Date Original
1839-1900
Description
This collection contains memorandum books, news clippings, biographical sketches, and correspondence.
Biographical/Historical Note
Benjamin Franklin Riddick was born on December 4, 1815, in Gates County, North Carolina, to Robert and Elizabeth Meroney Riddick. He settled in Ouachita County, Arkansas, in 1844, as a farmer. He was made a mason in Woodlawn Lodge #15 in 1857. Riddick took the Knights of Templar degrees in Little Rock in 1867. He served as Worthy Master of Woodlawn Lodge, as well as high priest in the chapter and three times Illustrious Master of the Council. In 1866, Riddick was elected from Ouachita County to the Arkansas House of Representatives, and again in 1880. His brother, James Andrew Riddick, was the presiding elder of the Virginia Methodist Conference, and his other brother, Henry Riddick, served as a school teacher in North Carolina. Riddick married Laura Ann Cleaves on January 29, 1840, and had nine children. William Henry and Virginious Leonidas Riddick both served in the Confederate forces of the Civil War, and were killed in battle. James Robert and Ann Eliza died in infancy. Five children survived to adulthood: John Calvin, who married Martha Collins of Fulton County, Kentucky; Laura Louisa, who married Newton R. Tribble, assessor and sheriff of Ouachita County; Sarah Jane, who married John Gunter of Nevada County; Abner Stith, who married Nancy L. Johnson; and Elizabeth Cornelia, who married George Merritt. Benjamin Franklin Riddick died on April 1, 1900.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas; New York; Virginia; North Carolina; Tennessee; Kentucky
Language
English
Identifier
SMC.030.002
Resource Type
Text
Collection
B.F. Riddick papers, SMC.030.002
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
B.F. Riddick papers, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
