History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon. Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

GEORGE HAYWARD RIDDELL AND FAMILY

     George Hayward Riddell, son of Jacob and Rachel Riddell, was born in Brooklyn New York, October 3, 1832, of Scotch-English descent, his ancestors coming to New York, then New Amsterdam, from Holland, in 1629, having gone there from England due to persecution in church matters. George Riddell was educated and learned the trade of carpentry in New York.
     He was a member of Sand Street Methodist Church. At the age of 20 he left New York on a sailing vessel for San Francisco, going around Cape Horn. Alter many trials and narrow escapes the worn and weary looking vessel landed at its destination in 1852. For two years George was in or near the mines at Sutter Creek, California. In the early 50's he went north to Salem, Oregon. The new Capitol had much building to be done. Among other buildings he was contractor for Walder Hall of Willamette University, the only building standing of the original group. Waller Hall was begun in 1864. The First Methodist Church is another building that had much of George's artifice.
     In 1866 he met a Miss Martha Angeline Hamilton who was attending Willamette University from Oakville.
     Martha Angeline Hamilton, the daughter of Hon. and Mrs. Joseph Hamilton of Oakville, was born on June 4, 1847 while the wagon of her parents was being ferried across the Platte River, Nebraska on their way to Oregon. Martha Angeline weighed 2 lbs. at birth and for some time was rolled in cotton, being too small to dress and was carried in the tool box in the center of the front seat of the Conestoga wagon to Oregon.
     Joseph Hamilton was captain of a division of the wagon train. After leaving Fort Hall they left the main Oregon Trail and came on to Oregon by way of the Applegate Trail. They had trouble with Indians both in Wyoming and the Umpuas in Oregon. The caravan was saved in the Wyoming encounter by a barrel of soft soap on the running board. An Indian, thinking it was molasses, put his arm in to it then licked it off. The burning lye caused such antics of the Indian who ate it that the other Indians were amused and let the wagon train proceed, first making them give up all their provisions. They suffered from hunger before the train reached Fort Hall. The second encounter was in the Umpqua mountains, and the wagon train had formed camp. Strict instructions were for every one to stay close in camp. Wild evergreen blackberries were ripe. Mrs. Caroline Hamilton, then a girl of 18, and another girl, couldn't resist the temptation, so getting a bucket, slipped away from camp. When their bucket was partially full they were startled by a war whoop. The girls hid under a log covered by berry vines. The Indians and the white men fought back and forth over that log. When the whites succeeded in driving away the Indians, the two girls were found missing. It was thought the Indians had stolen them. The girls slipped back into camp just as the men were starting out to rescue them.
     The wagon train reached French Prairie near Oregon City in October 1847. In the spring Joseph Hamilton took up a homestead of 300 acres at Oakville and Caroline, his wife filed on 300 acres.
     George Riddell and Martha Angeline Hamilton were married at her home in Oakville on June 11, 1867. They made their home in Salem for a number of years. Two children wore born in Salem, Hayward Hamilton and Grace Edna.
     The Riddells moved to Oakville and purchased a farm. George being a carpenter built the school at Orleans and was in charge of construction of the United Presbyterian Church at Oakville in 1878 and '79. Three children were born in Oakville: Ethel Louise, Mabel and Clyde Wellington.
     The Riddells decided to go to Prineville where they were told the climate would be beneficial for asthma sufferers, Mabel being troubled with this ailment from birth. They sold their holdings and in the spring of 1881 they started for Eastern Oregon. With part of their goods packed in a covered wagon they went to Portland where they boarded the river steamer for The Dalles.
     Heading for Prineville they went up Company Ranch Hollow. A wheel of the wagon broke which turned the wagon over near the English ranch. Chris English persuaded George Riddell to look at a homestead west of his place. A man who had filed on it had given it up. Riddell filed on a 160 acre homestead and 160 acre timber claim and moved his family on the property. Busy days were spent in building, fencing and planting. Being fond of animals he raised blooded horses and cattle.
     While hauling in hay in 1888 George Riddell suffered a sunstroke. After months of recuperating he came out an old man. His hair which was black before the stroke turned snow white. He never regained his health. Two children were born on The Dalles ranch, George Xenophon and. Elizabeth Caroline.
     In 1895 the Riddells moved to The Dalles to give the children better school facilities. The ranch was rented, then later sold.
     George Riddell's last building was a home in The Dalles in 1897. In 1906 George Riddell, wife and youngest daughter, Bess, moved to Long Beach, California where he passed away in August 1909. Mrs. Riddell died in Long Beach October 1919.
     George Riddell was always a devout Christian, one who lived his religion. He organized the Sunday School at the Floyd schoolhouse, also at Fairfield. Sunday always found him and his family driving several mules to attend religious services and lead the singing in his clear true baritone.
     His home was always the stopping place for the Circuit Riders. George devoted much time to the temperance cause especially after he moved to The Dalles. He was one of the organizers of The Farmers Alliance, later the Grange.
     The children of this couple were: Hayward Hamilton Riddell, married Erma Morse, the daughter of a Portland Pioneer family; Grace Edna Riddell, married to Ulysses Dinsmore Parish, the son of a pioneer family of Fossil; Ethel Louise Riddell, married to Carey Howard Jenkins, a son of pioneers of Klickitat County, Washington; Mabel Pearl Riddell, married to Edward Emil Lage, son of pioneers of Hood River; Clyde Wellington Riddell, married Jessie Rogers of Vermont; George Xenophon Riddell married Irene Armstrong, pioneers of Tacoma, Washington; Elizabeth Caroline Riddell was married to Cyril James White of Long Beach, California.

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