech was delivered. She was married to Seaman C. Ripley, violinist, who conducted a private music school here for many years. Her husband and a son born to them preceded her in death, the former in 1909, and the latter in 1904.
She was the sole survivor of the 15 children in the Crist family, all of whom settled in Bloomington and this vicinity. Mrs. Ripley was an active member of the Park Methodist Episcopal Church. The funeral will be conducted at that church by the pastor, the Rev. Alfred E. Cole, at 2:30 p. m. Monday. Burial will be in Bloomington cemetery.
--Bloomington Pantagraph, February 21, 1932, Page 3
(NOTE: Minerva's father was William, not David as quoted above.)
Top - Hattie Ripley. Left - Minerva Ripley. Right - Rebecca Harmison.

Seaman Ripley

DIED ALONE IN HIS HOME TRAGIC END OF SEAMAN C. RIPLEY LONG TIME CONDUCTOR ON THE ALTON ROAD EXPIRED SUDDENLY WHILE HIS WIFE WAS AWAY AT HER WORK.
-Seaman C. Ripley, long a resident of Bloomington and particularly well known among the railroad colony on the west side, died suddenly yesterday, the exact hour of his death not being known. Mr. Ripley left his home at 1109 West Front street at 7:30 o'clock yesterday morning to give a music lesson at eight o'clock. He also had an appointment for another music lesson during the noon hour and did not intend to return to his home until after 1 o'clock. His wife, Mrs. Minerva Ripley, who is employed at Newman's store, left the house soon after her husband and did not return to the noon meal. She reached home soon after 6 o'clock last evening and going into the kitchen stumbled over what proved to be the dead body of her husband. She attempted to resuscitate him, but soon found that life was extinct and she ran to the neighbors for assistance.
Dead Several Hours A physican was summoned and on examining the body stated that Mr. Ripley had been dead for several hours. It is not known whether he filled his appointment during the noon hour or was taken suddenly ill and returned home in the morning. A neighbor stated that he thought he saw the deceased about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon but this seems highly improbable. Coroner Hare Called Coroner Hare was notified of the death and immediately impanelled a jury consisting of Dr. J.K.P. Hawks, Echo Hurst, W. H. Malbern, Joseph Tathon, Charles I. Richey and Louis Wollrab. Mrs. Ripley stated that her husband had been in poor health for two years but had been feeling better of late. He frequently suffered with attacks of acute indigestion. The verdict of the jury was to the effect that the deceased came to his death of organic disease of the heart and congestion of the brain, the heart trouble being induced by an attack of accuse indigestion. After the inquest was concluded the body was removed to one of the local undertaking rooms.
Lived here since 1861 The deceased was born in Albany, New York, November 21, 1844, and was therefore sixty-five years of age at the time of his death. He was married when a young man and with his wife came to Bloomington in 1861, and have lived here continually since that time. One son was born to them, who died several years ago, leaving the widow, Mrs. Minerva Ripley the sole surviving relative. For over twenty-five years Mr. Ripley was a conductor on the Chicago & Alton but retired some years ago, since which time he has given music lessons on the violin, an instrument on which he was a finished performer. He possessed a genial and kindly disposition and had countless friends who will be greatly shocked to learn of his sudden decease. -The Pantagraph, Thursday Morning, December 9, 1909 (Bloomington)

Descendant Chart


1-  Minerva Crist b-
                  m-
                  d-
                  bur-
s-  Seaman C. Ripley b-1844
                     d-1909
                     bur-
  2-  William S. Ripley b-1867
                        m-(1)
                        m-(2)
                        d-
                        bur-
  s-  (1)
  s-  (2)
  2-  Mary Minerva Ripley b-1873
                          d-1874
                          bur-

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