The Family of Gideon Riddle

GIDEON RIDDLE
1803-1896

Gideon Riddle was born 12 May 1803 in Georgia, probably Oglethorpe Co. He is reportedly the son of Thomas Riddle and Rebecca Goolsby who had married in Oglethorpe Co, GA on 16 Aug 1802. Gideon was their oldest child.
The year Gideon was born was also the same year that Thomas Jefferson was elected president.
Gideon probably spent his childhood in Oglethorpe Co, GA. There seems to have been quite a bit of his mother’s Goolsby family in that same area.
The defeat of the Creek Indians opened the heartland of Alabama to white settlement and caused Alabama fever to sweep the nation. Pioneers by the thousands left Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia seeking fertile land for growing cotton. Mississippi territorial law was in place, but when Mississippi became a state, Congress created the Alabama Territory in 1817. Congress designated St. Stephens as capital of the Alabama Territory and approved a legislature of Alabama delegates already elected to the old Mississippi territorial legislature. William Wyatt Bibb, a Georgia physician who had served in the United States Congress and had powerful friends in Washington, was named Territorial governor. He was also elected as the first governor when Alabama became a state December 14, 1819.
The area that became Alabama was originally part of the Mississippi Territory from 1798 to 1817. Many settlers arrived in the area before government lands had been surveyed. Unable to buy, they simply picked a location, built a cabin, cleared fields, and put in crops. Such families were called squatters. Land laws were passed to provide legal title to land for settlers who already lived on the land. Some settlers claimed land by British or Spanish land grants, and others were squatters who claimed land by right of pre-emption.

There is a Gideon Riddle as head of household in 1830 in Troup Co, GA. This could be the correct family. The family consisted of the following:

3 males age 20-30
1 males age 60-70
1 female age 10-15
1 female 15-20
1 female 50-60

If this is the correct household, Gideon would be one of the males aged between 20-30 and he would have taken over the “head of household” responsibilities from his father, who was still alive at this time. This household make-up may account for some of the “extra” people listed on the 1840 census in Gideon’s household.
In searching the Troup Co. History website, there is a listing for the marriage of Elizabeth Riddle and George Watts (9 Jan 1831). Maybe it’s more than a coincidence that the 1840 Talladega Co, AL Census contains a listing for a George W. Watts, living in the same general area as the Riddle and Caldwell families. (This family settled in the same general vicinity as the Riddle family, based on later census records.)

Exactly when Gideon came to Alabama isn’t known. What is known, though, is that he came at a time of building and huge growth. The area in which he chose to live offered many opportunities for a young family man, who’d obviously had a decent education.

The Treaty of Cusseta, 24 Mar 1832, with the Creek Indians had a huge impact on the area would be known as Gideon’s home. In this treaty, the Creek Indians ceded all their land East of the Mississippi RIver to the US.

The oldest record I have found concerning Gideon is 28 Jun 1832 in St Clair Co, AL when he married Rebecca Jackson Caldwell, daughter of David Caldwell and (possibly) Sarah Martin. David Caldwell, who was originally from Lunenburg Co, VA, had brought his family to the St Clair Co, AL area from Laurens Co, SC by 1822 as evidenced by the recording of a deed dated 9 Dec 1822 which listed him as living in “Sinclair Co, AL.”
I don’t believe that Gideon ever actually lived in the area considered St Clair Co. Most of the area where Talladega, Calhoun, Cleburne, Clay and Randolph Counties are now located was considered “Creek Indian Territory.” Therefore, when Gideon and Rebecca wanted to get married, St Clair Co was the closest place have a legal marriage recorded.
Talladega’s county status was made official 18 Dec 1832, located on land that was taken from the Creek Indians at their “removal.”

Gideon and Rebecca would have been able to witness the spectacular meteor shower which occurred 13 Nov 1833. The event has come to be known as “When Stars Fell On Alabama.”

A book, HISTORIC TALES OF TALLADEGA (E.Grace Johnson), relates that Gideon was among those, in addition to his brother-in-law, Allen Carey Caldwell, who served as “Road 9 Reviewers.” This panel seems to have been given the responsibility of determining where to put new roads and the “class” of the roads to be built. This particular panel “ordered established a first class road from Talladega Springs (Talladega) to Judge Hearn’s” 2 Dec 1833.
Gideon and Rebecca lived in the Kelly Springs/Curry Station area of Talladega around this time.
In addition to land speculations, Gideon and a partner, Sylvannus S. Walker, owned a store, a trading post of sorts.
Gideon and Sylvannus, who also became sheriff of Randolph Co, AL before moving his family to the Rusk Co, TX area, obviously had a close relationship. Gideon’s oldest son was named for him.
Gideon and family were enumerated living in Talladega Co, AL for the 1840 US Census. Their family consisted of:

1 male under 5 (b. bet 1835-1840)
1 male 15-20 (b. bet 1820-1825)
1 male 20-30 (b. bet 1810-1820)
2 male 30-40 (b. bet 1800-1810)
1 female under 5 (b. bet 1835-1840)
1 female 15-20 (b. bet 1820-1825)
1 female 30-40 (b. bet 1800-1810)
1 female 50-60 (b. bet 1780-1790)

Based on later censuses that show the ages of their children, it’s fairly obvious that Gideon and Rebecca had other people, besides their children living with them.

