| The Family of William Henry Harrison Riddle & Mildred Margaret Conner |
| William Henry Harrison Riddle was born in 1840 in Alabama, Talladega or Cleburne Co. He was the son of David Gideon Riddle & Rebecca Jackson Caldwell. In 1850, he is shown on the 1850 Randolph Co, AL Census, living with his father. (His mother had died in May 1850, according to the 1850 Mortality Schedule.) On the 1860 Randolph Co, AL census, William can be found there, living next door to his father. His wife, Mildred Margaret (Conner), was listed also and the record indicates that they had been married within the year. His occupation at that time was listed as "farmer". They probably lived on land owned by his father, as that record indicates that he owns no real estate, but owns $100 in personal property. The 1860 census also indicated that Mildred was 18 years old, born abt 1842, in Alabama. When William Henry Harrison Riddle enlisted in the Confederate States Army at the beginning of the Civil War, his residence was listed as Jamback in Calhoun Co, AL. Jamback was located in the Choccolocco area. He signed up with the 51st Alabama Infantry Regiment (also known as the 51st Alabama Calvary Regiment, Partisan), which was formed in August 1862 in Oxford, Calhoun Co, AL. The 51st was at first under the command of Captain Robert Wilkins Draper. In 1863, he resigned due to reasons of health and his 1st Lieutenant, William White, was promoted to Captain and given command of the unit. During the war, the 51st served primarily in the brigades of General Allen of Montgomery or General Hagan of Mobile. The regiment was used primarily to raid the enemy’s lines of communications and to protect the flanks of the Army of Tennessee. It’s first major action was in the battle of Murfreesboro (Stone’s River), Tennessee, in December 1862. During the winter of 1863-64, the regiment was employed in East Tennessee. From the beginning of the Atlanta Campaign on to the end of the war, the 51st was engaged with the main army and suffered heavily. About a week before the end of the war, the regiment captured the 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment (US). The 51st Alabama surrendered at Raleigh, North Carolina. The 1870 census shows their family living in Cleburne Co, AL. Also living with the family at that time was 33 year old, Levica J. Coner, b. AL. She was probably a relative of Mildred's. In 1880, the family is shown again in Cleburne Co, AL, living in the Chulafinnee/Arbacoochee area. Mildred died in Cleburne Co, sometime after the 1880 census. I am told that she is buried at a small cemetery near Hepsebah Baptist Church. In the 1880's, the family moved to Etowah Co, AL and lived in an area that is now known as Riddle's Bend in Southern Etowah Co. William's father, Gideon, who had been living in Cleburne Co, also moved to Etowah Co at the same time. The 1910 census shows William living with his son, Gideon Wilson Riddle in the Gum Springs area of Etowah Co, AL. William passed away 27 Mar 1919 in Etowah Co, AL. He is buried at Hopewell Baptist Cemetery, not far from where he'd lived in Etowah Co, in St Clair Co, AL. CHILDREN OF WILLIAM H.H. RIDDLE & MILDRED M. CONNER 1) Margaret Fannie Riddle, b. 10 May 1862, probably in Cleburne Co, AL, d. 19 Dec 1952, Etowah Co, AL. She married 3 times. 1) Capt Lay, 2) Odom, 3) John Williams (although his name on the 1930 census is listed as James L, his tombstone says John). John was b. 22 Feb 1874, AL, d. 22 Jan 1942. Census records indicate that they lived in the Gum Springs area of southern Etowah Co, AL in 1930. Both John/James and Fannie are buried at Hopewell Baptist Cemetery, St Clair Co, AL. 2) Luvica J. Riddle, b. abt 1869, Cleburne Co, AL. She is found in a record only once, the 1870 census. I believe she must have died in childhood before 1880. 3) Jasper Henry Riddle, b. 3 Dec 1871, Cleburne Co, AL, d. 13 Mar 1963. Jasper married Margaret Elizabeth Grambling 2 Jun 1901 in Etowah Co, AL. She was born 14 Mar 1874 AL and died 4 Feb 1958 in Etowah Co, AL. According to census records, the family lived in the Gadsden/Attalla areas of Etowah Co, AL. Both are buried at Hopewell Baptist Cemetery in St Clair Co, AL. 4) Gideon Wilson Riddle, b. 10 Aug 1875, Cleburne Co, AL, d. 15 Jan 1960, Etowah Co, AL. Gid married Emma LouArkie Ford, daughter of William Benjamin Ford & Elizabeth Maddox, 10 Aug 1898 in Etowah Co, AL. Emma was born 8 Mar 1878 in Etowah Co, AL and died 21 Jan 1962 in Etowah Co, AL. Gid & Emma lived in Etowah Co, AL all their married lives. Both are buried at Hopewell Baptist Cemetery, St Clair Co, AL. 5) Rebecca Helen Riddle, b. Jun 1878, Cleburne Co, AL. Becky, as she was known, married John Bridges about 1906. John and Becky lived in the Etowah Co area during both the 1920 and 1930 censuses. |
| Got a connection to this family or would like more information on it?? Please e-mail me! I love "watering the tree!" |
| This page was last updated 1 Dec 2003, TK Smith |