Family Group Sheet
NameJames Samuel Riddle, 1C3R
Birth9 Sep 1879 or 1880, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death1959, Pendleton, Madison Co., Indiana
FatherNathan Riddle (1836-~1901)
MotherMary Susan Prather (1840-1903)
Other spousesLillie M. Brown, 1C3R
Marriageabt 1920, prob. West Virginia
SpouseLucy
Birthabt 1892, Kentucky
Children
1 FMyrtle Riddle, 2C2R
Birthabt 1923, Greenbrier Co., West Virginia
2 FEthel M. Riddle, 2C2R
Birthabt 1925, Hancock Co., Indiana
Notes for James Samuel Riddle
His WWI draft registration card, filed 12 Sep 1918, records James Riddle, age 39, residence Crix, Ky, born 9 Sep 1879, occupation carpenter, employer Comodore Riddle, Crix, Ky, nearest relative Lillie Riddle, Dayton, Oh.
His WW II draft registration card records James Samuel Riddle, age 62, born 9 Sep 1879 in Morehead, Ky, residence R.F.D. 2, Pendleton, Fall Creek, Madison Co., Indiana, employer C.C.C. & St. Louis Railway Co., section boss, nearest relative Lucie Riddle, same address.
This record is a little problematic. The only Lillie Riddle I can find in my database is Lillie Brown who married James Riddle in May 1902. That James gave his father’s name as Nathan Riddle on the marriage license. But the Nathan Riddle and Mary Susan Prather family listed no son named James in the 1880 or 1900 censuses.
The most likely explanation is that the birthdate on the draft registrations is early by one year, and that he was born in Sep 1880, and so does not appear with the family in the 1880 census, and he had already left home by 1900 (and was living in another county - since James Riddle is such a common name, it would be difficult to identify him if so.)
It may, however, be that there is another Nathan Riddle whom I have not identified.
His WW II draft registration card records James Samuel Riddle, age 62, born 9 Sep 1879 in Morehead, Ky, residence R.F.D. 2, Pendleton, Fall Creek, Madison Co., Indiana, employer C.C.C. & St. Louis Railway Co., section boss, nearest relative Lucie Riddle, same address.
This record is a little problematic. The only Lillie Riddle I can find in my database is Lillie Brown who married James Riddle in May 1902. That James gave his father’s name as Nathan Riddle on the marriage license. But the Nathan Riddle and Mary Susan Prather family listed no son named James in the 1880 or 1900 censuses.
The most likely explanation is that the birthdate on the draft registrations is early by one year, and that he was born in Sep 1880, and so does not appear with the family in the 1880 census, and he had already left home by 1900 (and was living in another county - since James Riddle is such a common name, it would be difficult to identify him if so.)
It may, however, be that there is another Nathan Riddle whom I have not identified.
Census Notes for James Samuel & Lucy (Family)
1920 census of Greenbrier Co., West Virginia, Meadow Bluff district, enumerated 13 Jan, lists on p. 6A as family #111/115:
Riddle, James, 40, laborer at lumber yard; Lucy, wife, 29; Hester, son, 9; Clella, son, 7. All born Ky Ky Ky.
The two sons are children of James and his first wife Lillie Brown, based on the Kentucky birth index. (Hester should be Chester.)
1930 census of Hancock Co., Illinois, Vernon towship, McCordsville, enumerated 8 April, lists on p. 4A as family #28:
Riddle, James, 49, age at first marriage 41, b. Ky Ky Ky, section foreman for steam railroad; Lucy, wife, 38, age at first marriage 30, b. Ky Ind Ky; Myrtle, dau, 7, b. W.Va Ky Ky; Cella V., son, 17, b. Ky Ky Ky; Chester A., son, 19, b. Ky Ky Ky; Ethel M., dau, 5, b. Ind Ky Ky.
The age at first marriage is incorrect; James was married in 1902 to Lillie Brown, and reported it as his second marriage at that time. It is probably not even correct for the number of years in this marriage, since he and Lucy were presumably married by 1920 (not certain; they may have been just living together at the time, like my great great uncle Johnnie Petitt and Tye Trent did for quite a few years.)
Riddle, James, 40, laborer at lumber yard; Lucy, wife, 29; Hester, son, 9; Clella, son, 7. All born Ky Ky Ky.
The two sons are children of James and his first wife Lillie Brown, based on the Kentucky birth index. (Hester should be Chester.)
1930 census of Hancock Co., Illinois, Vernon towship, McCordsville, enumerated 8 April, lists on p. 4A as family #28:
Riddle, James, 49, age at first marriage 41, b. Ky Ky Ky, section foreman for steam railroad; Lucy, wife, 38, age at first marriage 30, b. Ky Ind Ky; Myrtle, dau, 7, b. W.Va Ky Ky; Cella V., son, 17, b. Ky Ky Ky; Chester A., son, 19, b. Ky Ky Ky; Ethel M., dau, 5, b. Ind Ky Ky.
The age at first marriage is incorrect; James was married in 1902 to Lillie Brown, and reported it as his second marriage at that time. It is probably not even correct for the number of years in this marriage, since he and Lucy were presumably married by 1920 (not certain; they may have been just living together at the time, like my great great uncle Johnnie Petitt and Tye Trent did for quite a few years.)
