Two Riddles

No, I haven’t taken to printing puzzles other than genealogical ones.  The two Riddles are sisters Rilla and Louisa, daughters of Preston Riddle and his second wife Emily (Wilson) Smith. 

Emily is my husband’s great-great grandmother.  Emily was born in Kentucky in 1833.  She married James Jefferson “Jeff” Smith in Grant Co, and by 1860 they had moved to Wayne Co, Iowa, then Putnam Co, Missouri.  Jeff served in the Civil War - from which he never returned.  His military record says “Died at Camp Oglethorpe, Macon, Ga, May 14, 1862 [then in red ink] June 18, 1862.”  

The four children of Emily Wilson and James Jefferson “Jeff” Smith all survived to adulthood - one of them my husband’s great-grandmother, Mary Elizabeth (Smith) Greer.

In 1868, Emily married widower Preston Riddle in Putnam Co, Missouri.  Together they a son, Marvin, who died at age 14, and two daughters, Louisa and Rilla. 

I found on the internet that Rilla is German or Irish - depending on who says - and means brook or stream.   Louisa married and had one child, then died at age 25.  Rilla was 19 when she died.  

I can't quite figure out the hairdos in the photograph.  Is the hair really cut as short as it looks?  Or is it pulled into a terribly tight knot off to the side of the head?  

Rilla left behind an autograph album.    I have typed the text of some pages which mention family and friends from 1887, 88 and 89.

Title page (front cover is missing):  The Hendschel Album [printed with illus.]

p1)  Powersville Mo   December the 6  1888   Remember well and bare in mind that a true friend is hard to find so when you find one that is true never forsake the old one for the new   Your friend  T B Donan

p2)  Dec 6 - 1888   Remember me when this you see    Powersville Mo  Isa Hinne

p4)  Friend Rilla  "One word, one thought, one line  To cheer your youthful mind

When I have left my friends so fair   Remember me in your prayers."

                 Yours _ct.       J A Foutah

          Dec. 25, '87.        Campbellsburg, Indiana

p6)  Friend Rilla            Your Friend    Lewis West     Oct. 22 - 88      Corydon, Iowa

p8)  January 11th  1888         Complements of your Friend.  May Snodgrass

p12)  Powersville, Mo       Sister Rilla

                    When the golden sun is setting

                    And from care you are free

                    When of absent ones you are thinking

                    Will you sometimes think of me.

                                    Marvin Riddle                   April 27th, 1888

p19)     St John  Mo            March.22.89

   Dear Rilla: Ever remember the pleasant times we have spent together.  As you go out to try the stern realities of life, Never forget you have a friend that will lighten your heaviest burden.  That friend is Christ,          Ever your friend,   Rose Beary

p20)     written Mar 21. 89  at York Seminary

Miss Rilla   Remember me when death shall close my ev[y]elids in their last repose  when the evening breeze shall gently wave    the grass above your schoolmates grave

                                     Your Friend & wellwisher           Beecher Rowan

p22)     To Miss Rilla        Cleopatra Mo   Jan 11th  1888

                Some may wish you welth

                While others gold in store

                I wish you heaven after death

                And what could you wish for more

                              yours

                                 H. H. Snodgrass

p24)   28th 1888        Dear Aunt,       Remember me dear Rilla      When on these lines you look        Remember it was Emma         Who wrote this in your book.

                                   From a Niece              Emma Greer                 To Rilla

p29)   Miss Rilla

             "Sow ye beside all waters

              Where the dew of heaven may fall;

              Ye shall reap if ye be not weary,

              For the Spirit breathes o'er all.

              Sow, though the thorns may wound thee;

             One wore the thorns for thee;

             And though the cold world scorn thee,

             Patient and hopeful be.

             Sow ye beside all waters,

             With a blessing and a prayer,

             Name him whose hand upholds us,

             And sow thou everywhere."

                         Sincerely,

                             Luella Martin 3, 10. '89    Warsaw Ia

p32)  March the 12  1889

          Dear Rilla,

               May thy pathway ever be

            strewn with flowers.

                      Your friend

                        May Rowan

p33)    May the 9   89

                         Dear Rilla

               a place for my

               name in your

              album   a place for my

               love in your hart

            a place for us both in heven

              where love ones never part

         your friend

              Dora

                 Bates

p36)     May the 27    88

                Dear Sister

            Tis not the price of candy

             That we ____ just now sister

            O no it is not that by _____

             It is the price of paint that

             make Pa grumble.

                               E Riddle

                            Clio

                              Iowa

p38)  "Friendship's a silken tie

         which binds friendly hearts together

      If we do not break that tie

        We will be friends forever"

                Truly your friend

                       Nelse Franklin Livonia  Mo

   Jan. 15  1888

p44) [drawing of a bird in nest in a style reminiscent of copperplate handwriting]

                        [signed]   With Respect,

                                        J A Long

       Powersville, Mo    4 - 28 - 89

Last year I sent the album to the Putnam Co Historical Society in Unionville, Missouri.  I received no response to the mailing and hope it arrived safely.  If you are ever that direction, you might ask about the album.

While we’re on the Riddle family, here’s one last strand - a wedding photo of Cora Riddle and her new husband Edgar Otis Rynor, taken in 1904.   Cora is the granddaughter of Preston Riddle and his first wife Elizabeth.  Her father is their son William.