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RIDDLES OF UNION COUNTY, KENTUCKY.
RIDDLES OF UNION COUNTY, KENTUCKY.*
[VIRGINIAN BRANCH.]
Jeremiah Riddle¹ (1), son of a Mr. Riddle whose name is unknown,
and his wife, whose maiden-name was Herindon, was born in Loudoun
County, Va., 1765; married Polly, daughter of Capt. Frank Berry, of
Revolutionary fame (she was born in Loudoun County, Va., in 1795, and
died in her seventy-seventh year), settled on land owned by "Old Daniel
Morgan, the old war-horse of Revolutionary fame," in 1802, and when
the County of Union was laid off, the spot of land he had cleared was
selected for the County seat; this was in 1811. Mr. Riddle was a farmer;
a man of high standing, and his house was always a home for preachers.
He had issue nine children, of whom hereafter.
SECOND GENERATION.
Hon. George-W. Riddle² (1), eldest son of Jeremiah¹ (1), was born
in Henderson County (now Union), Ky., July 18, 1807; married Eliza B.,
daughter of Enoch Hunt and his wife Judith, daughter of Charles Hamp-
ton (she was born in Lexington, Ky., Aug. 18, 1809; descended from
Daniel Boone, the noted hunter and pioneer of Kentucky, and allied to
the family of Bryant, known in pioneer history), July 2, 1826, and had
issue nine children, of whom hereafter. Mr. Riddle was born when
the country around him was a vast wilderness, and had but few educa-
tional advantages; but possessing a studious mind, he acquired a practical
education and has been in the lower house of the Kentucky Legislature
two or more sessions, besides filling many other positions of responsibility
in his County. He is commanding in person and like all of his family
noted for his courage and great force of character; his residence is on the
same lot of land where he was born. He has had a shock of paralysis, and
writes with difficulty. He informs me that his grandfather came to Vir-
ginia from Scotland about 1763, and his grandmother from Ireland; which
statement is undoubtedly correct.
Jackson Riddle² (1), second son of Jeremiah¹ (1), was born at Mor-
ganfield, Union County, Ky., about 1811; married Mary Finnie, of said
County, and settled on a farm. He is said to have been a man who won
many friends and was long called "Uncle Jack." He was killed by a
mule, June 11, 1878. Issue, four children.
Benjamin-Franklin Riddle² (1), third son of Jeremiah¹ (1), was born
at Morganfield, Union County, Ky., July 18, 1814; married Anna F.,
daughter of Major Rowley, who migrated from near Wheeling, Va., at
an early day, and resides on a beautiful farm near Uniontown, lying along
the Ohio River, where he has been settled since early manhood. He re-
ceived a medium education in his native County, and has been engaged
in agricultural pursuits; has been very successful, and is now in good cir-
cumstances. He is a very handsome man; weighs about two hundred
and forty pounds, and like his father and brothers is a perfect giant in
This family is supposed to have been descended from those Riddell ancestors
who came to Virginia in their own vessels, bringing their farm-stock, implements,
furniture, plate, and servants with them. They were accompanied by families
named Byrd, or Bird, now well known and highly respected in Virginia, and still
allied with the Riddle family. See "Riddles of Loudoun County, Virginia," for
antecedents.
