Francis Ida (Willett) Thompson (1877 - aft. 1930)

Born Mar 1877 in Maryland

Ancestors

Wife of John Henry Ridgeway — married 22 May 1895 in Washington, DC

Descendants

Died after 1930 after age 52 in Providence Hospital in Washington, DC

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THOUGHTS: This is my husband's Great Grandmother. Ida Willett Ridgeway. Her life was complicated by her mom's second marriage and half-siblings. And, her daughter Ruth (our grandmother) was divorced by her husband, our grandfather. Then Ruth was injured in a revenuer chase as an innocent nearby vehicle and Ruth died from complications at age 33. Ida's father, Fielden Willett, was 61 when Ida was born; her mom was only 24! A huge difference in ages; and then he died when he was 63. Ida had one sibling, Wm. Arthur Willett born two years before Ida. The marriage of Ida's mom Laura to her stepfather Philip Martin, Sr., created a tremendous amount of anger by her brother William who actually beat up his stepfather; Philip feared Wm. always. Then, her half sibling Philip Jr. became a criminal in his 20s and died young. I have found nothing to indicate that Ida and Henry Ridgeway did not have a good marriage despite at times having their own place and at times having to live with the Martins. Her second marriage was the one we were aware of, to John Warren Thompson. Learning about her first husband, John Henry Ridgeway, father of Ruth, is one of the wonders of genealogy!

Biography

BIRTH 1877: When Francis Ida Willett was born in March 1877 in Maryland, her father, Fielden D. Willett, was 61, and her mother, Laura T. Coombs Willett was 24. This was Fielden's second marriage. He had two daughters by his first marriage to an "Elizabeth".

DEATH OF FATHER 1879 Ida's father was 61 when she was born and two years later he died in Charles County, Maryland. He was 63.

1880 CENSUS: Harder times have befallen our widowed GGGrandmother Laura Willett. She has moved by choice or more likely by necessity to Middleton, Charles County, MD to live with her father John C. Coombs who is a 56 year old farmer and his young wife Mary who is just 26. Ida's mom Laura is 25 and almost as old as her stepmom Mary who is 26.

1882: Within two years, Laura has remarried and moved again with her children William and Ida. In 1882 Laura married her second (and last) husband, Philip A. Martin (Sr.), born in Germany around 1847, he immigrated to America at between the ages of 6 and 13. Laura and Philip had four children together, Maggie Martin b. April 1883; Philip (Jr.), b. August 1884; George E. born about 1885, and John Francis "Frank" born June 29, 1886.

NOTE regarding Ida's brother WILLIAM A. WILLET: Ida's biological brother, William Arthur Willett grew up to detest his stepfather and actually beat his stepfather Philip Martin on one occasion. Note: William Arthur was born September 29, 1875. William lived till August 4, 1949.

William Arthur Willett brother of Ida beats up his stepfather Phillip Martin

HALF SIBLINGS:

Birth of Half-Sister Maggie Martin born in April 1883 when Francis Ida was 6 years old.

Birth of Half-Brother Phillip Alexander Martin Jr. was born in August 1884 when Francis Ida was 7 years old. He will live till 1911.

Ida's half-brother Philip A. Martin, Jr., was a criminal in his 20s and died young, at the age of 26 in June 1911. He is buried at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery in DC. The news article of an explosion and attempted robbery is likely Philip Martin Jr. This is from the Washington Post also, on Sep 12, 1902 page 4. Philip Jr. would have been about age 18 at this time.

Criminal History Articles on Philip Alexander Martin, Jr.

Birth of Half-Brother George E Martin born in May 1886 when Francis Ida was 9 years old.

Birth of Half-Brother John Francis "Frank" Martin was born on June 29, 1886, when Francis Ida was 9 years old.

MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN

MARRIAGE 1895 Ida married John Henry Ridgeway on 22 May 1895 in DC and they had five children together. Ida was 18.

1) RUTH A. RIDGEWAY (our grandmother) was born in Maryland on March 7, 1896.

2) ELVA JOSEPHINE "ELVIE" RIDGEWAY. Elvie married Henry Douglas Trammell on August 13, 1914, in DC. They had two children during their marriage, Ellen and Leslie. She died on September 3, 1965, in District of Columbia, at the age of 67, and is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland, MD.

NOTE: 1898-1899 MOVE: The Ridgeways move from Maryland to DC; perhaps this is when they moved in with her mom Laura Willett Martin and stepdad Philip Martin. Philip and Laura have 4 children of their own at that home.

3) Daughter MARIAN LORETTA RIDGEWAY is born in December of 1899 in DC. At the age of 15, Marian married Robert Hamilton Beach on August 2, 1915, in DC. She died on August 15, 1985, in Clinton, Maryland, at the age of 85.

