Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Simeon B. Riddle *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** Simeon B. Riddle, farmer, of Bentonville, Ark. One of the prominent and influential families of Benton County is that of Riddle. There is scarcely a State in the Union in which the name is not found, and always among the very best class of citizens. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is no exception, and fully maintains the honor and hospitality of this old family. He was born in Meade County, Ky., in 1826, and is a son of George and Nancy S. (Frans) Riddle, who were born in Maryland and Virginia, respectively. The former's birth occurred in 1787, and when a young man he moved to the "Hoosier" State, but afterward moved to Hardin County, Ky., where he married, and followed the occupation of farming until his death, which occurred in 1857. His wife was a daughter of John Frans, who was a Virginian, and a captain in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Riddle died on the 1st of May, 1849, in Buchanan County, Mo. The following are her children: Madison F., Benjamin, John, Arden (deceased), Simeon, Martha (deceased), Tazewell F. and Susan (deceased). Simeon Riddle was married in Hardin County, Ky., on the 1st of February, 1849, to Martha Pauley, who died in 1866, having borne seven children: James M., Mary N., Simeon B., Tazewell F., Martha E. (wife of John Beasley), Theodocia E. (wife of Wilson Finch) and Lydia. October 6, 1867, Mr. Riddle married his second wife, Mrs. Angeline Lockard, who was born in Ray County, Mo., and is a daughter of John H. King. Mrs. Riddle had one child by her first husband, William S. Lockard (deceased), and six children have been born to her union with Mr. Riddle: George H., Mary, Charles E., Susan E., Myrtie and Benjamin F. (deceased). Mr. Riddle left Kentucky in 1849, went to Buchanan County, Mo., and in 1855 went to Clinton County, where he remained three years. then locating in Ray County. In 1862 he enlisted in Company H. Twenty-ninth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and was in the engagement at Jackson, Miss., the siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge. Resaca, Dallas, Atlanta, Fort McAllister, Kenesaw Mountain, and many others of less note. He returned to Ray County after the war, but moved to Franklin County, thence to Texas, and in 1884 came to Benton County. He owns 120 acres of fertile land in Benton County, and is an Independent Greenbacker in his political views. He is a member of the Christian Church.