After 1840, probably around 1842, based on land transactions, Gideon moved his family to Randolph Co, AL.

In 1847 and 1848, Gideon was appointed a county commissioner of Randolph Co, AL.

Gideon and family were enumerated for the 1850 census in Beat 4, Randolph Co, AL, living amidst several of Rebecca’s Caldwell kin. Rebecca was not enumerated with the family. Her name is found on the Mortality Schedule for that year, which indicates that she’d died in May 1850. Cause of death was listed as scrofula (primary tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands, especially those in the neck), an illness that had lasted approximately 3 months.   That record also indicates that she was age 35 when she passed away which would put her year of birth at about 1815. I only have two records by which to determine her approximate year of birth, the 1840 census and the Mortality Schedule. On the 1840 census listing, she is probably the “female age 30-40” which would place her being born between 1800 and 1810, but that does not agree with the Mortality Schedule’s age. Determining an as accurate as possible is important for determining which one of David Caldwell’s wives - there were 2 possibly 3 - was her mother. His wife, Sarah Martin, who most believe was her mother was documented as late as 1814 in Laurens Co, SC.
Because of this 1814 documentation of Sarah, I believe Sarah was Rebecca Caldwell’s mother, although Nancy Cary Caldwell probably “raised” Rebecca, Sarah having died when Rebecca was a child. It’s entirely possible that after Sarah Martin Caldwell’s death, David, being the father of several young children, remarried rather quickly to Nancy Carey, and moved his family to Northeast Alabama shortly thereafter. I believe that the birth year of 1815 is probably close to accurate. That would make her age at marriage 17 or 18 years old.

As stated previously, the Gideon Riddle family lived among Caldwell in-laws according to the 1850 census. Among his neighbors were Nancy Carey Caldwell, William F. Caldwell, and Allen Carey Caldwell.
Information given by that record on Gideon is limited to his age, 47 and state of birth, Georgia. No occupation or other information is listed. Gideon’s family consisted of the following:

Louisa F. Riddle, age 17, b. AL
Sylvanus Riddle, age 15, b. AL
Margaret Riddle, age 13, b. AL
Jasper Riddle, age 12, b. AL
Wm H.H. Riddle, age 10, b. AL
Martha Riddle, age 8, b. AL
Mary Riddle, age 6, b. AL
John W. Riddle, age 5, b. AL
Gideon Riddle, age 3, b. AL

That record indicates that all the children except Mary, John, and Gideon had attended school within the year.

Gideon remarried 13 Dec 1853 in Clay Co, AL to Mary S. Walker, who had first been married to Rigabo Hingson. I believe that Mary was probably a relative of Sylvannus Walker, who’d been Gideon’s business partner.

In 1855, Gideon’s son, Sylvannus W. Riddle was the postmaster in Milner, Randolph Co, AL.

A Randolph Co newspaper reports on 14 Feb 1856:

"Probate Notices

J. P. Barnett was married to Miss M. H. Riddle on the 5th of February by Rev. J. C. Beverly, all of Randolph County."

This is a marriage notice for Gideon’s daughter, Margaret.

The US Census of 1860 indicates that the family lived in the Rockdale area of Randolph Co, AL. Rockdale was in the northeastern portion of the county. On this record, Gideon was listed as age 57, born in Georgia, a farmer with $3000 in real estate and $600 in personal property. Gideon’s wife, Mary, who was listed as “M.S.”, was recorded as age 50, born in Georgia.
Others listed in the household:

Martha Riddle, age 15
Mary Riddle, age 1? (could be 13 or 15)
J.W. Riddle, age 12
Robert Riddle, age 10
Rebecca Riddle, age 80, b. GA

Note that children, Louisa, Sylvanus, Margaret, Jasper, and Wm H.H., are not listed on the 1850 census. I have no further information on Louisa beyond her listing on the 1850 census. Sylvanus and Jasper were in Rusk Co, TX by the time the 1860 census was conducted, listed in different households. Margaret had married J.P. Barnett, but I haven’t located them in census records yet.
William H.H. Riddle was enumerated living next door to Gideon and Mary. That record indicates that “Harrison” was age 20, a farmer with no real estate and $100 in personal property. His wife was listed as “Mildridge” (Mildred Margaret Conner), age 18, born in Alabama. The record indicates that they had married within the year.
Gideon Riddle, who had been listed on the 1850 census at age 3 was not listed on the 1860 census, but Robert Riddle, who had not been listed on the 1850 census is listed. If Robert’s stated age of 10 is accurate, he should have been listed on the 1850 census. I wonder about the possibility that Gideon and Robert could be the same person.
Rebecca Riddle, age 80, seems to have been Gideon Riddle’s mother, although the birthplace seems to be incorrect. Rebecca had been listed on the 1850 census in the household of Gideon’s brother, Thomas, in Talladega Co. At that time, her age was given as 75 and place of birth was given as Virginia. This is the final record of Rebecca Riddle.

