John Riddle and Mary Higgins
John Riddle was born in 1775 in Virginia. His parents are believed to be John and Mary Riddle. He married Mary Higgins (1780-1863). The family came to live in Laurence County, South Carolina, where John farmed. They had twelve children. listed here in no specific order: William (1798-1875), James (1800-1870), Harrison (1802-1872), Felden (1804-1875), Elizabeth (1806-1887), John (1808-1855), Melvin (1810-1896), Mary (1814-1883), Katherine (1818-), Newton (1820-1870, Berry (1822-1864), and Matilda (1824-1868).
His will states:
His will states:
In the name of God, Amen. I John Riddle of Laurence District and State of South of Carolina, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, but weak in body and calling to mind the uncertainty of life, being desirous to dispose of all such wordy estate as it has pleased God to bless me with, do make and ordain this my last will and following that is to say. I desire that my wife Mary shall have all of my estate both personal and real during her natural life time or widowhood except so much thereof as will pay my just debts and funeral experiences which I desire my executors immediately after my death to sell so much of my personal estate and pay said debts. If tehre should not be money on ahnd to pay the same and desire that after the death of my wife Mary Riddle that all of my estate both personal and real be sold by my executors herein after named and the proceeds or moneys arising there from be equally divided between my children hereinafter named. My son Harris Riddle, my son Newton Riddle, my son Melmoth Riddle, my son Berry Riddle, my daughter Catharine Garner, my daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Elihu Garrett, my daughter mary, the wife of John Cannary, my daughter Matilda Caroline Riddle, who is no tmarried. And I do hereby give to my son Berry Riddle whom I hereby make and appoint trustee for my son Fealden Riddle in this my last will to receive for the benefit of the children of my son Fealding an equal shear of my estate with the rest of my children herein before mentioned and named. And I desire that the said shear as above willed and given to my son Berry Riddle for the benefit of the children of Fealden Riddle taken at no time for the payment of my debts that my son Fealding Riddle may owe at the time fo my death, no that he may hereafter contract. And it is also my desire and intention that the said shear of my son Fealding shall not be taken no liable to be taken for any debts that my son Berry may owe or may hereafter contract, but be appointed to the sole use and benefit of the children of my son Fealding as said trustee may think best. And lastly I do constitute my son Berry Riddle and my friend Wm. Power executors of this my last will and testament by me hereto made. In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 19th day of August 1850. Signed, sealed, published, and delivered as and for the last will and destament of John Riddle as above named in the presents of us.
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John X Riddle
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Fountain Martin
Rubin Martin
Jeremiah Martin
Benjamin Martin 1
Melvin Riddle and Elvira Woods
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Melvin Melmoth Riddle, born in 1810, was the son of John (1775-1855) and Mary Higgins Riddle (1780-1863). He married Elvira Angeline Woods (1821-1903). Melvin was a farmer, by trade, and lived and farmed in South Carolina for his entire life. They had seven children: Mary Angeline (1847-1925), William Thaddeus (1848-1913), Richard Jasper (1850-1931), Sarah Elizabeth (1853-1920), John Martin (1855-1940), Rachel Matilda (1857-1928), and James Benjamin (1861-1931).
