James W. Ripley

James W. Ripley
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1814–1819
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Maine's 5th district
In office September 11, 1826 – March 12, 1830
Preceded by	Enoch Lincoln
Succeeded by	Cornelius Holland
Personal details
Born	March 12, 1786 Hanover, New Hampshire
Died	June 17, 1835 (aged 49) Fryeburg, Maine
Resting place	Village Cemetery, Fryeburg, Maine
Political party	Jacksonian
Spouse(s)	Abigail Osgood
Relations	Eleazar Wheelock Ripley
Alma mater	Fryeburg Academy
Profession	Attorney Politician

James Wheelock Ripley (March 12, 1786 – June 17, 1835) was an American attorney and Jacksonian politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the Massachusetts House of Representatives during the 1800s.

Early life and career

Ripley was born in Hanover, New Hampshire the son of Sylvanus Ripley and Abigail Wheelock Ripley. He attended the common schools and Fryeburg Academy, studied law and was admitted to the bar.^[1] He began the practice of law in Fryeburg, Maine, (which was a part of Massachusetts until 1820).

He served in the War of 1812 and was elected a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, serving from 1814-1819.^[2] He was elected from Maine to the Nineteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Enoch Lincoln. On the same day he was elected to the Twentieth Congress.^[3] He was reelected to the Twenty-first Congress, serving in Congress from September 11, 1826 to March 12, 1830 when he resigned.

After leaving Congress, Ripley resumed the practice of law and was a collector of customs for the district of Passamaquoddy, Maine from December 16, 1830 until his death in Fryeburg on June 17, 1835.^[4] He is interred in the Village Cemetery in Fryesburg.

Personal life

Ripley married Abigail Osgood, and they had eight children.^[5] Ripley was the brother of Eleazar Wheelock Ripley, a brigadier general in the War of 1812 and a U. S. Representative from Louisiana.^[6]

References

1. United States Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office,. 1913. p. 957.
2. "Ripley, James W.". Maine An Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
3. "Ripley, James W.". Maine An Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
4. Cogswell, William (1846). The New Hampshire Repository, Volumes 1-2. Alfred Prescott,. p. 112.
5. "James Wheelock Ripley". Ancestry.com. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
6. Baylies, Nicholas (1890). Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, of the War of 1812. Brewster & Company. p. 12.

External links

• United States Congress. "James W. Ripley (id: R000266)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.