RIDDELL, Margaret

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 29 Jun 1870, Pittsburgh, PA (Allegheny)
• Arrival: 25 Feb 1879, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
• Census: 29 Jun 1880, 345 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, Alameda, CA USA

Notes:

From the Santa Cruz Sentinel, 3 Jan 1890:

A WOMAN'S DOWNFALL.

Mrs. Maggie Pray In Court Charged With Vagrancy.

Mrs. Maggie Pray, a confirmed "hypo" fiend and common drunk, was arraigned before Justice Pfister Tuesday afternoon on a charge of vagrancy preferred by Office Everhart. Mrs. Pray had been without her usual dose for several days, and presented a pitiable appearance. She was trembling in every limb and hardly able to stand on account or extreme weakness. Her mother was with her, the poor woman appearing almost brokenhearted.

When asked to plead Mrs. Pray burst into tears and stated that she had been sick on the night in question, and arising, had gone up town to procure medicine. Becoming tired and sick she had sat down in a stairway and had been there but a few moments when tho proprietor called a policeman and had her arrested.

"How many times have you been before me?"

"This is the first time"

"You forfeited $5 twice for drunkenness, did you not, and have been taken up in San Francisco several times?"

Mrs. Pray admitted that she had been arrested as stated, but being I almost unable to walk nn account of rheumatism in her limbs, she was often thought to be drunk when, in fact, she had not imbibed anything. A plea of not guilty was entered and trial set for Januarv 3d at 3 p. m. Her mother promised to keen her off the streets until that time, and she was discharged with that understanding. -- San Jose Mercury

From the SF Examiner, 18 Jul 1889:

RUINED BY MORPHINE

A Once Beautiful Woman Found Lying in the Street

HER PATHETIC STORY.

She Spends Her Last Cent for Whisky and Begs for a Bed.

"Help! I'm poisoned"

It was 1 o'clock yesterday morning when Officer L. M. Benjamin heard the faint cry issuing from a little alley leading off McAllister street. Peering into the darkness he saw a frail little woman huddled close in the shadow of the building, She was in a helpless condition and moaned pitifully as he picked her up and carried her into the light.

She was elegantly attired in a gray walking-dress and wrap. A wealth of flaxen hair hung in disorder down her back. Her blue eyes were half closed and her face as pale as death.

The officers placed her in a cab and carried her to the City Receiving Hospital. On the way she told in a half-dazed way that she lived in San Jose. She had come to San Francisco for a purpose, and had taken ergot to accomplish it.

At the hospital she gave the name of Mary Brown. There was no odor noticeable of the pungent drug which she said she had taken, and upon again being questioned she said she had taken morphine and whisky. She was treated accordingly, and at 6 o'clock in the morning left the hospital with the matron to go to the Grand Hotel, where she said she was stopping.

PENNILESS AND HOMELESS.

On the way she said that her name was not Mary Brown, but that she had assumed it to hide her identity; that her family name was Riddell, and that her mother resided in San Jose; that she had been married to a man named Wainwrght. who was at present in Paris, but that her name was now Mrs. Pray.

At the hotel it was learned that she had arrived Tuesday afternoon and registered as Mrs. C. D. Bancroft. She was given a room and immediately ordered a bottle of wine. She left there late in the afternoon and had not been seen afterward.

When she presented herself at the hotel yesterday morning with the matron of the hospital she was refused a room,as she had no money. She opened her trunk in search of same, disclosing an elegant wardrobe and two empty whisky bottles. She then left the hotel.

Inquiry developed the fact that she was once a noted belle of San Francisco. Her parents were wealthy, and she, being an only child, enjoyed every advantage that money could procure. She drove about town in an elegant pony phaeton, her exquisite beauty attracting many admirers. About five years ago she was married to Fred. Pray, the photographer. For a time they lived happily together, but she had acquired a taste for liquor, which soon became uncontrollable. Her first offenses were condoned, but she became so additted to its use that her husband was compelled to separate from her.

HER LOVE FOR LIQUOR.