Melvin served in Co. E, 3rd Infantry of South Carolina and held the rank of private during the American Civil War. Melvin died in 1896. Elvira died in 1903. Mary married James Alexander (1845-1916). They had the following children: Rose (1867-1900), James (1870-1953), Florence (1874-1965), Thomas (1877-1950), Mary (1880-1964), Arthur (1882-1952), Grover (1884-1944), John (1887-1959), and May (1888-1966). William Riddle married Eliza Ashmore (1846-1878). They had two children: James (1871-1954) and Addie (1877-1943). He married Mahala Davenport (1844-1923). They had Charley (1886-). Mahala's obituary in The Greenville News December 12, 1912 edition reads: Funeral services for Mrs. Mahaley Davenport Riddle will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock from Reedy Fork Baptist church, of which she was a faithful member. Mrs. Riddle was in her 86th year when she died at the home of her son, C.F. Riddle, Monday night at 8 o'clock, following an illness of only a few days' duration. She was greatly beloved by those in her community, and her death caused great sorrow among many families. She is survived by her son and one daughter, Mrs. Mary Smith of Easley; by one step-daughter, Mrs. John Spillers, of Standing Springs, and by one step-son, J.R. Riddle, of St. Albana. The following brothers and sisters also survive her: Mrs. Emma Jenkins, Greenville; Mrs. Mandy Turner, Greenville; Mrs. Jim Masey, Piedmont; J.P. Davenport, Greenville; Pink Davenport, Ware Shoals, and Bud Davenport, Folk Shoals. |
(fig.1) Wade Cobb and Addie Riddle Spillers
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Sarah married John Davenport (1842- 1926). John was a farmer. They had the following children: Hettie (1871-1925), James (1875-1914). Dora (1878-1955), Corrie (1880-1948), Mattie (1882-), John (1885-1975), and Elizabeth (1892-1964), and Edgar (1895-).
John Riddle married Eliza Clark. They had the following children: William (1885-), Elvira (1889-), Robert (1893-), Arthur (1894-1968), Eunice (1897-), Virginia (1900-), and Gladys (1907-).
Rachel married Robert Holcombe. They had the following children: Leila (1876-1954), John (1878-1966), Mamie (1883-1964), Robert (1885-1968), Annie (1887-1971), William (1889-1957), Edward (1891-1969), Benjamin (1893-1925), Mark (1895-1926), Otence (1897-1969), and Grace (1899-1912).
John Riddle married Eliza Clark. They had the following children: William (1885-), Elvira (1889-), Robert (1893-), Arthur (1894-1968), Eunice (1897-), Virginia (1900-), and Gladys (1907-).
Rachel married Robert Holcombe. They had the following children: Leila (1876-1954), John (1878-1966), Mamie (1883-1964), Robert (1885-1968), Annie (1887-1971), William (1889-1957), Edward (1891-1969), Benjamin (1893-1925), Mark (1895-1926), Otence (1897-1969), and Grace (1899-1912).
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James Riddle married Josephine Campbell. They had one child, William, in 1897. He was a merchant. He died in 1931 from pneumonia which came after a bought of the flu.
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(fig. 2) James Riddle
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Richard Riddle and Julia Cox
(fig.3) Richard Jasper and Julia Ann Cox Riddle
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Richard Jasper Riddle was born on October 25, 1850 in Greenville, South Carolina. He died in March 11, 1931. He is the son of Melvin Melmoth and Elvira Angeline Woods Riddle. He married Julia Ann Cox (1870) and after her death in 1913, he married Georgia Childs (1914). He was the first mayor of Arab, Alabama. He was an early postmaster of Arab, Alabama. He was the owner of the first store in Arab, Alabama.
PAID HIM $10 TO MOVE THEM 350 MILES |
In 1881 G. W. Thomason and family and R. J. Riddle and family moved to Alabama. The families came on the train to Chattanooga and boarded the steamboat for Guntersville. T. W. Riddle and W. J. Thomason drove a team through to a wagon.
G. W. Thomason settled on the place Mrs. Bettie Hartsfield now owns. The log house still stands. T. J. Leak and O. E. Bryant own part of the place.
George Feemster built the house where G. W. Thomason settled in 1882, [and] G. W. Thomason rented a saw mill from the late Jasper Smith of Warrenton. It was the first circular saw that had been run in this community. Mr. Thomason built a small store house, that Mrs. Hartsfield uses for a barn. They got mail at Warrenton 8 miles away. There wasn’t any Arab then. Mr. Thomason ran a peddling wagon to Birmingham. He kept chewing tobacco, snuff, soda, etc.
G. W. Thomason settled on the place Mrs. Bettie Hartsfield now owns. The log house still stands. T. J. Leak and O. E. Bryant own part of the place.
