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Circumstantial evidence is often allowed to be presented in court cases by the judicial system in advancing certain claims by the State, so with this context in mind, I will put forth a supposition regarding the mothers of Harvey's children and consequently his wives' names.
After considerible examination of census records pertaining to Harvey Riddles and the known associated families of the Riddles in Carroll Co.,Arkansas as well as those in Bastrop and Caldwell Counties, Texas and with no small amount of trepidation, it is my opinion that Harvey was married twice. And in addition to the known children; Thomas Edward, Mary J., Alcina and Sarah Ann Riddles; Harvey and his second wife were the parents of Martha Leona Riddles who married James Henry Roach in 1888, Caldwell Co.,Texas.
* Mary Anna Polly Smith b. 1831, Missouri; dau/of William Smith b. 1793, Va. & Mary Polly ? Black b. 1797, NC. Polly living w/parents and sisters Lucinda Jane, Louisa & Caroline in 1850 Carroll Co.,Ark.
** Nancy Unknown b. ? and maiden name possibly Petty or Huddleston[ per Utah death certificate for Martha Leona Riddles Roach which lists her mother as Nancy Riddles.]
The first marriage of Harvey was to Polly or Mary Anna Smith b. 1831, Missouri and she is shown as a daughter of William & Polly Smith on the 1850 Carroll Co.,Ark census.[same page as Joab Riddles, James A. Riddles in HH of Catharine Walker.] They would have married probably about 1852 because Harvey Riddles is listed on the 1852 tax roll for Carroll Co.,Arkansas and it is reasonable to assume that as a married man, he would have set up a household in that county.
Harvey and Polly appear on the 1860 census with two [2] children, Thomas Edward Riddles b. 1855, Ark and Mary J. Riddles b. 1857, Ark. This is the last known record of Polly Smith Riddles because this researcher has been unable to locate Harvey's family or his brothers, Joab and James A. Riddles on the 1870 census for any Texas county. Only family records show his children Alcina b. 1865 Voca,McCulloch Co., Texas and Sarah Ann b. 1869 Pettytown, Bastrop Co.,Texas.
Supporting my belief that the younger children have different mothers than that of Thomas Edward and Mary J. Riddles are the death certificates of Thomas Edward Riddles, Alcina Riddles Petty Baize and Sarah Ann Riddles Petty and the 1880 census records for Bastrop and Caldwell Counties, Texas.The death certificates lists their father as being a Harvey, Will*, Harvie Riddle, respectively. The certificates list their mother's name as unknown. [*Havey was known & referred to as "Will" per information Ann Jewell Riddles Hoover.]
A logical explanation for the lack of knowledge of their mother's name by Harvey's children or by the informants on the death certificates could well be because their mothers died while they were too young to have had personal memories of their mothers and the fact that they were brought up by families who may not have reinforced their memories by personal use of the name or names of their mothers. The culture and social conventions of the day may have prohibited conversations regarding deaths of family members.
Alcina's birth indicates there is an eight [8] year span between the birth of Mary J. b. 1857, Ark and that of Alcina 1865 in Texas. This span seems unusual for families of that period. This fact has led me to believe that Polly Smith Riddles died after the 1860 Carroll Co.,Arkansas was taken but before 1865. If this is indeed the case, then Harvey would have been left with two motherless children of tender age to care for and would have expedited the need to remarry. Like most people of that era, he most likely sought out someone living close by within the community of previously associated family members.
It is known that Harvey Riddles was in the Coryell Co., Texas area by at least 1863 because he was listed as a member of CSA Co. K; 1st Regiment, 2nd Brigade of the Frontier Regiment of The Texas State Troopers and served under the command of Captain W. S. Gouldy in 1864. [Texas State Library CSA Archive Records]
His brother, James A. Riddles b. 1826, Illinois served under Capt. G. W. Haley; Co C, Second Frontier District, Texas State Troops. Since they are both listed under the CSA indigent families list for Coryell Co.,Texas, it can safely be assumed their families were with them in Texas.
The 1870 census records would certainly make guess work and suppositions unnecessary in presenting my case but I simply do not have that luxury on which to substantiate my argument. Rather, I must rely again on those existing records as mentioned above and outlined below.
Bastrop County, Texas bill of sale; Harvey Riddles and John Petty, dated 27th Day of November 1874 for and in consideration of the sum of One Hundred and Eighty Dollars sold to John Petty eighteen head of stock cattle with the counter brand H. R. and certified by J.M. Finney, Clerk, CCBC.
The 1880 census records for Bastrop and Caldwell Counties, Texas which lists each child in different households, namely:
Alcina Reddle/Riddles, Niece, S|F|W|age 14| at school| b.Tx; living in the household of Saml & Mary Petty with John Petty age 79, b. NC.=1880 Bastrop Co.,Texas census. [Samuel Dow Petty b. 1839, Ark. m. Mary Huddleston b. 1849, Ark. dau/of Thomas Huddleston & Ema Harris.}
Martha Riddel, Cousin, S|F|W|age 9| b. Tx.; living in household of Richard & Beatrice Riddel[this Richard Riddel is a s/o James A. Riddles b. 1826, ILL{s/o Richard & Celia Riddles} & Lucinda Jane Smith b. 1833, Mo who was a sister to Harvey's wife Mary Polly Smith b. 1831, Mo.=1880 Bastrop Co.,Texas census
Thomas Riddle* and his cousin, William Riddle[s/o James A. Riddles b. 1826, ILL & Lucinda J. Smith b. 1833, Mo] farm laborers living in household of McCord Donnell whose son Willis or Wesley marries this William Riddle's sister.]{* This is Thomas Edward Riddles b. 1855, Ark.}
Sarah A. Riddels ,Niece, |S|F|W|age 10| b.Tx.; and Harvey Riddells;bro-in-law,|Widowed|M|W|age 62|b. ILL living in the household of Lucinda J.Riddels,**|self|widowed|F|W|age 43|b. Mo.{ Harvey is listed as unemployed due to consumption} **Same Lucinda Jane Smith Riddles m. to James A. Riddles b. 1826, ILL and the mother of above Richard Riddel with whom Martha Riddel[Martha Leona Riddles], a cousin lives.
Harvey Riddles being unable to work [because of having consumption] and support himself or his daughters would explain the need for the family to live in whatever family member's household who could afford to take them in; consequently the girls were separated by necessity and harsh realities of life.
The living arrangements of and the family ties of the individuals listed on the 1880 censuses for both Bastrop and Caldwell Counties makes sense and would be logical for this presentation.
It has been recorded in family history that Harvey Riddles died about 1883. This event unfortunately making all the girls orphans and dependants of these family members. Did they remain in these same households until each of them married and went their separate ways and was there communication in those long ago days written on scraps of paper? What, if anything passed between them? If so, in what old trunk forgotten in the dusty attic of someone's old farm house could those scraps of treasure lie?
Thank-you,
Researcher: Willie Gail Riddles-Rotzoll
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