Ripley A. Hale is a native of
Norridgewock, Maine, born Sept. 12, 1825, and was a son
of Ebenezer Hale, of English birth, and Ann, nee
Densmore, born in Maine. They had eight children, of whom
Ripley was the fourth son. He attended school until this
thirteenth year, when he shipped as cabin boy on board
the ship "Fortune," and made two trips from
Boston to Germany. He next shipped aboard a ship bound
for China, and was gone eighteen months. He then started
to Calcutta, but was hurt while going around Cape Horn,
and was discharged at Valparaiso, Chili. When he
recovered he engaged with a company of whalers, and went
to the Sandwich Islands, thence to the Arctic Ocean,
taking about 3,000 barrels of oil. He made one trip to
Japan, then returned to Chili. He ran away from the
whalers there, and shipped in the brig
"Fortune," and sailed from St. Cholis, Chili,
to Panama two years, then came back to Baltimore, Md. He
ran on the West India trade as captain five years, and in
the spring of 1855 came to Iowa, and bought his present
farm. He was married in Ottawa, Ill., to Electa Thomas,
on March 13, 1856. She was born Aug. 2, 1827, in Maine,
and was a daughter of Melzer and Sarah (Grear) Thomas.
They have four children-- Ida, now Mrs. Ambrose Hughes;
Edwin T., married Alice Bryan; Elivin, married Clora
Annis, and Ada. Since his marriage Mr. Hale has made
three trips to the West Indies, but has now settled down
to farm life. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D,
Twenty-first Iowa Infantry Volunteers, and served two
years, when he was transferred to the gunboat
"Chickasaw," and remained there until the close
of the war. He particated in the battles of Champion
Hills, Vicksburg, and many others, and while on the
gunboat was in the bombardments of Forts Morgan, Gaines,
Powell, Spanish, and the capture of the gunboat
"Ram" at Mobile, Ala. At the close of the war
he returned to his farm, which consisted of 125 acres, 90
under clutivation and well stocked. In politics he is a
Republican, and has held many local offices. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 890 |