RIDDELL, John

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]

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.

Family/Spouse: 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:

• Physical Description: Height 5’ 5.5”, Dark Complexion, Brown Eyes, Dark Hair
• Occupation: Farmer
• Voter Registration: 7 Jul 1882, Solis, Santa Clara, CA USA
• Voter Registration: 8 Apr 1892, Corner Pacific Ave & Spruce Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA USA

Notes:

De Witt-C. Riddell' (1), fourth son of John (5), removed at an early age from Erie, Penn., and resided for a few years with the family of his uncle, Rev. O. A. Patterson, in New Lisbon, O.; afterwards removed to Pittsburgh, Penn., and entered the service of Alexander James, tea-merchant. In 1855, he went to California, and has been in the employ of banking and express companies till 1881, when he engaged in fruit-culture near Gilroy, on a beautiful farm he has named "Glen-Riddell," for a family seat in Scotland; see "Riddells of Glen-Riddell," in this book. Mr. Riddell has a taste for farm life and sports of the field; enjoys campingout and hunting adventures, and has roamed over mountain and plain. He spent many years in the mining regions of California and Nevada, when connected with Wells & Fargo's Express Company. Is married, and has two children, of whom hereafter.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Druggist
• Voter Registration: 7 Jul 1882, Solis, Santa Clara, CA USA

Notes:

James Riddell (2), third son of John (5), was born at Erie, Penn., and is a druggist by profession, well acquainted with his business; he was at one time member of the large drug-importing firm of Crane & Brigham, of San Francisco. He is a man of energetic character and popular traits. Has retired in competent circumstances, and is living in the country near Gilroy, Cal., which State has been his place of residence since 1857; unmarried.

Notes:

Speer Riddell (1), second son of John (5), was born at Erie, Penn., about 1830; received partial classical education at private academies; was a bank-clerk with General Larimer (?), of Pittsburgh, Penn., from 1848 to 1853; in the latter year he moved to California, and has been bank-teller in San Francisco more than twenty-five years; has recently resigned his position, and is now the president of the San Bernardino Borax Mining Company. Has never married. Lives in San Francisco.

Notes:

Harriet-E. Riddell (1), only daughter of John (5), was born in Erie, Penn.; was married to Col. Samuel C. Magill, formerly of Clinton, Ia., but now of Fargo, Dak., and has five living children, of whom two are married.

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]

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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 25 Feb 1879, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
• Census: 29 Jun 1880, 345 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, Alameda, CA USA

Notes:

Arrival:
Arrived with parents and brother from Pittsburgh, PA

Census:
345 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda / Wainwright, Jospehine / White / Female / Age 7 / Daughter / Birthplace: PA / Birthplace of Father: PA / Birthplace of Mother: PA

Family/Spouse: DEAMODIO. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 25 Feb 1879, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
• Census: 29 Jun 1880, 345 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, Alameda, CA USA

Notes:

Arrival:
Arrived with parents and sister from Pittsburgh, PA

Census:
345 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda / Wainwright, John R / White / Male / Age 5 / Son / Birthplace: PA / Birthplace of Father: PA / Birthplace of Mother: PA