Ridgley, Edwin Reed, member of Congress, was born on May 9, 1884, near Lancaster, Wabash county, Ill. His education was acquired in the local district schools during the winter months until he was seventeen years of age. Early in 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois infantry and took an active part with his regiment in all actions and engagements until mustered out of the service at the close of the war. In 1869, in company with his brother, he came to Kansas and located near Girard, where they engaged in a general mercantile business, under the firm name of Ridgley Bros. From 1889 to 1893, Mr. Ridgley lived in Ogden, Utah, but returned to Kansas in the last named year and took an active part in politics. He had left the Republican party in 1876, because of its financial policy. In 1896 he was nominated for Congress by the Populists and his nomination was endorsed by the Democratic party. He was elected as a Fusion candidate and reëlected in 1898. Upon retiring from Congress he again resumed his business.