William "Lom-tu" Riddle Sr.

“Lom-tu” (Old Man) by the Cow Creek Indians

William H Riddle Birth 1 Sep 1805 in Riddles Station, Bourbon, Kentucky, United States Death 4 Apr 1891 in Riddle, Douglas, Oregon, United States

Parents

William Riddle 1772 – 1813

Jane Davidson 1775 – 1812

Show siblings Spouse & Children

Maxamillia Bousman 1809 – 1868

Jane Riddle 1828 – 1892 Artinecia Chapman Riddle 1830 – 1917 Isabella Riddle 1834 – 1892

William H Riddle 1836 – 1857 George Washington Riddle 1839 – 1927 Abner Riddle 1842 – 1926 John Bouseman Riddle 1844 – 1914

Ann Maria Riddle 1847 – 1924

Tobias Stilley Riddle 1849 – 1917

Clara Allie Riddle 1853 – 1855

Timeline(View details) 1805 1 Sep Birth Riddles Station, Bourbon, Kentucky, United States 1826 13 Jul Age: 20 Marriage to Maxamillia Bousman Champaign, Ohio, United States 1891 4 Apr Age: 85 Death Riddle, Douglas, Oregon, United States

William Hamilton Riddle, Sr Memorial Photos Flowers Edit Learn about sponsoring this memorial... Birth: Sep. 1, 1805 Bourbon County Kentucky, USA Death: Apr. 4, 1891 Riddle Douglas County Oregon, USA

Died at Age: 85 Years, 7 Months, 3 Days. He was born at Riddle's Station, Bourbon County, Kentucky on 01 Sep 1805. William was only an infant or toddler when he moved with his family from Kentucky to Ohio. William must have had a difficult childhood. His father died when he was only about seven years old. His mother afterwards ran into legal troubles and may have forced to move frequently over the next ten, or twenty years. It is unknown where William spent his childhood, and may have lived in Kentucky, Ohio, or Indiana. Eventually, William returned to Champaign County, Ohio. It was probably there that William was apprenticed as a blacksmith during the early 1820's. On 13 Jul 1826 in Champaign County, Ohio, William was married to a young woman named Maxamillia Isabella Bouseman. They were both strict adherents to the Baptist faith. They settled on a farm near the town of West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio. While living there they had four children, Jane, Artinecia (see next generation), Isabella and William.

In 1838, William emigrated with his wife and four children several hundred miles west to a farm of 160 acres in Williams Township, in Sangamon County, Illinois, about 10 miles north of Springfield, Illinois. They were successful farmers planting mostly corn and their father also ran a separtate blacksmith business on the farm. It was a time of fruitfulness and they were blessed with five more children George, Abner, John, Ann and Tobias.

William and Maxamillia were eventually motivated by the stories from their neighbors and the newspapers to move west to the Oregon Territory. Free land with rich soil just sounded too good a deal for their young fast growing family. Many of their neighbors were planning to leave too. So, in the spring of 1851 William sold everything they were not taking and moved his entire family by wagon and oxen over the Oregon Trail and arrived on 30 September 1851 in southern Oregon having taken a new wagon route lead by a young experienced Oregonian.

William and his family searched out prime land to settle. Upon discovering the Cow Creek Valley they immediately made a Donation Land Claim of 320 acres in Douglas County, Oregon. William and his family were the first known white men to see the area. They made friends with the Cow Creek Indian tribe that lived in the valley. Members of the tribe called William, "Lomtu" [which means Old Man]. William and his family established a successful ranch on their claim. They named it "Glenbrook Farms". During the 1880's, William's son John platted a townsite about a mile southeast of their ranch. This small town was named, Riddle and it prospered. In the Riddle Cemetery, today, can be found many these early Oregon Pioneers.

William and Maxamillia had one child, Clara after arrival in Oregon. Mrs. Riddle died in 1868, and William continued on at Glenbrook Farm near Riddle, Oregon. He died there 04 Apr 1891.

www.ryanwadleigh.com compiled by, Ryan Wadleigh. For which we are thankful and indebted.

