Pioneer Malakoff Family: The Riddlespergers (Photo Approximately 1894)
Standing, left to right: Mattie Way Riddlesperger (sister of
Stonewall, Clayton and Lee Riddlesperger, b 1872, d 1970 in
Malakoff); Alice Riddlesperger Pettit b 1873, d 1946; May
Riddlesperger Jackson, b 1875, d.1964 in Malakoff (wife of
John Jackson, sister of Stonewall, Clayton and Lee); Seated:
Buck Riddlesperger, b 1875, d 1939; Florence Tucker
Riddlesperger (daughter of Stonewall and Sallie Clark
Riddlesperger), b 1890, Henderson County, d 1898, Henderson
County; Martha Tucker Riddlesperger (subject of the obituary
and mother of Stonewall, Clayton, May and Lee), b 1836, d
1919;Bennie Riddlesperger, daughter of Stonewall and Sallie,
b 1888, Henderson County, d 1982, Malakoff; Clayton
Riddlesperger, b 1857, d 1943, Malakoff.
Grandma Riddlesperger Dead
From The Malakoff News
Thursday June 12, 1919
Mrs. J.D. W. Riddlesperger, who has been an invalid for the
past few years, died at the home of her son, C. A.
Riddlesperger, Friday evening, June 6th. She was born
in South Carolina, July 6th, 1836, and lacked just one month
or reaching her 83rd birthday. Her maiden name was
Martha Ann Tucker, and she was the firth child of a family of
eight. Although the weakly one of the family, she out
lived them all by more than half a century.
She was united in marriage in the year 1854 to J. D. W.
Riddlesperger in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. They
moved to Arkansas in 1858, and near the close of the Civil
War, moved to Louisiana. In 1873 the family moved to
Texas locating first in Smith County and later moved to
Henderson County locating near Becks Chapel. Mr.
Riddlesperger died in 1876 and since that time for 43 years
Grandma has made her home with her son, C. A. Riddlesperger.
Mrs. Riddlesperger was the mother of eight children.
One died in infancy and James died July 20th, 1903, the other
six survive her, as follows, Mrs. Sallie Wallace of Panola
County, C.A., S. J. and L. R., and Miss Martha and Mrs. May
Jackson, all living in Malakoff.
The funeral service was conducted at the home Saturday
afternoon at 1:00 o’clock by Rev. E. J. Harris, pastor
of the Methodist church, following which all that was mortal
of Grandma was taken to Becks Chapel and there loving hands
placed her in her last resting place beside her husband.
Mrs. Riddlesperger was loved and honored by all who had the
privilege of knowing her. At the early age of 12 years
she united with the Methodist church and lived a consistent
Christian life for more than three score and ten years.
Her life work is ended but her deeds of love and kindness
still live and betoken that the world is better for her
having lived.
During her last years she was an invalid and patiently bore
her sufferings, calmly awaiting the time of her departure.
Mother is gone but just beyond the pearly gates she awaits
the coming of the loved ones left to grieve over her going.
Thanks to Tony Riddlesperger