Welcome to the November/December 2007 edition of the Ridgdill Family
Newsletter.  After the second newsletter, and I thought there would be a lot
more information to report.  I've been trying to get everyone to send me their
stories, photos, etc. (I'll still take a good recipe!), but there's still been only two
that's sent me anything.  The newsletter is still new, so hopefully, it will get
better.  Please let me know what you'd like to see in the newsletter.  As always,
I'm open for suggestions.  

Please send me your ideas, stories, photographs, etc.  We can include such
things as births/birthdays, engagement/wedding announcements, family
reunions, vacations, awards, graduations, deaths/obituaries (Heaven forbid), or
anything else of interest; whatever you'd like to see.  This is OUR newsletter.

Please remember this is a bi-monthly newsletter.  So, please get your
information to me in time to be included in the next edition.  As always, your
feedback is appreciated.  Thanks.
The Ridgdill Family Newsletter
      "Intertangled, intertwined, I love my family, each & every vine!"
Nov/Dec 2007
It may not be what it seems.
    A few years ago, I placed a new
marker on my gr-grandfather's grave
to commemorate his military service.
His grave had a small concrete
marker, but it was becoming hard to
read.
   Early on, I had been confused by
the fact that there was a newer double
marker to the right of my gr-grandfath-
ers grave, with his and my gr-grand-
mothers birth/death dates.  I remem-
bered hearing the old story of how my
gr-grandmother sold eggs, saved the
money, and used it to buy the double
marker.  When she died some twenty-
four years after my gr-grandfather, I
assumed, since there was already a
marker on his grave, they simply
placed the double marker on hers.  
After all, it was only four feet wide.  A
logical assumption.  I thought!
   The new marker I purchased was
placed in front of the small marker
where it remained for over a year,
until my aunt visited the cemetery.  
She told me the new marker was very
nice.  I felt kind of proud until she told
me I had placed it on the wrong grave!
At that point, I was totally confused.
Had I not placed it in front of the small
marker?  "Yes," she said, "but that's
not where he's buried."  Just shoot
me!
   She explained that when she was a
young girl in the late 1930's, she'd
accompanied her mother to help
clean the cemetery, as families used
to do back then.  She, too, noticed
there were two markers.  Her mother
explained that when her grandmother
died, and the new double marker was
placed, the small marker was placed
on their son William's grave who had
died in 1891, and had never had his
own marker.  The family wanted
people to know, at least, that some-
one was buried there.  
    As I said, it may not be what it
seems.  Never assume.  I doubt if
there's anyone else still living who
knew the reason for the two markers.  
Had I not placed the new marker on
the wrong grave, my aunt would have
had no reason to tell me.  No one else
may never have known.  
  By the way, I placed a new marker
on Uncle Bill's grave.  He finally got
his own marker.  He only had to wait
108 years!  jmr
Copyright Ridgdill Family History Research.  All rights reserved.
               Birthdays
Amanda Ridgdill Hamrick of
Phenix City, AL, will be celebrat-
ing her birthday on Dec. 2nd.

My mother, Gloria, will be cele-
brating her birthday on Dec. 4th.
She was born on her father's
birthday.  Now, that was some
birthday present.  I love you,
Momma.

My son, John Michael, Jr., will be
celebrating his 29th birthday on
December 24th.  Yes, Santa sent
us the perfect Christmas gift.

My niece, Kristina Michelle Lindsey
will be celebrating her eighteenth
birthday on December 21st.

My grandson, James Clayton
Akins will be celebrating his 13th
birthday on December 27th.  Thir-
teen going on thirty!
Issue No. 3
Paul Ridgdill, above, celebrated his 90th
birthday on September 29th with his daugh-
ters and family.  Pictured below l-r are
Barbara Ridgdill Bjorklund, Patty Ridgdill
Hall, wife Mary, Sandy Ridgdill Livingston,
Paul, and Rosemary Ridgdill Carlson.
1864 Georgia Militia Reorganization

By late 1863, Georgia realized their
resources for supplying troops to the
Confederate Army were all but deplet-
ed.  Governor Joe Brown was under
constant pressure from President
Jefferson Davis to supply more troops.

Governor Brown advocated a strong
state defense, which became an
object of great struggle between Gov.
Brown and President Davis.  Brown
new something had to be done to
provide for the protection of women,
children , and invalids living in the
state.

In December 1863, a law titled The
1864 Census for Re-organizing the
Georgia Militia was passed by the
Georgia legislature.  This census in-
cluded the names of some 42,000
white males between the ages of 16
and 60, who were not already in the
service of The Confederate States.  
Many of these were exempt from serv-
ice due to age or disability, but were
deemed able to serve in the local
militia, and perform such homefront
duties as might be required.

To accomplish enrollment,  lists were
drawn up by counties, and within
counties by militia districts.  Each one
of the 42,000 men enrolled was listed
by his name, age, occupation, place of
birth, and reason (if any) for his
exemption from military service.

The reorganization placed the militia
into one of three categories, the Militia
Active, Militia Proper, and Militia
Reserve.  The Militia Active was the
Georgia Militia turned over to the
CSA, and was no longer under state
command.  This was the 1st Division
of the Georgia Militia which had four
brigades of infantry with three regi-
ments in each brigade.

The Militia Proper and Militia Reserve
had the home guards and other units
merged into it, and would have been
known as the 2nd Division if the regi-
ments and battalions had been organ-
ized into brigades and turned over to
CSA command.  However, this never
happened.

