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RIDDELLS OF BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NO. 1.
force and independence led him to more liberal views and a broader faith.
He was prominent among the early founders of the Unitarian Church at
Manchester, and took much personal interest in its success. Charitable of
the opinions of others, he was consistent in his own.
Not the least among the varied talents of General Riddle was his musi-
cal proficiency, both as a choir leader and instrumental performer at Bed-
ford for twenty years.
Hospitable and courteous always, he enjoyed the society of good and
cultivated men; liberality and generosity were traits of his character; to
the appeals of the poor and unfortunate he turned not away. In private
life he was greatly respected, and fully sustained the confidence of his fel-
low-men; in public life he was identified with every good and worthy un-
dertaking. In church, and state, and society, ever present with aid and
encouragement. Integrity, probity, and energy marked his whole career.
Few men of his generation have lived more efficient lives, and few have
left behind a deeper impress or a broader record of usefulness and enter-
prise for a memorial. Mr. Riddle died at his residence in Piscataquog
Village, May 18, 1875, aged 82 years. He was buried with masonic and
military honors, and his remains deposited in the family tomb at Bedford.
The portrait of Mr. Riddle, in this book, was furnished by his sons.
James Riddles (2), second son of Isaac² (1), was born in Bedford, N.
H., June 26, 1791; married in 1810, Charlotte Farmer, sister of the dis-
tinguished antiquary; this lady was born July 20, 1792, and died while
on a visit to Quincy in 1828. She was a beautiful and amiable woman.
In 1829 he married Laura, daughter of Solomon Barker, of Pelham (she
was born Jan. 11, 1802, and died March 4, 1831), and thirdly, in 1833, he
married Eliza Hunt (she was born May 6, 1807), who survived him, and
resides in Nashua. Mr. Riddle died Nov. 24, 1840, aged 49 years; he
had issue five children, of whom hereafter. He was for many years en-
gaged in business with his father and brothers, being a member of the firm
of Isaac Riddle & Sons; was a man of activity and good business capac-
ity, and largely interested in staging before the days of railroads.
Isaac Riddles (2), third son of Isaac² (1) and Ann Aiken, was born
in Bedford, N. H., July 25, 1793; married, Sept. 30, 1818, Betsey,
daughter of Dea. Phineas Aiken, of Bedford, and sister of Rev. Silas Ai-
ken, sometime of Park-street Church, Boston, Mass., and by her, who
died Oct. 21, 1843,- had issue five children, of whom hereafter. He mar-
ried, secondly, Mrs. Ursula (Smith) Aubin, of Newburyport, Mass., by
whom he had one child, who died in infancy.
Mr. Riddle acquired his education in the public schools of his native
town, and the academies at Bradford and at Atkinson, N. H., and then,
with his father and two brothers, formed the firm of Isaac Riddle & Sons,
which carried on business at Piscataquog Village, Bedford, and Merri-
mack, N. H., and Boston, Mass. They assisted in constructing the Union
Locks and Canals, one of the links in the chain which connected Concord
with Boston. Dams and locks, for the passage of boats, were built on
Merrimack River, at Merrill's Falls, in Manchester; Griffin's, Short, Goffe's,
and Coos, in Bedford; and Moore's and Cromwell's, in Merrimack,-at
an expense of about $80,000. They built and launched the first canal-boat
which made the trip, and established a daily line of them. This company
owned saw-mills, grist-mills, and extensive tracts of valuable woodland;
they run what was supposed to have been the first nail-making machine
north of Boston; they dealt largely in potash, hops, and produce.