George Feemster built the house where G. W. Thomason settled in 1882, [and] G. W. Thomason rented a saw mill from the late Jasper Smith of Warrenton. It was the first circular saw that had been run in this community. Mr. Thomason built a small store house, that Mrs. Hartsfield uses for a barn. They got mail at Warrenton 8 miles away. There wasn’t any Arab then. Mr. Thomason ran a peddling wagon to Birmingham. He kept chewing tobacco, snuff, soda, etc.
(fig.4) Riddle Family
In 1889 or 1890 he moved to Birmingham and ran a dairy for years. He went into the mercantile business. He was postmaster at Platt, Ala., now Tarrant, was mayor of Tarrant, a Justice of the peace, a steward and Sunday school superintendent. He lived to 98 years old. He and his wife had 14 children.
Rev James Jernigan and family moved out from Shoal Creek the same time the Thomason family moved to Birmingham. He ran a dairy. Mrs. Jernigan was a sister to James Bodine, who died where Elder Haden Copeland lives. Frank Jernigan lives about 3 miles South of Arab, near New Canaan church.
I heard Rev Jernigan say that during the first settling up of Brindlee mountain, along in the late summer time, people would run out of corn, and the hardest time as between grinding and grating time. They would go to the field when the corn was going out of roasting ears, take a piece of tin and drive some holes in it with a nail and tack that on a plank and grate some meal.
Rev James Jernigan and family moved out from Shoal Creek the same time the Thomason family moved to Birmingham. He ran a dairy. Mrs. Jernigan was a sister to James Bodine, who died where Elder Haden Copeland lives. Frank Jernigan lives about 3 miles South of Arab, near New Canaan church.
I heard Rev Jernigan say that during the first settling up of Brindlee mountain, along in the late summer time, people would run out of corn, and the hardest time as between grinding and grating time. They would go to the field when the corn was going out of roasting ears, take a piece of tin and drive some holes in it with a nail and tack that on a plank and grate some meal.
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The caption for this photo (fig. 3) reads: one-hundred and five years ago, the center of the little mountain community of Arab could well have been Riddle Store and Post Office, depicted here in a photo owned by Willard Butler Hawk of Trinity and brought to the Tribune offices by Annie Hawk Crawford McKee of Ryan. McKee said the house at the left belonged to Mary Ann Smith and her daughter Mattie. The building directly behind Riddle's was Russell Rice's house, and Dr. Montgomery L. Hinds lived in the house at the at the far rear right, McKee said. She said the man with the "X" over his head is probably was her uncle, Walter Butler. The photo originally came from McKee's grandparents, Pickrus and Louisa Butler. 3
J.A. Thomason provides a general history of the area. Riddle was also involved in the operation of a cotton gin.
In 1889 J R N Thompson operated a gin at Arab, till December when the boiler of the engine exploded. Harley Hyde was the engineer and he was killed. He was the father of I B Hyde. There was another gin at Arab operated by the Farmer's Alliance. G W Thomason, R J Riddle, J B Bell and Frank Whittle. 4 The "Harley Hyde" described in the gin accident in Arab was the husband of Harriet Cobb Hyde - later Harriet Cobb Alexander. Harriett was the sister of Robert Richard Cobb - the father-in-law of Richard Riddle's daughter Mary Ella.
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(fig.5) Article
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Andrew Houston Riddle, or "A.H." was a rural postal carrier on Arab Rt. 1.5 Mary Ella's son Robert Richard would come to reside with his wife Martha King Cobb on Route 1.
Richard Riddle continued to be very active in his community. The Bank of Arab was established in 1909 and he served as one of the directors.6 In his time in Arab, Riddle was not only the postmaster, mayor, and bank director. He was also an Odd Fellow, a charter member for the Shoal Creek Baptist Church, which was organized in 1886, and a charter member for the First Baptist Church of Arab. He enjoyed serving as a church clerk, as a Sunday school teacher, and as a church deacon.7
Richard's second wife, Georgia, lived until 1960.
Thomas Riddle, the oldest son of Richard and Julia Cox Riddle, married Charlotte Coltfelter. He worked for his father's store and was a general salesman. They had the following children: Mattie (1903-), Conrad (1905-), Vernon (1907-), Velma (1910-), and Jessie (1913-1995). He died in 1930.
