226 RIDDELLS of bedford, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NO. 1.
by way of purchase, he furnished round and manufactured lumber,
largely for the cities of Nashua, Lowell, Newburyport, Boston, and sup-
plied the navy-yard at Charlestown with spars and ship-timber; Boston
and Lowell with lumber for public buildings and bridges; the railroads of
New England with ties and contract stuff, and the island of Cuba with
its railroad sleepers.
During this period of his business activity he also dealt extensively in
hops, marketing them in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, and in
some instances shipping them abroad. Thus his mercantile enterprises
and ventures continued till his retirement in 1860, having exercised a di-
versified, energetic, and busy life, for upwards of half a century. In 1848
he erected the Piscataquog Steam Mills, and successfully operated them
for several years.
About this time he received the appointment of gen-
eral inspector of hops for the State of New Hampshire, the cultivation of
which having become a matter of importance to the farmers of the State.
In this capacity he was widely known and respected among the hop-grow-
ers and merchants of New England.
Quite early in life Mr. Riddle showed a taste for military affairs. At
the age of twenty-five years he organized a company called the "Bedford
Grenadiers," and was chosen its first captain. This was in 1815. He
commanded this company about five years, when he was promoted to the
rank of major in the "Old Ninth" Regiment, New Hampshire Militia (May
13, 1820). The next year he received further promotion to the lieutenant-
colonelcy, and in June, 1824, became, through promotion, the colonel of
his regiment, and commanded it for seven years. Thence he was briga-
dier-general, and on the 25th of June, 1833, was promoted to major-gen-
eral of the division, which military office he held, with high commenda-
tions, till his resignation. Thus he had encompassed all the offices of
military rank, from a fourth corporal to a major-general.
Under his command the "Old Ninth" Regiment was composed of ten
full companies of infantry, two rifle companies, one artillery company,
and one cavalry company, and by him was brought to a high state of dis-
cipline and efficiency; in reputation ranking first in the State.
In civil life, also, Mr. Riddle held offices of trust; was moderator at
the town-meetings, representative to the State Legislature, county road-
commissioner, trustee of institutions, on committees of public matters;
but from constant pressure of business affairs he was often obliged to de-
cline offices tendered him. In 1820, he was chairman of the committee
appointed to build Piscataquog meeting-house, and twenty years later he
was chiefly instrumental in remodeling it into an academy, of which he
was trustee during its existence. In public education he always took a
lively interest, fostering and promoting its advancement in every practical
way; whether the common school, the academy, or the college, he warmly
advocated and upheld the claims of each, and was patron of all.
-
As the town's committee he constructed the large bridges across the
Merrimack River, matters of public interest in these days, — and was
president of the Granite Bridge Co., which erected the long lattice-bridge
at Merrill's Falls, connecting the town with the city of Manchester. He
also superintended the reconstruction of the large McGregor bridge, below
Amoskeag Falls.
In Masonry, too, Mr. Riddle was pre-eminent and active in his time.
He became a member of the Masonic order in 1823, and in the following
year assisted in founding the Lafayette Lodge, being one of the chartered
