Born in Nevada, Missouri, Ridge was in the United States Army from 1917 to 1919 and was a deputy clerk of Jackson County, Missouri from 1919 to 1921 before reading law to enter the bar in 1923.
He was in private practice in Missouri from 1925 to 1934, and was a judge of the Circuit Court of Jackson County from 1935 to 1945.
[1] Ridge was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 12, 1945, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri vacated by Judge Merrill E. Otis.
His service terminated on June 29, 1961, due to elevation to the Eighth Circuit.
[1] Ridge was nominated by President John F. Kennedy on May 23, 1961, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated by Judge Archibald K. Gardner.