Although Isaac and Catherine had two sons who also had sons, they had eight daughters so many of their grandchildren never had the Riddle surname.

Their eldest child was daughter Mary, often called Polly, born c1825, in Kentucky and most likely in Cumberland County since that is where her parents lived until the move to Fentress County, Tennessee, just over the state line.

Mary married twice. Her first husband was Henry Nation and she was his third wife. They married c1848 and were the parents of four children – Nancy, Isaac Suel, Zerilda and Sarah Emeline. Her second husband was James Conkin, born in Tennessee. She was also his second wife and they married c1865, but had no children together. Mary died sometime after 1880.

More can be learned about Henry and Mary (Riddle) Nation’s lives here and in a previous post.

Isaac and Catherine’s second child, daughter Ruth, is more of an enigma. She was born about 4 March 1827, Cumberland County, Kentucky and died there on 10 December 1914.

Ruth’s census records and death certificate all report that she was single. However, in 1900, Ruth lived with her grandson Thomas Wyatt and his wife, Tabitha. She reported that she was widowed and had given birth to two children, with one living in 1900.

Ruth “reportedly” married Webber Johnson, but no one by that name was found anywhere in 1860, nor was a Ruth Johnson, born about 1827, KY, found either. This seems to be family lore. There was a Webber Johnson living in Christian County, KY in 1850+, but he married Tabitha Gray in 1855 and lived later in Fayette County, KY and then Indiana.

Ruth was at home with her parents and siblings in 1850, not found in 1860, and at home with daughter Rilda, 10, in 1870.

By 1880, she and Rilda were living with John (aged 66) and Polly (aged 77) Speer. Ruth was their housekeeper.

Ruth was enumerated twice in 1900. On 23 June 1900, she lived with grandson Thomas Wyatt and his wife, but four days later, she was living with Ben and Ruth Simpson, their family plus eight paupers including Ruth.

Although she died in 1914, Ruth hasn’t been found in the 1910 census.

Given that Ruth was always referred to as unmarried, it seems likely that the Webber Johnson family lore is just that – unproven and probably not true.

Ruth’s only known surviving child was Rilda, born c1860, who was called Monk, so her father might well have been one of many Monks in the area.

Child: (Monk or Riddle)

1. Rilda, born c1860, Kentucky; died between 1888-1892; married Reuben Wyatt, c1880. Reuben married (2) Susan Coop, c1892. He died between 1900-1910. Reuben and Rilda were the parents of four children: Thomas Phillips, James Alvis, Millard and William Bradly Wyatt.

Therefore, Ruth had four grandsons and has descendants today.

All events in Cumberland county, Kentucky unless stated otherwise.

1. Thomas Phillips Wyatt was born 10 October 1881; died 1 November 1957, Barren County, Kentucky; married Tabitha Ann Shootman, c1900. They were the parents of six sons and one daughter.
2. James Alvis Wyatt was born 21 February 1883; died 24 October 1954, Cotton County, Oklahoma; married Nannie Harris, c1903. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters.
3. Millard Wyatt was born January 1886; died 1910; married Perthenia Ellen Riddle, c1904. They were the parents of one son, Henry Keene Wyatt, born 23 June 1905, and one daughter, Loretta Jane Wyatt, born 7 May 1907.
4. William Bradley Wyatt was born March 1888; died 7 February 1916; married Hettie F. Riddle, c1913. They were the parents of one son, William Bradley Wyatt, born 23 November 1914.

Next up is Joseph Riddle, third child and first of two sons born to Isaac Riddle and Catherine Johnson.