The Militia Proper was composed of
those between the ages of seventeen
and fifty, and if necessary would be the
first activated for military duty.  The
Militia Reserve was composed of
those between the ages of 16 and 17,
and between the ages of 50 and 60.
                                (cont.)
(cont.)
The Militia Reserves were organized
with the Militia Proper, but were not
required to drill or perform any military
duties, until the Militia Proper was
called into active service.  Nor were
they subject to any draft, or other com-
pulsory process to fill any requisition
for troops, upon the Governor of
Georgia, by the President of the CSA.

This law was enacted to ensure the
protection of the citizens of Georgia.  
An indirect affect of this law was it's
protection of men of certain ages
from being called into military service
by Pres. Davis.  As a result, the
Georgia Militia became known as
"Governor Joe Brown's pets."

A further result, and one that affects
us even today, is that every white
male living in the state of Georgia in
1864, who were born between 1803
and 1847, could be a Confederate
veteran.

So, if you are considering joining the
United Daughters of the Confederacy,
or the Sons of Confederate Veterans,
and you're not sure if you have a Con-
federate ancestor, look at your male
ancestors born during these years.  It
may be you already have a qualifying
ancestor, and don't know it.  jmr
Words of Wisdom
Never have truer words been
spoken.  "When Mama ain't
happy, ain't nobody happy!"
Words To Live By
    My grandson will turn 13 in
December.  He's at that age
where he thinks he's grown.  
He's always right, and
everyone else is always
wrong. Oh, and he never
gets to go anywhere, even
though he is constantly going
somewhere; never wants to
stay home.  Sound familiar?  
Needless to say, this has
caused quite a rift between
him and his mother.  So, who
does he run to for
understanding?  Papa &
Ninny, of course.  
   Recently, I gave him this
advice.  There are two words
in the English language that
will let you live your entire life
in peace and harmony; "Yes,
Ma'am."  Two simple little
words, yet so powerful.  No
matter what your mother
says, just say "Yes, Ma'am."  
No matter what she tells you
to do, just say "Yes, Ma'am."
It doesn't matter whether or
not you think she's right.  She
may be totally wrong.  Just
say "Yes, Ma'am."  This
satisfies your mother, and
let's her tell her friends what
every parent wishes they
could say, "I never have any
trouble with my child!"
   This not only applies to
dealing with your mother, but
you can also apply this once
you find that "perfect" girl,
and get married.  No matter
what your "perfect" wife says,
or whatever she wants you to
do, just say "Yes, Ma'am."  
I've been married 34 years; I
know what I'm talking about.  
   I told him that I'd given this
same advice to his father
when he married my
daughter.  After their first
argument, I asked didn't he
realize when he said "I do,"
that he gave up all rights to
ever being right, again?  
Whatever she says, what-
ever she does, she's always
right, and you're always
wrong.  That's just the way it
is.  Get used to it.
   Yep, just say, "Yes,
Ma'am."  This will satisfy your
wife, and will let her be able
to tell her friends what every
wife wishes they could say,
"I've got my husband
well-trained!"  
   No, this doesn't mean
you're a wimp, and it doesn't
mean you won't get your
way,at least part of the time.  
You just have to be smart.  
Pick the battles you know you
can win.  But, on those occa-
sions when you get backed
into a corner with no way out,
remember the advice your
Papa gave you; just say
"Yes, Ma'am."
   He really is a good boy.
He's just so hard-headed!
I would like to thank Amanda Ridgdill
Hamrick, and her father Ricky, for
sending me their family information.  
It's always nice to find new cousins.  I
would also like to thank Sandy Ridgdill
Livingston for sending all the photos.
Clay Akins plays center for the
Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs
C-Team.  This year, the Bulldogs
C-Team won the Georgia Region
3-A Championship with only one
loss.  Congratulations!
Please, let me know if there's a problem.
    Well folks, I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.  
Since I started the web site, I've never received one negative
comment.  I've tried to make it the best possible, and I've tried
to present the info and photos I've received in a respectable
manner.  Recently, though, I'm afraid I made a distant cousin in
Florida very mad.  
   After receiving some photos, I advised the cousin I had
repaired the photos, not realizing the flaws were a result of the
email transfer.  I received an email stating there was nothing
wrong with the photos, and that they didn't need any help with
the computer, or with re-touching photos.  I sent an email ex-
plaining everything, and asked that they please except my
heartfelt apology.  I didn't receive a reply.  Instead, the next time
I emailed everyone on the web site mailing list that updates
had been posted, their email was returned with a message that
they were "no longer accepting mail from this sender."
   Everyone needs to know how very sorry I am that this hap-
pened.  I would never intentionally do or say anything to make
someone mad, or hurt someone's feelings.  If I ever do, don't
just cut me off.  Let me know what I did, and give me a chance
to explain.  If I don't know there's a problem, how can I make
things right?  I pray nothing like this ever happens, again.  Take
care, and may God bless you all.  Mike
   Congratulations to the Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs on winning their
2nd consecutive Georgia Region 3-A Football Championship.  The Bulldogs
went undefeated the past two seasons in region play.  Last year, ECI lost in
the first round of the state playoffs.  This year, however, is another story.  Not
only did they advance to the playoffs, but have thus far advanced to the semi-
finals played in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta where they won impressively,
and are now on the verge of winning their first Georgia High School Associa-
tion State Championship since 1923.  They'll face their last opponent Friday,
December 15th.  Hopefully, they'll bring the title back to Twin City.  Go Dawgs!