Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

Henry RIPSOM, Superintendent of cooper shop, Lockport; was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Sept. 
15, 1809; in 1811, his father moved to Syracuse, Onondaga Co.; at that time but two or three 
houses were standing where Syracuse now is; at the age of 15, he ran away from home, and 
coming to Lower Sandusky, Ohio, engaged in learning his trade; he afterward returned home, 
but at the age of 20 settled in Clarkson, Monroe Co., N. Y.; in 1848, he came West, settled 
in Lockport, entering the employ of Norton & Co.; March, 1850, he took the position of 
Superintendent of the cooper shop, and has been continued in that position ever since. He 
was married in August 1832, to Eliza COLESON, a native of New York State; has had eight 
children - Nancy, Isabel, Ursula, Alice (living), Elizabeth, Sarah, Clarkson, Cora 
(deceased). From 1832 to 1846, he was engaged in boating on the Erie Canal in the employ 
of the Merchants' line. The shadow's of two great afflictions have rested upon the family 
hearthstone during the past ten years, that of the untimely death of the only son Clarkson, 
as also that of the sudden decease of the youngest daughter, Cora; in the early part of 
the winter of 1868, Clarkson, a young man of 19 summers, while coasting with young friends 
on the streets of Lockport, was almost instantly killed by coming in contact with a team 
standing in the street; a few years later little Cora, a bright and interesting child 9 
years of age, fell from the suspension bridge into the canal and was drowned, her body 
being rescued in about one hour from the time of the accident. Mr. RIPSOM at present 
holds the office of Township Collector.