Dr. Richard Brayton Redway, one of the best known dentists in the central part of the Empire state, was born in Ilion, New York, on August 16, 1873, the son of Albert P. and Frances A. (Wright) Redway. Albert P. Redway was born in Adams, Jefferson county, New York, on September 2, 1837, and died in Ilion on September 5, 1882, being killed by a New York Central train. He was a dry goods merchant all of his life in Ilion and was a stanch democrat in politics. He was the son of Albert Preserve and Maria (Sessions) Redway. Frances A. (Wright) Redway was born in Adams, New York, on March 23, 1839, and died in Ilion, on January 30, 1905. She was the daughter of William and Experience (Bardwell) Wright. Albert P. and Frances A. Redway were charter members of the Ilion Presbyterian church. William Wright was born in Connecticut in 1816, and died in Ilion in 1885. By trade he was a custom tailor and was associated with his son-in-law in the dry goods business for a time. His wife was born at Bardwells Ferry, Massachusetts, in 1816, and died in Ilion in 1892.
Richard B. Redway attended the Ilion high school, the University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated from the University of Buffalo in 1896 with the degree of D. D. S. He began the practice of dentistry in Ilion the same year and had been practicing at the same address for nineteen years when he moved to his present location at No. 4 West Main street, Ilion, in 1915.
On October 12, 1899, Dr. Redway was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Winifred Skinner, who was born on December 1, 1873, the daughter of Samuel W. and Lydia (Pelton) Skinner. Samuel Skinner was born at Westmoreland, New Hampshire, on September 3, 1840, and died in Ilion on September 13, 1919. He was a skilled mechanic and toolmaker and at the time of the Civil war was employed in the Springfield Arsenal. His wife was born in the town of Winfield, New York, on March 20, 1848, and died in Ilion on October 21, 1911. Mrs. Redway was graduated from the Ilion High school, class of 1891, and from the Oswego Normal School in 1893, and for a time taught school in Frankfort and Herkimer. She is a member of the Travelers and Shakespeare Clubs and belongs to the First Presbyterian church.
Dr. and Mrs. Redway are the parents of three children: Marian Winifred Redway, born on August 15, 1900, graduated from Ilion high school, class of 1918, and from Mount Holyoke College, class of 1922, with the degree of A. B., then from the State Library School in Albany, New York. She is now librarian of Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania; Brayton Skinner Redway was born on May 28, 1902, and was graduated from Ilion high school, class of 1920, and is now studying dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia; Richard Sessions Redway was born on June 23, 1905, and graduated from Ilion high school, class of 1923, and is now a student at Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Redway is a member of Ilion Lodge, No. 591, F. & A. M.; the Mohawk Consistory of Utica, and is a thirty-second degree Mason, and a noble of Ziyara Temple of Utica. He is a member of the Ilion Shakespeare Club and a director of Ilion Hospital, of which he has been treasurer for fifteen years; also a director of the Manufacturers National Bank since its incorporation,. He was also a member of the sewer board for one term. His church associations are in the First Presbyterian church of Ilion, where he was superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty years. Automobiling is his chief diversion. By his high professional attainments and sterling qualities Dr. Redway has justified the respect and confidence of his many friends.