The United States in 1860 was feeling the rumblings of it’s own people. In 1858, Abraham Lincoln had made a speech in Springfield, IL in which he’d said, “I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.”
On 6 Nov 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States. Within weeks, South Carolina was the first of the Southern states to secede from the Union.
On 11 Jan 1861, delegates voted (61-39) to secede, becoming the fourth state to do so and The Republic of Alabama was declared.
By 9 Feb 1861, the Confederacy had been formed with Jefferson Davis as president. War against the Union was imminent.
On 13 Mar 1861, the Republic of Alabama formally joined the Confederacy.
On 12 Apr 1861, the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC.
Ultimately, all classes were affected by the war. By 1862, even the wealthy were not able to eat or dress in the manner to which they were accustomed. Many were forced to fashion their own dresses from coarse fabric.
Life was even more difficult for the typical Southern farm woman. When her husband left to fight for the Confederacy the job of tending the crops in the fields fell to her. Many who lost their husbands in battle became heads of households permanently, forced to earn a living for their families while raising the children, performing household chores, and caring for livestock.
War shortages made prices soar, and many Southerners could not afford food even when it became available. A Union blockade prevented salt used to preserve food from getting through. By 1863 even bread was scarce, and people in cities such as Atlanta, Mobile, Savannah, and New Orleans incited bread riots.

Even though there were no major battles of the Civil War in Alabama, the Riddle family was affected by the events. The South suffered miserably by the hands of the Yankee soldiers who moved through the area. The Yankees took anything they wanted including food and personal property. The closest the Riddle family on the home front got to the war was probably the Battle of Talladega, which actually occurred 14 days after the surrender of the Confederate forces. On 23 Apr 1865, Confederate forces engaged the 2nd Michigan Calvary near Talladega. As a result, the entire Confederate force was scattered and many were taken prisoner. According to Captain M.P. Thatcher’s recollection of 2nd Michigan’s last battle, “...the country was filled with small parties returning home- a sadly broken down people."

Other battles that occurred in the area were:

Blount County
Battle of Blountsville- 1 May 1863

Calhoun County
Battle of Ten Island Ford- 14 Jul 1864
Ladiga Skirmish- 28 Oct 1864

Chambers County
Battle of Fort Tyler- 16 Apr 1865

Cherokee County
Cedar Bluff Surrender (Streight’s Cavalry)- 3 May 1863

Etowah County
Battle of Gadsden-2 May 1863

Saint Clair County
Battle of Ten Islands Ford-14 Jul 1864

Shelby County
Battle of Montevallo- 31 Mar 1865

Talladega County
Battle of Munford- 21 Apr 1865

At least three of Gideon Riddle’s sons served in the Confederate States Army (CSA). Sylvanus W. Riddle, who had been living in Texas at the beginning of the war. He entered the service as a private in Sept 1861 in Marshall, TX and served with Company I, 7th Texas Infantry until the close of the war. The record indicates that he was discharged at the rank of 1st Sergeant.

Jasper M. Riddle, who'd been also living in Texas, joined at the same time as his brother, also in Company I, 7th Texas Infantry. He entered service as a private and was discharged a private.

William Henry Harrison Riddle served with Company D, 51st Alabama Infantry Regiment (aka 51st Alabama Calvary Regiment), under the command of at first, Captain Robert Wilkins Draper, who resigned due to health reason. Captain William White, who had been a 1st Lieutenant under Capt. Draper, took command after Draper’s resignation.

Life in rural Alabama was without a doubt difficult in the years of reconstruction after the Civil War. The people had to struggle to pick up the pieces of what was left of their families and lives.
The 1870 census found Gideon and Mary Riddle living in Cleburne Co, AL. A census listing for them was difficult to find because the enumerator had listed the name as “Keddel.”
They were enumerated in the area known as Wehoga. There were no children living at home at that time, but 97 year old Nancy Caldwell was listed as living in the household. She was Rebecca Caldwell Riddle’s step-mother, who had been living next door to Gideon in 1850.
Gideon’s occupation was listed as “miller” and it was stated that he owned $200 in real estate and $800 in personal property. The war had obviously taken it’s toll on Gideon who had owned much more property ten years earlier.

