RIDDELLS OF BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NO. 1. 233
but let them take their own course; if they saw their mistake and re-
turned for employment, however, they would be given a place.
After ten years of service as superintendent of the Delaware Division
of the Erie Railway, he resigned his position, and was for some months
out of business. As the office of general superintendent was vacant at
this time, at the earnest solicitations of many, Mr. Riddle consented to be
a candidate for that high and responsible position. This seemed a proper
opportunity for the employés of the division to show their esteem for
their late superintendent by procuring for him some suitable gift. A sub-
scription was consequently started, and reached the large sum of fourteen
hundred dollars. Two of Mr. Riddle's warmest friends went to New
York to select the presents. A magnificent gold watch and chain, and a
beautiful silver tea service, were purchased and engraved, the former with
Mr. Riddle's initials, and the latter with those of his wife, the whole form- ·
ing a testimonial of which any man might feel justly proud. As Mr. Rid-
dle was known to be as independent as he was unobtrusive, the whole
transaction had been kept from his knowledge lest he should strangle the
arrangements by a decided command to stop them. But when the testi-
monials came and were offered to him, the donors were surprised to hear
from him a positive refusal to accept them. Knowing it to be a law of
the Erie Company that no officer shall receive a gift from the employés,
and aware of his then present disconnection, they said-"Why, Mr. Rid-
dle, you are not an officer of the company, and no rule adopted by them
can be violated by your acceptance of the gifts.' Mr. Riddle's answer
was, "I know I am not an officer on this road now, but am I not a candi-
date for the chief superintendency, and if I am elected, how can I exact
proper discipline from those who have so generously contributed to pur-
chase these presents, if I should accept them? I thank the men for their
kind intentions, but I cannot receive the gifts." The presents were kept
for months, the donors hoping, in vain, that Mr. Riddle would relent, so
far, at least, as his wife's present was concerned, but he remained true to
his first decision. The watch and chain fell into the hands of a locomo-
tive-engineer on the road when disposed of by a raffle afterwards; and
the tea service was returned to New York to be melted over.
Mr. Riddle was elected general superintendent of the road, and served
in that capacity with great acceptance several years. He was afterwards
offered the vice-presidency, under Jay Gould, but declined (having re-
signed his position of superintendent) any further service on the road.
Mr. Riddle has been a resident of Chicago for many years, and has
filled the important offices of general superintendent and vice-president
of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad.
Elizabeth Riddle (1), eldest daughter of Gawn³ (3), was born in Bed-
ford, N. H., in 1827. Dead.
Henry-Charles Riddle (1), second son of Gawn³ (3), was born in
Bedford, N. H., in 1829; married, and resides in Hawley, Penn.
Ann-Rebecca Riddle (1), second daughter of Gawn (3), was born
in Bedford, N. H., in May, 1832; married to Lyman Eastman; resided in
Manchester; was a successful school-teacher. Dead.
Margaret-Aiken Riddle (5), eldest daughter of William³ (3), was
born Sept. 9, 1824; died Oct. 5, 1828.
Col. George-Washington Riddle' (1), eldest son of William³ (3)
and Sarah Ferguson, was born in Bedford, N. H., Nov. 9, 1826; married
