(Civil War veteran, Unit "A," 2nd Cal.)

The community was shocked last Friday morning to learn of the sudden death of James S. Riddler, an old and respected citizen of Blair. Mrs. Riddler was visiting near Florence at the time of his death and Mr. Riddler was staying with his daughter, Mrs. F.W. Arndt. Thursday evening he retired and complained of not feeling well, but the family thought it was temporary and did not worry. Friday morning he did not come to breakfast and when they went to his room, found him cold in death. Apoplexy or heart trouble is supposed to have taken him while he slept.

Deceased was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in July, 1829. He settled in Nebraska in 1856 where he has since resided. In 1858 he was married to Mary Josephine Briggs and together they have lived in Blair for about seventeen years. Mr. Riddler has always been a hale and hearty man and did not look his seventy-one years.

Being a contractor he has made many business friends who are grieved to hear of the demise of one of the pioneers of this county. He possessed the qualities requisite for making friends and no one speaks of Mr. Riddler but in a friendly way.

He leaves to mourn for him a wife and two children, Mrs. F.W. Arndt, of this city and Mrs. Wm. Cole of Florence. The funeral took place yesterday from the residence of F.W. Arndt at 3:00 p.m., Rev. Young officiating, after which the Masonic order, of which he was an honored member, took charge of the remains. The sorrowing family have the sympathy of the entire community in their hour of trouble.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #57412180