She afterward suffered from paralysis, and to alleviate her sufferings used hypodermic injections of morphine. It was but a short time before she was a confirmed morphine fiend, uing large quantities of the opiate. Since the separation from her husband, some two years ago, she has frequently visited San Francisco, and, free Irom the restraint of her parents, indulged in liquor and morphine until at times she has been on the verge of insanity.

Time and again has her mother scoured San Francisco in search of her unfortunate daughter and taken her to her elegant home in San Jose.

Long and patient have been her endeavors to wean the daughter from her devouring appetite lor liquor, and each time just when she hoped that her efforts were to meet with success has the daughter fallen.

Yesterday she wandered about the streets all day, hungry, tired, penniless and friendless. In the evening she went from one hotel to another in search of a bed, but always receiving the same reply, " We have none for you."

In her desperation she at last offered her only possession, a tiny silver hypodermic syringe, the instrument of her ruin, to which she had clung to the last, for a place to lay her head.

Census:
Maggie Riddel / Age 15 / Female / White /

Arrival:
Arrived with husband and children in San Francisco from Pittsburgh

Census:
345 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda / Wainwright, Maggie / White / Female / Age 23 / Wife / Occ - Keeping House / Birthplace: PA / Birthplace of Father: PA / Birthplace of Mother: PA

Margaret married PRAY, Frederick Hall on 8 Apr 1883 in Oakland, Alameda, CA, USA, and was divorced on 19 Sep 1889 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Frederick (son of PRAY, Amasa and FERNALD, Miriam) was born on 14 Apr 1851 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA; died on 17 Jun 1909 in Mission Hill Sanatorium, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was buried on 19 Jun 1909 in IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the SF Examiner, 19 Sep 1889:

Mrs. Pray Deaf to Her Husband's Prayers Decrees and Alimony.
"In the name of all that is good and holy I have begged my wife to quit drinking," said Fred H. Pray to Judge Levy yesterday morning. "It was no use, though, for she was confirmed in the habit, and her excesses have driven us to ruin, financially and every other way."
Mrs. Maggie Pray, the woman accused, made no denial. She was arrested at the Grand Hotel a month aco for being intoxicated. It was disclosed to the court that Mrs. Pray is also addicted to the morphine habit, and a divorce was granted to her husband on tbe ground of intemperance.

Three years earlier, this strange item from the SF Examiner, 22 Nov 1886:

LOOK ON THIS PICTURE.

A Negative Photographer Twice Married but Not Mated.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN-ON AND after this date I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by my wife. FRED H. PRAY.

San Francisco, November 17, 1886.

In order to ascertain the hidden meaning of this public avowal, an Examiner reporter yesterday called on Mrs. Redell, mother of Mrs. Pray. Said Mrs. Redell: " Well. I will not say anything about it, but I think a piece ought to be put in the papers, stating that he was not good for his own debts, even. Yes; the remnants of his photograph gallery have been sold at auction; he owed General Keyes about $1,500 rent; instead of supporting my daughter, she has had to pawn her jewelry and other effects for them to live on; some of her trunks are now at the Donohoe House, some at a lodging-house on Sutter street, and he owes other bills at hotels where they stopped as long as he could get credit. While they lived in Oakland, their gas bill was shut off twice, and he owes the butcher and the druggist.

Well, he left her about three weeks ago when his gallery was closed, and is traveling round the country, camping out. My daughter, Mrs. Pray, heard he was at Congress Springs, and so she and a lady friend went down there to see him. I would not go with her, because I think Mr. Wainright is the proper husband for her. Mr. Wainright was her first husband. He is from Pittsburg, Pa., and is quite wealthy. They came here several years ago; I lived at Gilroy you know. Mr. Wainright,
his initials are J. G., got a divorce from my daughter and went East keeping the decree in his pocket, not recording it in order, I suppose, to keep my daughter from marrying. But she married this man Pray. Then, when Wainright returned, he recorded the divorce, and so the marriage was celebrated over again, she being twice married to Mr. Pray. We thought her first marriage to him was not legal because the divorce had not been recorded. No; I do not know whether there is another woman in the scene or not. I cannot imagine what Pray did with his money -- he did not properly support my daughter, and it is not likely any one will credit him, so there is no danger of her running up bills in his name."

Married:
Reportedly had two ceremonies, the second on or about 8 Nov 1883. This was due to some confusion as to whether Maggie was officially divorced from her first husband.

