DAVID A. RIDDLE. - David A. Riddle, one of the successful farmers and stock raisers of Williams township, has two hundred acres of land on section 36. The farm was his birthplace, his natal day being November 28, 1847. His paternal grandfather, David Riddle, was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1780, and removing westward became a resident of Ohio, while later he took up his abode in Sangamon county, Illinois, living here at the time of the deep snow of 1830-31. From the government his son James entered the land upon which David A. Riddle now resides. James Riddle, the father of our subject, was born in Urbana, Ohio, April 23, 1810, and when a young man came to Sangamon county, Illinois. Here he married Susan Simpson, who was born in new Jersey and was a daughter of John P. Simpson, who removed from that state to Illinois in 1839. James riddle actively engaged in farming until 1849, when he died at the age of thirty-five years. His widow still survives him and now resides upon the old homestead with her son, David. She reared her family, numbering two sons, the elder being John M., of Christian county, Illinois.

David A. Riddle spent his boyhood and youth upon the old homestead farm and operated it in connection with his brother for some time. His early educational privileges afforded by the common schools were supplemented by study in the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, and for six years he successfully engaged in teaching, his capability to impart clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired rendering him an able educator.

Mr. Riddle was married in this county in 1884 to Miss Laura B. Oliver, who was born in Ohio near Chillicothe, but spent her girlhood days in Sangamon county. She is the daughter of Henry Oliver, who was a prominent farmer of this locality, but is now deceased. She is a sister of William H. Oliver and also of Mrs. J. F. Lyon, both of whom are represented elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Riddle have one daughter, Susan May. They have always resided upon the place which is now their home and Mr. Riddle erected here a commodious and substantial residence, which stands in the midst of a well kept lawn that is adorned with shade trees. He has two good barns and has planted and orchard and altogether his property is well improved with modern accessories and conveniences. He voted for Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876 and has ever since exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. He has served as a member of the central committee from his township for several years and he was elected collector and assessor and acted as a member of the board of supervisors for three consecutive terms, or six years. During that time he was on a number of important committees and served as chairman of two or three of them. As a member of the school board, of which he is now the president, he has done effective service in behalf of the cause of education. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Barclay, of which he is now a past chancellor, and he is also a member of the Court of Honor and the Modern Woodmen Camp. His activity and industry in business and his reliability in matters pertaining to public progress have made him one of the representative citizens of Sangamon county.