FOUNTAIN BURR RIDGEWAY, M. D.
 
        Fountain Burr RIDGEWAY, M. D., a member of both the county and 
state medical associations, is a gentleman of trained abilities and 
skilled resources, which have brought him into public notice and won 
for him the regard, esteem and respect justly due to a man of his 
usefulness in the community.  He is a son of Christian Fountain and 
Mary Sophia (Burr) Ridgeway, both natives of West Virginia.
	Christian Fountain Ridgeway was born in 1827, and died in 1899.  
He was a merchant, enjoyed a prosperous business and was elected in 
1880 as sheriff of Upshur county, West Virginia, and served until 
1884.  No Democratic candidate has been elected to that office before 
or since for the past forty years.  He at last became a farmer and 
was well-to-do.  He was member of the Baptist church.  He married 
Mary Sophia Burr, who was born in Buckhannon, West Virginia, in 1840, 
a daughter of John J. Burr and a distant relative of the Aaron Burr 
family.  She is still living at Buckhannon.  Of the six children born 
to them five grew to maturity, namely:  Gertrude M., born in 
Buckhannon in1862, and died in 1885; Effie A., born in 1864, deceased 
in 1885; Fountain Burr; John R., born in 1868, who is engaged in the 
merchandise business and also takes care of the home farm of 500 
acres at Buckhannon; and Grace L., born in 1870, who lives with her 
mother.
	Dr. Ridgeway acquired his education in the public schools of 
Buckhannon, completing a course in the high school of that place.  He 
decided to study medicine and went into the office of Dr. J. R. Blair 
and George Edmondson, both prominent doctors at Buckhannon, and 
remained two years studying.  He then entered the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, and received his 
diploma in April, 1891, as a physician and surgeon.  His first 
location was on the Island in Wheeling, but he removed later to No. 
833 Market street, where he is at present.
	In July, 1892, he was united in marriage with Mattie E. Sharp, 
a daugher of William and Martha Sharp, who was born June 11, 1869.  
She is a member of the Fourth Street M. E. church.  In politics our 
subject is a Democrat.  His high standing everywhere proves his 
fidelity to his patients and his success demonstrates his talents.

From "HISTORY OF WHEELING and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens."  Edited & Compiled by Hon. Gibson Lamb 
Cranmer.  Biographical Publishing, 1902; p. 366-369. 

(Laurie Birks Dean)