Cleric.
Born at Rothesay, Ontario on 27 September 1865, he first served as a local preacher in 1887. He came to western Canada in 1888 and had circuit ministries at Grenfell, Broadview, and Wascana. He attended Wesley College then Victoria College in Toronto, graduating with a theology degree from the latter, in 1893.
He was ordained by Dr. Albert Carman at Brandon later that year then served successively at Kemnay Methodist Church (?-?), Harding Methodist Church (?-?), Brandon Hills Methodist Church (?-?), Morris, Birtle, Miami (1907-1910), Franklin, Gordon Methodist (Winnipeg), Griswold, Alexander, Gladstone, High Bluff, St. Andrew’s United Church (1926-?), and Springhill (1909-1914). He retired in 1930 due to the ill health of his wife but continued to serve as a supply minister at numerous places, including two summers at Giroux, two years at Morse Place, a year at Gregg, and three summers at Home Street United Church (Winnipeg). After a period in Toronto, he supplied at Wawanesa, Grandview, Elgin, Deloraine United (1939-1940), and Fort Frances (Ontario). He was minister of St. Giles United Church for about a year and served briefly at Fort Garry, Grace, Home Street, and Gordon United churches.
On 8 November 1893, he married Elizabeth Ann Nugent (1859-1930) at Woodlands and they had five children: Marjorie Annie Grace Ridd (1894-1984, wife of Herald A. Rivers), John Elwood Ridd, Frances Marion Ridd (1898-1993, wife of Charles F. Caldwell), Dwight Nugent Ridd, and Dorothy Isabelle Ridd (1904-1905). In 1932, he married Ida May Nugent (?-1969). In 1949, he was given an honorary doctorate by United College.
He died at the Grace Hospital on 2 March 1955 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.
Birth, marriage, and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.
“Rev. J. W. Ridd dies; 62 years a minister,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 March 1955, page 6.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 4 March 1955, page 30.
Obituary [Ida May Ridd], Winnipeg Free Press, 21 May 1969, page 38.
Obituary [Marjorie Rivers], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 October 1984, page 48.
Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.
We thank Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 25 March 2023
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