1900 Census: Ida and Henry Ridgeway are definitely now living with their three daughters, Ruth, Elvie and Marion at the home of Ida's mom and stepdad Philip Martin at 28 Grant Street in DC. Ida Willett Ridgeway is the stepdaughter of Philip Martin. Both Henry and Philip are day laborers. So in 1900 the house is full with 11 people: 65 year Philip; 40 year old Mom/Laura; a 17, 15, 14, 12 year old and Ida and Henry at 23 each with kids Ruth, Elvie and Marion ranging from 4 years of age to 5 months. Wow!

4) Daughter ETHEL M. RIDGEWAY is born about 1907 in DC. Ethel married Raymond George Van Heiten and they had one child Marjorie Jean born February 10, 1929, a Depression Era baby. Raymond was a T/Sgt in the USMC and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Raymond was born on 3/10/1900 and enlisted in the Marines 11/15/1921 and retired from the Marines on 12/1/1951 - 30 years of service. He died just months later on 3/12/1952, at the age of 52. Note: A T/Sgt in Marines was an E-6 and the sole rank in this grade. After 1959 (after his death) this rank became E-7 Gunnery Sergeant.

5) Daughter MARY A. RIDGEWAY is born about 1909 in DC. I do not have other information on her at this time.

1910 Census: Ida and Henry Ridgeway family are living in their own place again in DC. Henry is an ironworker. Henry is 38 and Ida is 32. Precinct 3, Washington, District of Columbia

1911 Death of Half-Brother, Phillip Alexander Martin, Jr., on June 5, 1911, when Francis Ida was 34 years old.

1912 DEATH OF IDA'S HUSBAND HENRY RIDGEWAY: Ida's husband Henry Ridgeway died on January 3, 1912 in Prince George's County, MD.

In three years Ida will marry her 2nd and last husband, James Warren Thompson. ---

John Warren Thompson 1927 DC.

MARRIAGE 17 Feb 1915: Ida married John Warren Thompson on February 17, 1915, in District of Columbia. She was 37. John will live from 1879 to 1915. Ida's younger daughters were eventually adopted by John Warren Thompson: Ethel and Mary. ^[1]

Residence: Francis Ida Willett lived in Washington, District of Columbia, in 1915.

America Enters World War I

1920 Census: Ida Thompson now lived on Mail Road in Washington, District of Columbia with her husband J W Thompson. She is a housewife. He is a blacksmith at the Navy Yard in DC. Living with them are:

Ethel Thompson 12 (This is Ida and Henry's dau. Ethel Ridgeway)

Warren Thompson 11 (Is this Reginald Warren, Son of J W Thompson?)

Mary Thompson 11 (This is Ida and Henry's dau. Mary A. Ridgeway)

Francis Thompson 9 (?Daughter of J W Thompson?)

1895 John Warren Thompson's dad Frank Thompson, a blacksmith at US Capitol

1929 Tragic Death of Daughter Ruth Alice Ridgeway Cator Fowler who passed away on July 7, 1929, in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 33.

Death of Half-Brother John Francis "Frank" Martin who died on April 5, 1930, in DC.

1930 Census Francis Ida Willet Thompson lived in Spauldings, Prince George's County, MD. John is listed as 51; Ida 52; and daughter Frances Thompson 20. John is a blacksmith for a steam heating plant. Frances is a 'peanut buller?' in a candy factory.

DEATH OF IDA: Francis Ida Willet Thompson died after 1930 in Washington, District of Columbia, when she was about 53 years old. She died at Providence Hospital. In the 1940 Census her husband John Warren Thompson was listed as a widower.

DEATH OF Ida's mom 1932, Laura Willett Martin died on June 19, 1932, at the age of 79, at home which was located on 418 G Street SE, DC. Laura, a Catholic, had final mass at St. Peter's Church and was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

SOURCES

Year: 1880; Census Place: Middletown, Charles, Maryland

Year: 1900; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: 158; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0010; FHL microfilm: 1240158

Year: 1910; Census Place: Precinct 3, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: T624_150; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0042; FHL microfilm: 1374163

Year: 1920; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: T625_211; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 360; Image: 1021

Year: 1930; Census Place: Spaulding, Prince George´S, Maryland; Roll: 877; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0015; Image: 837.0; FHL microfilm: 2340612

Ancestry Family Trees

District of Columbia, Compiled Marriage Index, 1830-1921 Ida F Willet Female Marriage Date 22 May 1895 Washington, District of Columbia FHL Film Number 2108211 Reference ID it 1 v 37 p 84 Household Members John H Ridgeway Ida F Willet

District of Columbia, Select Deaths and Burials Index, 1769-1960

U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995

District of Columbia, Compiled Marriage Index, 1830-1921 Ida Ridgeway. Widowed. White. Age 36. Birth Date 1879 Marriage Date 17 Feb 1915 District of Columbia to John Warren Thompson FHL Film Number 2109855 Reference ID p 231 cn 68731

1. ↑ Per Todd Beach