The following was taken from THE RANDOLPH ENTERPRISE, 12 Feb 1875:

TAX SALES
On March 1, 1875 the property belonging to the following names persons was to be sold at public auction to the highest bidder from the Court House in Wedowee.

Beat II    Township 18, Range 13

Thomas Blake
James Blake
W. H. Riddle
Gideon Riddle
G. Riddle, agt for Spence
J.F. Stephens
N. R. White
John A. White
E. M. White
J. D. Ward

Obviously, Gideon and William still had land holdings in Randolph Co as late as 1875. Tax sales were fairly common in the post-Civil War Era.
I believe that the "G. Riddle, agt for Spence" is also a reference to Gideon. Although I don't have nearly enough information on Samuel W. Spence who married Gideon's daughter, Louisa, my best guess is that Gideon was left in charge of Spence's affair in Alabama and had moved to Arkansas (based on the stated birth places of two children.)

In THE HERITAGE OF CLEBURNE CO, there is a reference to a “Riddle Lumberyard and Sawmill.” although it doesn’t tell who owned the business. Gideon may have had a part in this, considering that his occupation was listed on the census record as a miller.
The history also references a gold mine, King Mine, of which Gideon Riddle was an owner at one time.
According to THE HERITAGE OF ETOWAH CO, Gideon and son, William H.H. (who also lived in Cleburne Co) “built a steel
bridge, named Riddle Bridge across the Tallapoosa River. The bridge does not appear on the maps today because it is no longer in use. Riddle Bridge can still be seen when crossing the new bridge about one mile east of Hollis Cross Roads. Since this bridge was the shortest way of crossing the river, it was a toll bridge. The charge for a buggy was five cents and one dollar for a wagon of cotton.”
A couple of references can be found to Gideon Riddle in CLEBURNE CO WILLS AND INVENTORIES 1868-1884.
There is a record of a land sale from the estate of D.G. Ligon to John H. Bowan with Gideon Riddle and W.M. Ligon as securities in 1871.
On 19 Mar 1872, Gideon Riddle was recorded as a buyer at the estate sale of D.G. Ligon.
Gideon’s son, Wm H.H., had been listed as an appraiser for this estate 1 Sept 1871.
I don’t know if a relationship existed between the Ligon family and Gideon Riddle, but they were neighbors according to the 1870 census.

The 1880 US Census records Gideon Riddle, along with the family of W.H.H. Riddle, living in Cleburne Co, AL.
Gideon’s residence was located in the Pine Knot area.
This records shows Gideon as age 77 and Mary as age 67.
Gideon’s occupation is listed as a farmer. Also in the household is an 18 year old granddaughter, M.R. Spense, born in Arkansas. According to the record, her father had been born in Georgia and her mother in Alabama. She fits the description of a Mary R. Spence who later lived in Gadsden with her brother, Solon S. Spence. I was able to obtain a death certificate for Mary and on that document, her parents were listed as Samuel W. Spence and Francis Louisa Riddle. Undoubtedly, her mother is the Louisa F. Riddle, age 17, living in Gideon's household on the 1850 census.    Samuel and Louisa had moved to Arkansas--Solon and Mary were both born there.

On 2 Oct 1880, Gideon’s wife, Mary died in Cleburne Co, AL. She was buried at Hepsebah Baptist Cemetery in Cleburne Co.
There was a mention of Mary's death in THE GADSDEN TIMES 29 Oct 1880. It read:

"We regret to learn that Mrs. Gideon Riddle, step-mother of our esteemed townsman
   Mr. S.W. Riddle, died recently, at her home in Cleburne Co. The TIMES extends its
   sympathies to the bereaved friends & family."

Sometime in that same time frame, Mildred Conner Riddle, wife of William H.H. Riddle, also died (during childbirth).

Shortly thereafter, Gideon and William H.H. with his 5 young children, moved to Etowah Co, AL, where Gideon’s son, Sylvannus Walker Riddle, had already begun to establish himself.
Because most of the 1890 census was destroyed, it is unknown exactly where in Etowah Co. they lived, although I think it’s safe to say, that they lived in the (known today as) Southside/Rainbow City area. There is an area located within present day Rainbow City known as Riddle’s Bend, which was named for this family.
According to David Riddle, grandson of William Henry Harrison Riddle, Gideon was living with his grandfather in Southside, Etowah Co, AL at the time of his death, his 93rd birthday, 12 May 1896. Gideon Riddle was buried at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Cemetery in northern St. Clair Co, AL. Other generations of the Riddle family are also
Buried at Hopewell.
It seems that Gideon had come full circle with his life in Alabama, starting out with his 1st marriage in St Clair Co, ending with his burial in St Clair County.

Information as of 3 December 2003, TK Smith