Henry Riddle married Annie Martin (1877-). The January 17, 1901 edition of The Guntersville Democrat notes that Henry and Annie moved into a little home near R.J. Riddle's store shortly before the birth of their first child. They had the following children: Connie (1902-), Doyle (1904-), and Julia (1907-). He died in 1958.
Cordelia married William Camp (1875-1933). Per her obituary in the September 7, 1951 edition of The Advertiser-Gleam William had been a deputy sheriff. He died a year after the family had moved to Guntersville, Alabama. They had the following children: Alda (1898-), Ruie (1901-), Jasper (1903-), Hattie (1906-), Leah (1908-), Julia (1909-), Sherman (1911-), Imogene (1913-), and Hazel (1914-). Cordelia died in 1951.
Carrie married Lloyd Amos Camp (1877-1959), the brother of William Camp, and had the following children: Houston (1904-), Louie Byron (1905-), Verta (1910-2003), Ollie (1913-2003), Hattie (1914-2013), and Mildred (1919-1993). Per the September 18, 1959 edition of The Advertiser-Gleam, Lloyd died from a heart attack in June and Carrie died in 1959.
Andrew Riddle married Dona Camp (not a close relation to William Camp or his brother, Lloyd). They had the following children: John (1919-) and Bessie (1920-). Andrew had been a Mason during his lifetime, and even served as the secretary to his lodge in 1919.8 He died 1920.
Hattie married William Coltfelter (1883-1955). They had one daughter, Elvira, in 1910. Hattie died in 1917.
Richard Riddle continued to be very active in his community. The Bank of Arab was established in 1909 and he served as one of the directors.6 In his time in Arab, Riddle was not only the postmaster, mayor, and bank director. He was also an Odd Fellow, a charter member for the Shoal Creek Baptist Church, which was organized in 1886, and a charter member for the First Baptist Church of Arab. He enjoyed serving as a church clerk, as a Sunday school teacher, and as a church deacon.7
Richard's second wife, Georgia, lived until 1960.
Thomas Riddle, the oldest son of Richard and Julia Cox Riddle, married Charlotte Coltfelter. He worked for his father's store and was a general salesman. They had the following children: Mattie (1903-), Conrad (1905-), Vernon (1907-), Velma (1910-), and Jessie (1913-1995). He died in 1930.
Henry Riddle married Annie Martin (1877-). The January 17, 1901 edition of The Guntersville Democrat notes that Henry and Annie moved into a little home near R.J. Riddle's store shortly before the birth of their first child. They had the following children: Connie (1902-), Doyle (1904-), and Julia (1907-). He died in 1958.
Cordelia married William Camp (1875-1933). Per her obituary in the September 7, 1951 edition of The Advertiser-Gleam William had been a deputy sheriff. He died a year after the family had moved to Guntersville, Alabama. They had the following children: Alda (1898-), Ruie (1901-), Jasper (1903-), Hattie (1906-), Leah (1908-), Julia (1909-), Sherman (1911-), Imogene (1913-), and Hazel (1914-). Cordelia died in 1951.
Carrie married Lloyd Amos Camp (1877-1959), the brother of William Camp, and had the following children: Houston (1904-), Louie Byron (1905-), Verta (1910-2003), Ollie (1913-2003), Hattie (1914-2013), and Mildred (1919-1993). Per the September 18, 1959 edition of The Advertiser-Gleam, Lloyd died from a heart attack in June and Carrie died in 1959.
Andrew Riddle married Dona Camp (not a close relation to William Camp or his brother, Lloyd). They had the following children: John (1919-) and Bessie (1920-). Andrew had been a Mason during his lifetime, and even served as the secretary to his lodge in 1919.8 He died 1920.
Hattie married William Coltfelter (1883-1955). They had one daughter, Elvira, in 1910. Hattie died in 1917.
Mary Ella Riddle and James Cobb
(fig. 6) Mary Ella Mariah Riddle Cobb
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Mary Ella Mariah Riddle was born in Greenville, South Carolina on September 1, 1874. She is the daughter of Richard Jasper and Julia Ann Cox Riddle.
