JOHN RIDDLE

John Nathaniel Riddle was born Sept. 17, 1860, son of William and Martha (Smith) Riddle. After the death of his mother when he was around five years old, he stayed mostly with his grandmother Elizabeth Riddle. Jones and his step-grandfather, John Jones.

He married Sara Ashton, a native of England who came to this country when she was twelve years old. Sara was a widow, having been married to a man whose last name was Tatum. He died five or six weeks following their wedding.

John and Sara Riddle were the parents of four children. The eldest was Arbelle, who died around the age of two. She was first buried in Protem, Missouri but was later moved to the John Riddle Cemetary. Icie Elizabeth was the second born child and the only one to reach maturity. She married John Ransom and they have always lived close to my family. Aunt Icie was eighty years old on October 7,1968.

A son, named William (Willy) was the third born child of John and Sara’s. He was only about six months old when she died of worms. The last born was a little girl named One Effie in 1891, and she also died shortly after birth. Sara Riddle, the mother, died soon after her last child was born. All are buried in the Riddle Cemetary.

After Sara’s death, John Riddle married his step-first-cousin, Ellen Jones, daughter of Rufus and Margarette (Turnbo) Jones. They were married around 1893 on the old Shaffer place. John and Ellen were my grandparents, and they were the parents of twenty children. Their family record is as follows:

John N. Riddle, Sept, 17, 1860-Nov. 2, 1937
Ellen F., Sept. 17,1875-Dec. 18, 1946

1. Mary Agnes (Martin) May 10, 1894-April 7, 1965

2. Minnie Edna, April 6, 1895-Oct. 21, 1895

3. Ethel Beatrice (Wilkerson) May 5, 1896-

4. Nora Ann (Wilkerson) April 18, 1897

5. John Nathan (my beloved father) Nov. 14, 1898-Aug. 1, 1957

6. Iva Cardia (Justus) Nov. 19, 1899

7. James Andrew, April 6, 1901-April 15, 1901

8. Russell Martin, Mar. 24, 1902-Feb. 1, 1916

9. Neal Claiborne, April 16, 1903

10. Goldie Margaret (Loard) Apr. 6, 1904-Aug. 1, 1964

11. Ruby Travila (Stratton) Aug. 16, 1905

12. Ruth Pearl (Akins) Dec. 29, 1906

13. Benjamin Rufus, Jan. 7, 1908

14. Burl Marvin, June 2, 1909-Aug. 11, 1958

15. & 16. (Twins) Earl Lafate and Eara Flecia (Moore), May 13, 1911

17. Velva Josephene (Rogers) July 18, 1912

18. Alfred L. Oct. 21, 1913-Oct. 24, 1913

19. Leona Ellen, Apr. 29, 1915-Oct. 6, 1915 (my sister is named after her.)

20. Berrie Charles, July 11, 1918

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