"Bart Ridgeley" is set in the mid-19th century in northern Ohio, where the titular character, Bart Ridgeley, grows up on a farm with his family. As Bart comes of age, he sets his sights on becoming a lawyer, despite his father's objections. Along the way, he faces many challenges, including his father's disapproval, the challenges of pursuing an education in a rural area, and the difficulties of starting his own law practice.