SASKATCHEWAN AND ITS PEOPLE
1924

         W. R. RIDINGTON.  
         

A leading citizen of Battleford is W. R. Ridington, Sheriff, Local
Registrar and Clerk of Court. He was born in London, England, on the
5th of April, 1870, a son of William Richards and Cecelia James (Ennor)
Ridington, natives of Cornwall, England. Mr. Ridington was a building
contractor and followed that line of work in his native country until the
spring of 1889, when he came to Canada and located at Birtle, Manitoba,
where he bought land and engaged in farming. He was thus occupied
until 1896, when he disposed of his interests and returned to England,
where he lived until his death in November, 1912, at the age of eighty-
six years. Mrs. Ridington survives him and is living in London, at the
age of ninety-five years.
    W. R. Ridington received his education in the Wesleyan Methodist
schools in London and completed his education at Wood Grange College
Manor Park, London. He was then apprenticed to G. J. Hoskins & Sons
building contractors of Forest Gate, London, for five years and in 1889
he came to Canada with his father, mother and brother and located in
the Birtle district.  There he farmed and ranched for seven years, or
until 1896, when he engaged in contracting at Foxwarren, Manitoba, and
continued there until the fall of 1902, when he removed to Winnipeg and
became associated with the emigration department. In the summer of
1903 he was sent to Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, to take charge of the
Barr Colony and he erected the government buildings there and was
likewise active as emigration agent, and also as homestead inspector
He was thus engaged until June of the year 1907, when he was transferred
to Battleford as senior assistant in the Dominion Land Office and in
1909 he was appointed Dominion land agent here.  In January, 1911
he was appointed liquor license inspector for Saskatchewan and in De-
cember of the year 1913 received his appointment as sheriff. He is now
Sheriff, Local Registrar and Clerk of Court. Mr. Ridington has been in
civil service for some twenty-one years.
    On the 26th. of February, 1896, Mr. Ridington was married to Miss
Emily Louisa Day of London, England, and they have become the parents
 of the following children: Gertrude Rosina, born at Foxwarren, Mani-
toba, on the 26th of April, 1898, is now in the Local Registrar's office
in Battleford; John, born on the 4th of November, 1899, is relief agent
of the western division of the Canadian National Railroad; Cecelia, born
on the 11th of August, 1901, is living at home; Erie William, born on the
28d of July, 1906, is now a student in the Battleford Collegiate Institute;
and Florence Edith, born on the 19th of November, 1910, is a student
in the Battleford Collegiate Institute.
    For many years Mr. Ridington has been chairman of the Battleford
Collegiate Institute and for fifteen years he has served on the Protestant
public school board here.  He is first vice president of the Canadian
Club and is a diretor and life member of the North Battleford Agricul-
tural Society. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons and is past
master of Battleford Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; first principal of Battleford
Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and a member of Regina Lodge of Per-
fection, Regina, Saskatchewan.  Mr. Ridington is taking the Scottish
Rite route. For fifteen years he was fire chief of the volunteer depart-
ment here and was a member and manager of the Battleford Brass Band
for seven years. He is president of the Battleford Golf Club. Mr. Rid-
ington's hobby is mechanics and he has a fine shop with all of the latest
tools and equipment and he does all of the work on his automobiles.  Mr.
Ridington owns a beautiful home here. He is essentially a public-spirited
man and has always done his share in promoting any movement for the
benefit of the community. He has participated in many entertainment
and has often taken the part of John Bull. His religious faith is that of
the Methodist church and he is trustee of church property.  For forty-
years he sang in the Methodist church choirs, beginning at the age
of ten years. He has a very fine baritone voice and is now soloist in the
local church.
         
         

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