WI BIO - Kenosha Co - RIPLEY, George H.

History of Kenosha and Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Lyman. Chicago: Clarke 
Publishing, 1916, vol II, pp 133-134

Dr. George H. RIPLEY, Kenosha, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, one of the 
distinguished homeopathic practitioners of Kenosha, was born 22 October 1860 
in the town of Oakfield [Oakfield Township], Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, a 
son of Charles T. and Lucy A. (HOLTON) RIPLEY. Charles T. RIPLEY was born in 
Bennington, Chittenden County, Vermont, a son of Allen and Laura RIPLEY, who 
were also born in Vermont.

Lucy A. (nee HOLTON) RIPLEY was born in Northfield, Franklin County, 
Massachusetts, and her ancestry is traced back to William HOLTON, who was 
born in 1611 in England, and on coming to America in 1634, established his 
home in Massachusetts, where he [William HOLTON] passed away 12 August 1691; 
his wife, Mary, died 16 November 1691.

The couple representing the second generation were John and Abigail HOLTON. 
John HOLTON died 16 April 1712; his widow survived for some years, as it is 
known that she was living in 1718. William HOLTON, of the third generation, 
born in 1679, was married 05 December 1706 to Abigail EDWARDS [a maiden 
name?] and died 13 November 1755.

The son of William and Abigail HOLTON, namely Samuel HOLTON, who was born in 
1710, died 11 April 1767. He [Samuel HOLTON] married Joanna MORTON [a maiden 
name?], who died 08 December 1796, at the age of eighty-two years. Their son 
[the son of Samuel and Joanna HOLTON], Samuel HOLTON II, was born in 1743 and 
passed away 07 January 1801. On 19 May 1770 he [Samuel HOLTON II] wedded 
Sarah ALEXANDER [a maiden name?], who died 28 July 1831, at the age of 
eighty-two years.

Samuel HOLTON III, who was born in Massachusetts in 1770, died on 01 December 
1851. He [Samuel HOLTON III] was married 22 June 1809 to Polly STRATTON [a 
maiden name?], who died 12 September 1860, aged seventy-nine years. [Their 
daughter] Lucy A. HOLTON, born in Northfield [Franklin County], Massachusetts 
in 1820, became the wife of Charles A. RIPLEY, who was born in Bennington 
[Chittenden County], Vermont in 1816.

In early life he [Charles A. RIPLEY] removed westward to Wisconsin, settling 
at Fond du Lac [Fond du Lac County ], where he took up the business of making 
daguerreotypes, then a recently invented process of photography [invented in 
1839, the only photographic process available until 1860]. He afterward 
turned his attention to farming. Charles A. RIPLEY died 20 October 1861 in 
Oakfield [Oakfield Township, Fond du Lac County], Wisconsin. The wife of 
Charles A. RIPLEY, Lucy A. (HOLTON) RIPLEY, survived him for many years, and 
died in 1887. They were consistent Christian people, holding membership in 
the Congregational [p 134] church.

Their family [the family of Charles and Lucy A. (HOLTON) RIPLEY] numbered 
three sons: (1) Charles S., of Aurora [Brookings County], South Dakota, who 
died in 1914; (2) Frederick W., living in Kenosha [Kenosha County, 
Wisconsin]; and (3) Dr. [George H.] RIPLEY, of this review.

George H. RIPLEY spent the days of his boyhood and youth on his father's farm 
and acquired his early education in the district schools. Later he became a 
student in Lawrence University at Appleton [Outagamie County], Wisconsin. 
Determining upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he afterward 
entered Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago [Cook County, Illinois] and is 
numbered among its alumni of 1891.

For a brief period he engaged in practice in Chicago, but soon returned to 
Kenosha, and has since followed his profession in this city. His ability 
form the first has been recognized and, moreover, it is known that he is an 
earnest and discriminating student of his profession, at all times keeping in 
touch with modern thought, research and investigation.

Dr. George H. RIPLEY belongs to the Kenosha County Medical Society, the 
Wisconsin State Homeopathic Society, the American Institute of Homeopathy, 
and the American Medical Association. He is also a member of the State Board 
of Medical Examiners, and his high standing with the profession and 
especially in regard to his colleagues and contemporaries is indicated in his 
having served as President of the [Kenosha] county and [Wisconsin] state 
medical societies, and of the state board of examiners.

On 08 December 1886 Dr. [George H.] RIPLEY was married to Miss Florence M. 
FELLOWS of Kenosha, a daughter of Henry and Matilda (STANNARD) FELLOWS. They 
hold membership in the Methodist church, in the work of which Mrs. RIPLEY 
takes most active part. In politics the Doctor is a Republican, but the 
active duties of his profession leave him no time for participation in 
political work.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly