My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

JAMES RIDDLE, an honored veteran of the late war, is the proprietor of a desirable farm, situated on section 20, township 44, range 28, Johnson County. He is a true patriot and a good citizen, taking commendable interest in everything which pertains to the welfare of the public in general, and to that of his home neighborhood in particular. He is a true-blue Republican, and voted for Lincoln in 1864, on attaining his majority.

The parents of the above-named gentleman were Archibald and Anna (Carpenter) Riddle. The grandfather of the former emigrated from the northern part of Ireland and settled in Pennsylvania. One of his three sons went to Kentucky, another to Canada, and a third, James, for whom our subject was named, remained in the Keystone State until his son Archibald was sixteen years of age. He then removed to Richland County, Ohio, where he passed his last years. Soon after the marriage of Archibald and Anna Riddle, the young couple moved to Marion County, Ohio, making the journey with an ox-team and sled. They built a log cabin, without windows and with skins for doors, and this old structure is still in existence. They became the parents of seven children, five of whom grew to mature years, but only three are now living. The father entered one hundred acres of land from the Government, and though he was a man of simple tastes, and was content with the old cabin for many years, he ultimately built a good house and barns, and gave to each of his children good advantages. He also offered each of them the wherewithal for taking a college course, but for various reasons none of them ever graduated. Mattie A. attended the Ohio Central College for a number of years, became an able teacher, and finally was made Principal of the public schools of Iberia, Ohio. Margaret, the eldest, is still unmarried, and a resident of the latter place. Caleb C. died in early manhood, and Mary J. and Rebecca at the ages of nine and seven, respectively. William, now a resident of Iberia, where he is engaged in the carpenter’s trade, served for three years in the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry. His son Ernest is proprietor of a clothing store in Galion, Ohio.

The birth of James Riddle occurred in Marion County, Ohio, December 1, 1842, and his early years passed uneventfully on his father’s new farm. On completing his common-school studies, he pursued a course of training in the higher branches, and entered college, but about that time the Civil War began, and January 4, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Twelfth Ohio Cavalry. He was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, his duties being to take part in raids, to cut railroad, and the like. He was under Burbridge, Commander of the Department of Kentucky, and also served under General Stoneman, his duties calling him into Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. He never was wounded, captured or was absent from his post for any reason, and won the commendation of his superiors. At Mt. Sterling, Ky., his battalion lost a Major and forty out of sixty men inside of twenty minutes. They had expected to surprise the enemy, but the tables turned, for the Confederates were prepared for the attack. Mr. Riddle’s battalion went on the search for Jeff Davis, and was only five miles away when he was captured. Soon afterward our subject was mustered out at Nashville, and was duly discharged at Columbus, Ohio.

April 10, 1866, Mr. Riddle wedded Martha C. Creswell, of Morrow County, Ohio. She was born in Washington County, Pa., and was educated there, in Pleasant Hill Seminary. Having a natural taste for art, she took lessons in painting and music, becoming very proficient in both branches. She has various specimens of her handiwork as a painter, one of these being the picture of a bridge across the Catawba River, which was painted from minute descriptions given by Mr. Riddle. While he was in the army he helped to destroy this bridge, and so true to nature is its reproduction in colors, that a civil engineer who had seen it recognized it at once. Mrs. Riddle has a picture of her father’s home and mill in Pennsylvania, with the surrounding scenery, remarkably true in every detail. She is the daughter of James and Martha (Archer) Creswell, and was born August 30, 1844. She was about eighteen years of age when she removed to Ohio with her parents.

On his return from the army Mr. Riddle engaged in farming in Marion County on rented land about two years, after which he operated his father’s homestead until 1881. In 1866 he purchased one hundred acres of land with money he had earned in the Union service, some $700. This land lay idle until 1878, when he gave a three-years lease on the place in consideration for having it well fenced. In 1881 he erected the house in which he is now living, and sent for his family. His four children were all born in Ohio, the eldest in Morrow County, and the others in Marion County. Lissa May, born July 10, 1868, received a good education and is now engaged in dress-making. Grace Darling, who was born April 6, 1871, taught school for a time, and then attended the Warrensburg Normal. She was only sixteen years of age when she obtained a certificate, and is considered a fine teacher. Both she and her youngest sister have manifested artistic talent, and are very fond of painting. Mattie Ethel, born December 21, 1872, attended the state normal and began teaching when in her eighteenth year. Ruth Anna, born August 11, 1875, graduated from the common schools in 1893. Her examination papers were pronounced to be the best ever handed in to the school committee. The daughters have all received instruction in vocal and instrumental music. With their parents, they are members of the Presbyterian Church of Creighton, Cass County, Mo. Mr. Riddle’s grandfather was a Democrat, but his father was a Whig, and voted for Harrison in 1840, and in 1888 for his grandson, Benjamin F. At the time of the outbreak of the war, there was not a near or distant relative of the family who was not a stanch Republican. James Riddle is a member of the American Protective Association, and in Ohio served six years on the Board of Education. Since coming to Missouri he has been Clerk of the board for four years.

* * * *

This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Johnson County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Johnson County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Johnson County, Missouri family biographies here: Johnson County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Johnson County, Missouri here: Johnson County, Missouri Map

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.