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RIDDELLS OF PARKMOUNT, IRELAND.
"Young Samuel, bent on his boyhood fun,
As full of mischief as any other one;
But though he's a merry and active lad,
And acts the rogue, we 'll not deem him bad.
And there is Maude, with eyes so bright,
As sparkling as the stars of night;
And Lottie too, we now must not forget,
For she's a winsome, cunning little pet.
Then comes wee Willie, who is, I ween,
As full as any RIDDLE, of vigor keen.
And now we leave them in their childhood sport,
For life's bright morn is at longest short.
Standing where a beautiful stream is spanned
By a rustic bridge-way's steady band;
Oh, this is a beautiful spot indeed,
No better view in all GLEN-RIDDLE mead.
There I loved to go on a pleasant day,
And watch the sparkling silvery spray;
Or wander forth by the pale moonlight,
And gaze on the water's surface bright,
Where it gracefully leaps in a mimic fall,
Like old Niagara, but not quite as tall.
This same old stream that many years ago
Pursued its quiet way, its gentle flow,
And so continued as of old, until
A RIDDLE'S mind conceived 'twould turn a mill;
And now it lends its aid to lessen toil,
And scatter blessings o'er GLEN-RIDDLE's soil."
Rev. James Riddle" (4), second son of Leander (1), was born at
Parkmount, near the city of Belfast, Ireland, in 1803; married Hannah
Niblock, a lady of Quaker parentage, and had issue several children, of
whom hereafter. After learning to manufacture cotton goods, he emi-
grated to the United States, and commenced work with his brother
Samuel, at Pleasant Mills, Gloucester County, N. J. He afterwards
became manager of these mills, but subsequently entered into partnership
with his brother at Springfield, Delaware County, Penn., where their
success was so apparent that another mill was erected for them on Ches-
ter Creek, in the same county. This mill was named "Parkmount," after
the residence of the Riddells in Ireland. The brothers continued the
business at the latter place about eight years, dissolving partnership at
the end of that time. James, in company with a Mr. Lawrence, rented a
mill on Crum Creek, Avondale. Here Mr. Riddle took up his residence.
He was connected with manufacturing operations at Chester and Rose-
ville, at the same time. In 1844 he purchased the old "Gilpin estates,"
on the river Brandywine, near Wilmington, Del., where he continued his
connections with Mr. Lawrence until 1857, when he became sole proprie-
tor. From these small beginnings the business grew to proportions of
great magnitude. The property at the time of purchase comprised one
hundred and thirty acres of land, two mansion houses, two cottages, and
several tenement houses. Now, in the cotton-mills are running three
hundred looms and eleven thousand spindles; two hundred and fifty
hands are employed, and two thousand bales of cotton used annually.
The number of tenement houses has been increased to about one hundred,
and besides the old "Kentmere Mansion," rises up the new and elegant
residence of Mr. William Field, Mr. Riddle's son-in-law. Added to per-
severance and business tact, his moral and religious principles rendered
Mr. Riddle a very useful and influential citizen. Before leaving his
