Mary Jane Heltonburg was born on 19 January 1855 at Lawrence Co.,
Indiana. She married John Ridge on 20 March 1904 at Monroe Co., Indiana.
She died on 20 May 1914 at Smithville, Monroe Co., Indiana, cause of
death was listed as Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
In 1900, Mary was a resident of Clear Creek Twp., Monroe Co., Indiana, at
the time of the Census as a widow with these children living with her,
Joseph L, Hiram M., Izella E., Maud E., Rosetta F., Nancy P., Grover C.,
and Paris.
On 4 March 1904 at Bloomington Telephone, Bloomington, Indiana, this
notice appeared:
"Evidently cupid is no respector of age down at Smithville for tonight
John R. Ridge, three-score-and-ten and Mary A. Shields, aged 50, will be
joined in holy wedlock. Squire Botkin will tie the nuptial knot."
In 1910, Mary was a resident of Clear Creek Twp., Monroe Co., Indiana, at
the time of the Census living with son Joseph Lenzy.
Mary Jane's obituary appeared on 21 May 1914 in the Bloomington
Telephone, Bloomington, Monroe Co., Indiana, and it read;
"Mrs. Mary Shields, aged 59, died Wednesday night at the home in
Smithville after an illness of several weeks with Asthma. The funeral
from the Christian Church of that town Friday at 1:30 in charge of Elder
Oldham and burial in K. of P. cemetery. Mrs Shields was a faithful member
of the Christian church and was well known in that community. She was a
daughter of Nancy Hellenburg and a sister of David and Joseph Hellenburg,
Nancy Craycraft, Martha Madams (sic) Adams and Izella Meadows. Mr Shields
died 17 years ago. The children are Joseph Everett and Grover Shields,
Stell Grape, Mrs. George Floyd, Mrs. Thomas Vaught, Mrs Maude Clines,
Mrs. Aaron Wampler, Miss Pearl Shields."