Robert Riddell

"JUDGE ROBERT RIDDELL, attorney-at-law at Irvine, Ky., was born in Estill County, February 26, 1833. His father, John H. Riddell, was born in Estill County the day the county was made, January 23, 1808. He was brought up on the farm and received his education from the best schools in his day. In an early day he was sheriff of the county, and afterward studied law and became one of the most able practitioners of the profession in eastern Kentucky. In 1846 he was elected to represent Estill and Owsley Counties in the Legislature, and was re-elected to the same office in 1849. He was a very prominent man in his own and adjoining counties, was sociable, charitable and always ready to lend a helping hand to the sick or poor. He was a Colonel in the State militia and a very active and enterprising citizen. He was a son of Robert Riddell, Sr., a native of New Jersey, who removed while a child to North Carolina, but settled in Estill County at an early date. John H. Riddell was married November 15, 1826, to Miss Elizabeth Mize, who was born December 29, 1807, in Estill County, and was a daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Witt) Mize, of the same county. To this union were born seven daughters and three sons, viz: William M., Mary H., Elizabeth, Robert, Lucy, Nannie, Sue E., Fannie, John M. and Kittie. Robert Riddell, the fourth child, was brought up and educated in Irvine. He taught school when quite young for a few years and then turned his attention to the study of law and in 1853 was admitted to the bar; he began to practice at Irvine, and has been thus engaged at that point ever since. In 1858 he was elected county judge of Estill County and served one term. He then practiced his profession until 1868, when he was elected commonwealth's attorney of the Thirteenth District, and served one term of six years. In 1874 he was elected circuit judge of the Thirteenth Judicial District, embracing the counties of Bath, Menifee, Powell, Estill, Lee, Breathitt, Wolf, Morgan, Elliott and Montgomery, and in 1880 was reelected to the same office, the district at this time including one more county, Owsley. In 1884 he made an active race for Judge of the Court of Appeals, but was defeated by a small majority. February 19,1857, Mr. Riddell married Miss Ann Toby, a daughter of Cornelius Toby. To this union have been born three daughters and seven sons, viz: Harvey, Laben, Nettie, Lazarus, Hugh, Ernest, Fred, Bessie, Elliott and Annette. The Judge is a Free Mason, an Odd Fellow and a stanch Democrat." - Kentucky: A History Of The State, by William Henry Perrin, J. H. Battle, G. C. Kniffin, Published by F. A. Battey and Company, Louisville, Ky, 1888