Records indicate that she married J.W. Cobb when she was fifteen years old. By the time of the 1900 census, they had been married for ten years and had four children. J.W. provided for his family by farming - a profession that many of his sons also joined. Their children were: Craton Carl Cobb (1892-1980), Hattie Elma Cobb (1893-1964), Willie Marcus Cobb (1896-1896), Florence Beulah Cobb (1897-1988), Susie Lillian Cobb (1900-1986), Lawrence David Cobb (1902-1983), Robert Richard Cobb (1904-1988), Carrie Elizabeth Cobb (1906-1936), Julia "Julie" Mary Jane Cobb (1909-1998), Benjamin Franklin Cobb (1911 -1999), James Wade Cobb (1914-1962), and Ella Mae Cobb (1917-2006). J.W. Cobb and Mary adopted their grandson, James, after the death of their daughter Carrie Elizabeth. |
Figures
Fig 1. "Wade Cobb and Addie Riddle Spillers" - contributed by Heather Wylie
Fig. 2 - "James Riddle" - tintype contributed by Heather Wylie
Fig. 3 - "Richard Jasper and Julia Ann Cox Riddle" - taken from Joe Cottle's website: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/t/Joe-Cottle/index.html
Fig. 4 - "Riddle Family" - taken from Joe Cottle's website: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/t/Joe-Cottle/index.html
Fig. 5 - "Article" - taken from Joe Cottle's website: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/t/Joe-Cottle/index.html
Fig. 6 - "Mary Ella Mariah Riddle Cobb" - contributed by Heather Wylie
Fig. 2 - "James Riddle" - tintype contributed by Heather Wylie
Fig. 3 - "Richard Jasper and Julia Ann Cox Riddle" - taken from Joe Cottle's website: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/t/Joe-Cottle/index.html
Fig. 4 - "Riddle Family" - taken from Joe Cottle's website: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/t/Joe-Cottle/index.html
Fig. 5 - "Article" - taken from Joe Cottle's website: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/t/Joe-Cottle/index.html
Fig. 6 - "Mary Ella Mariah Riddle Cobb" - contributed by Heather Wylie
Sources
1. "Will of John Riddle." Recorded in Will Book A, Page 209. Laurens County, SC. "Will Book: A-Vol II 1840-1853 page 152-153.
2. Thomason, James "Chapter 47." Arab Historical Society. CHAPTER 47 - Written by James Author Thomason (1878-1952) as a columnist for local newspapers. The full text of all of his articles was compiled and printed by the Arab Historical Society. Each article was given a “Chapter” number and published as General History of Marshall County, Alabama by J. A. Thomason. The book can be purchased from the Arab Historical Society.
3. The Arab Tribune, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1991.
4. Thomason,"Mills and Gins of the Early Days," Arab Historical Society.
5. Thomason, "History of Fry." Arab Historical Society.
6. Thomason, "Arab's Gins, Mills, Banks and Doctors." Arab Historical Society
7. Newspapers.com The Advertiser-Gleam (Guntersville, Alabama), June 2, 1950, pg 5.
8. Newsppaers.com The Advertiser-Gleam, January 19, 1949. Pg. 3.
Biographical information provided by Heather Wylie
2. Thomason, James "Chapter 47." Arab Historical Society. CHAPTER 47 - Written by James Author Thomason (1878-1952) as a columnist for local newspapers. The full text of all of his articles was compiled and printed by the Arab Historical Society. Each article was given a “Chapter” number and published as General History of Marshall County, Alabama by J. A. Thomason. The book can be purchased from the Arab Historical Society.
3. The Arab Tribune, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1991.
4. Thomason,"Mills and Gins of the Early Days," Arab Historical Society.
5. Thomason, "History of Fry." Arab Historical Society.
6. Thomason, "Arab's Gins, Mills, Banks and Doctors." Arab Historical Society
7. Newspapers.com The Advertiser-Gleam (Guntersville, Alabama), June 2, 1950, pg 5.
8. Newsppaers.com The Advertiser-Gleam, January 19, 1949. Pg. 3.
Biographical information provided by Heather Wylie
