Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan Record Pub. Co., Chicago - 1895 Page 121 JOHN RIDDLE, of Ludington, is one of the pioneers of the Wolverine State, to which he came as early as 1853, first coming to this city in July, 1876. He is now engaged in general merchandising, and carries a good assort- ment of supplies in his line, his store being popu- larly known as the Bazaar. During the war he did valiant service in the defense of the Old Flag, being with his regiment constantly and taking part in many important battles. The birth of our subject occurred in the parish of Donah, County Monaghan, Ireland, September 9, 1833. His paternal grandfather, a native of the same county, was of Scotch descent. He was a wealthy man and quite prominent in the place of his abode. At one time he served as Road Com- missioner, and held other minor offices. He was the father of an extremely large family, which was equally divided as to sex, there being eleven sons and eleven daughters. One of the number, James, was the father of our subject. He was also born in County Monagham, passed his entire life there, and died on the old homestead in 1846, when about fifty-three years old. His wife, Elizabeth, nee Gil- liland, survived him until 1849, and in the spring of that year emigrated to Hamilton, Canada, where she died a few months later. Both she and her husband were members of the Presbyterian Church. Her father lived to attain the ripe old age of ninety-six years, his death occurring in County Armagh. In a family comprising four sons and two daugh- ters, John Riddle is now probably the only survi- vor, with the exception of his brother Robert, of Rochester, N.Y. With his mother, brother Rob- ert and sister Ann, he crossed the Atlantic in 1849, and for a time lived in Canada. In the spring of 1850 he removed to Rochester, N.Y., and three years later located in East Saginaw, Mich., where he was employed by a local firm to take care of their lumber yard. In 1854 he took a trip to Al- pena, and for several years thereafter his time was spent in fishing in that locality. On the 11th of August, 1862, Mr. Riddle en- listed in Company E, Twenty-third Michigan In- fantry, as a private, and with his regiment was actively engaged in the battles of Knoxville, Ken- esaw, Resaca, Franklin and Nashville. He served all through the Atlanta campaign, and was under the command of General Schofield at the time Hood's army was captured. He was absent from his regiment but one day until he was honorably discharged, July 20, 1865. His brother Robert was a member of the One Hundred and Fortieth New York Regiment from Rochester, and was twice wounded. On returning from the South, Mr. Riddle re- sumed his former occupation as a fisherman on the Black River, near Alpena. In July, 1876, he came to Ludington, bringing with him his fishing-smack, but the entire outfit, which was worth over $500, was destroyed in the big storm of 1876, which lasted for twenty-eight days, many vessels being destroyed. Mr. Riddle then bought a piece of land, and for a few years devoted himself to farming. He then gave his farm to his step-son, and since 1887 has been a permanent resident of Ludington. December 14, 1866, Mr. Riddle married Mrs. Elizabeth (Burleine) Alpeter, who died August 29, 1887. January 17, 1889, our subject married the lady who now bears his name, and who was for- merly Mrs. Jessie Woolfield, widow of Charles Woolfield, and daughter of James and Caroline (Booth) Knox. By her former marriage she had a son and daughter, Henry and Jessie Maud, and by her present union has a son, John Knox. Mrs. Caroline Knox was the daughter of Henry Booth, of Stockport, Cheshire, England. He was the son of William Booth, whose father was Lord High Sheriff of Cheshire. Henry Booth ran away from Page 122 Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan home to enlist in the British service, was placed in the artillery department, and was wounded at the battle of Corunna, in the Peninsular War. James Knox, the father of Mrs. Riddle, was a son of Will- iam and Margaret (Stuart) Knox, natives of Dailly, Ayrshire, Scotland. Mr. Riddle is a man of good general informa- tion and more than ordinary ability. He is a be- liever in the cause of the Orangemen, and in poli- tics is a Republican. Socially he is a member of "Pap" Williams Post, G.A.R. In company with his estimable wife he holds membership with the Congregational Church. =========================================================================== ===========================================================================