Ridgely, James Lot
lawyer, author, was born Jan. 27, 1807, in Baltimore, Md. He was a member of the Baltimore council in 1834-35; of the state house of delegates in 1838, and of the constitutional conventions of 1849 and 1864. He was for twelve years register of wills for Baltimore county, several years president of the board of education, and aided in establishing the present public school system in 1848. He is the principal author of the various rituals that are now in use. He has also written Odd-Fellowship-What Is It? The Odd-Fellow's Pocket Companion; and many other works of a similar character. He was the editor of The Covenant, the official magazine of the order. He died Nov. 16, 1881, in Baltimore, Md.