Divorced:
“Fred Pray has been divorced from Maggie Pray on the ground of habitual intemperance.”

Margaret married WAINWRIGHT, Joseph Graves before 1873, and was divorced about 1883. Joseph (son of WAINWRIGHT, Zachariah and Elvira) was born on 8 Apr 1847 in Pittsburgh, PA; died on 12 Jan 1902 in Beechwood & 5th, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA USA; was buried on 14 Jan 1902 in Homewood Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. WAINWRIGHT, Josephine was born about 1873 in Pennsylvania, USA.
2. WAINWRIGHT, John R was born about 1875 in Pennsylvania, USA; was buried in Homewood Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA USA.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Physical Description: Height 5’ 5”, Light Complexion, Brown Eyes, Gray Hair
• Obituary: From Santa Cruz Surf, 11 Apr 1896:J John Riddell, a former resident of Santa Cruz, and a brother of D. C. Riddell, died Wednesday at St. Marys Hospital and was buried yesterday in the Gilroy Catholic cemetery, beside his wile and daughter.
• Occupation: Lawyer
• Cause of Death: Cancer of the throat
• Census: 29 Jun 1870, Pittsburgh, PA (Allegheny)
• Census: 15 Jun 1880, 1113 Broadway, Oakland, Alameda, CA USA
• Voter Registration: 20 Aug 1880, Third Ward, Oakland, Alameda, CA USA
• Voter Registration: 29 Mar 1882, Gilroy, Santa Clara, California, USA
• Voter Registration: 15 Oct 1886, 303 Jessie Street, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
• Voter Registration: 29 Sep 1888, San Jose, Santa Clara, California, USA
• Voter Registration: 11 Apr 1892, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA

Notes:

Census:
J W Riddel / Age 41 / Male / White / Attorney at Law / Value of Real Estate 20,000 / Value of Personal Prop 10,000

Census:
1113 Broadway, Oakland / Ridell John W / White / Male / 51 / Relationship to owner: Roomer / Occupation Lawyer / Birthplace Pennsylvania / Father's Birthplace Pennsylvania / Mother's Birthplace Pennsylvania

Voter Registration:
Riddell, John William, Age 51, Birthplace Penn,Occupation Lawyer, Registered 20 Aug 1880 (note Third Ward was described as “Comprises all that portion lying east of Adeline Street, south of Twentieth and Delger Streets, west of Broadway, and north of Tenth Street.)

Died:
John Riddell, a former resident of Santa Cruz, and a brother of D. C. Riddell, died Wednesday at St. Marys Hospital and was buried yesterday in the Gilroy Catholio cemetery, beside his wile and daughter.

John married Margaret. Margaret was born about 1832 in Pittsburgh, PA; died on 10 Nov 1891 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was buried in Saint Mary Church Cemetery, Gilroy, Santa Clara, CA USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Obituary: From the Santa Cruz Surf, 11 Nov 1891 Mrs. John W. Riddell. The death of Mrs. John W. Riddell, announced in our colums today, will fill many hearts with sadness. Although an invalid for some time past, she suffered with a resignation that was due to a devout Christian hope and faith, which won the regard of all friends and acquaintances. The remains will be taken this morning to Gilroy, where they will be finally interred in the Catholic cemetery.
• Census: 29 Jun 1870, Pittsburgh, PA (Allegheny)
• Census: 15 Jun 1880, 1113 Broadway, Oakland, Alameda, CA USA

Notes:

Birth:
Also listed as Ireland in 1880 Census

Census:
Margt Riddel / Age 35 / Female / White / Keeps House

Census:
1113 Broadway, Oakland / Ridell Margarette / White / Female / 47 / Relationship to owner: Roomer / Occupation Keeping House / Birthplace Ireland / Father's Birthplace Ireland / Mother's Birthplace Ireland-

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Jefferson College
• Occupation: Lawyer

Notes:

He was a successful and distinguished lawyer; was in the State Legislature; noted for eloquence and power as an advocate; espoused ardently the anti-masonic side in the bitter controversies of the period from 1830 to 1836

John married SPEER, Elizabeth about 1826. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]