Family links: Spouse: Maximilia Bouseman Riddle (1809 - 1868)*

Children: Artinecia Riddle Merriman (1830 - 1917)* Isabella Riddle Nichols (1834 - 1882)* William Hamilton Riddle (1837 - 1857)* George Washington Riddle (1839 - 1927)*

• Point here for explanation

Burial: Riddle Cemetery Riddle Douglas County Oregon, USA

William, died in Riddle, Oregon, at age 85 Years, 7 Months, 3 Days. He was born at Riddle's Station, Bourbon County, Kentucky on 01 September 1805. His was a full and rewarding life with a strong christian enfluence.

William was only an infant or toddler when he moved with his family from Kentucky to Ohio. William must have had a difficult childhood. His father died when he was only about seven years old. His mother afterwards ran into legal troubles and may have forced to move frequently over the next ten, or twenty years. It is unknown where William spent his childhood, and may have lived in Kentucky, Ohio, or Indiana. Eventually, William returned to Champaign County, Ohio. It was probably there that William was apprenticed as a blacksmith during the early 1820's.

On, 13 Jully 1826 in Champaign County, Ohio, William was married to a young woman named Maxamillia Isabella Bouseman. They were both strict adherents to the Baptist faith. They settled on a farm near the town of West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio. While living there they had four children, Jane, Artinecia (see next generation), Isabella and William.

In 1838, William emigrated with his wife and four children several hundred miles west to a farm of 160 acres in Williams Township, in Sangamon County, Illinois, about 10 miles north of Springfield, Illinois. They were successful corn farmers with rich soil and plenty of water. While his wife ran the farm with help from their children, William, operated a productive blacksmith business on the farm. It was a time of fruitfulness and they were blessed with five more children George, Abner, John, Ann and Tobias.

William and Maxamillia were eventually motivated by the stories from their neighbors and the newspapers to move west to the Oregon Territory. Free land with rich soil just sounded too good a deal for their young fast growing family. Many of their neighbors were planning to leave too. So, in careful planning during the fall and winter of 1850-51, William sold everything they were not taking. In the spring, they started packing the wagons making ready to moved their entire family, plus Maxamillia's half sister, Lucinda McGill, 45, and Anna Hall, a cousin, 11, and three hired drivers by horses and oxen and with cattle over the Oregon Trail. They started out on, 10 April 1851. along the way many trails were set before them, including several near scares and run-ins with Indians. They all arrived safe on 30 September 1851, in Southern Oregon having taken a new wagon route lead by a young experienced, now well known Oregonian, Mr. Cornelius Hill. He brought along his new wife and some family members on a very sucessful passage. They finished the trip with about twelve wagons, others having taken the trail to Oregon City. This was all before the Indian Wars and the finding of Gold in Southern Oregon.

William and his family searched out prime land to settle. Upon discovering, secluded, Cow Creek Valley they immediately started the foundation of a log home, with that first step completed, they headed to file their Donation Land Claim on 320 acres, in the land office at Roseburg, Oregon. William and his family were likely the first white folk to see the area. They made friends with the local, Cow Creek Indians. They called William, "Lomtu" [which means Old Man] and had name for each of the other family members. William and his family established a successful farm/ranch on their claim. They named it "Glenbrook Farms". During the 1880's William's son, John, platted a townsite about a mile southeast of their ranch. This small town was named, Riddle and it has prospered. In the Riddle Cemetery, today, can be found many these early Pioneers.

William and Maxamillia had one child, Clara after arrival in Oregon. Mrs. Riddle died in 1868, and William continued on at Glenbrook Farm near Riddle, Oregon. He died there, 04 April 1891.

www.ryanwadleigh.com compiled by, Ryan Wadleigh. For which we are thankful and indebted. With important additions made by, Martin Burrell.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 7 2017, 22:36:38 UTC