Date of Service: 1900-1930
1873 Born on March 8, 1873, in Mathews County, VA. to parents John S. & Elizabeth Davis Ripley
1900 Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Cherrystone Bar Lighthouse (VA). His annual salary was $435.
1901-1905 Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Pages Rock Lighthouse (VA). His annual salary was $420.
1905-1907 Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Smith Point Lighthouse (VA). His annual salary was $550.
1907-1908 Serves as Principal Keeper at Old Plantation Flats Lighthouse (VA). His annual salary was $576.
1908-1930 Serves as Principal Keeper at Nansemond River Lighthouse (VA). His beginning annual salary was $576, and his ending annual salary was $1,620.
1916 Is awarded the Inspector’s Gold Efficiency Star for service at Nansemond River Lighthouse. This annual award was presented by the local district lighthouse inspector.
1922 Is awarded the Commissioner’s Efficiency Star for service at Nansemond River Lighthouse. This award was presented to keepers who received the Inspector’s Gold Efficiency Star for three consecutive years.
1924 Is awarded the Commissioner’s Efficiency Star for service at Nansemond River Lighthouse.
1930 Retires from the United States Lighthouse Service.
1945 Died on January 31, 1945, at the U.S. Marine Hospital in Norfolk, VA from pneumonia. He is buried at Friendship Cemetery, Susan, VA. He was survived by one sister and one brother.
Sources – www.uslhs.org; Chesapeake Chapter Database
