Edith Loei Curtius was born on Nov. 30, 1885, at Walnut Hall, about one mile east of Carrollton, Illinois. Her father, Henry Curtius, married her mother, Loei Lee, in 1884. The grand home was owned by her paternal grandfather, Luman Beebe Curtius, on a part of the thousands of acres of land in Greene County settled by him after he came to Illinois from New York. A portion of this land was given to Greene county for its fairgrounds and Mr. Curtius was first president of the fair association. Mrs. Ridgly's father lived in the house all his life and died at the age of 90 in 1948. Her mother died in 1950.
Edith Curtius graduated from Carrollton High School and from Illinois State Normal University with a degree in music. She was a teacher in the public schools at Taylorville before her marriage on July 11, 1911, to William Silas Ridgly. W. S. had also been a teacher and was living in Taylorville when he started the coal mine there.
During their marriage, W. S. and Edith built two wonderful homes and traveled extensively. Edith was active in the DAR and in the Decatur Music Club and the Federation of Music clubs, being a trained musician with a lovely voice. She was president of the Decatur Civic Orchestra Assciation in 1935 and 1936.
She was actively involved at the Decatur Country Club in golf tournaments and frequently won or placed in the competitions. She enjoyed entertaining and was frequently mentioned in the paper for hosting gala gatherings at her home.
Survivors included a sister, Florence Curtius of San Francisco, California and a brother, harry Curttius of Danville, Illinois.