Family:John Helming and Minnie Riddell (1)

Francis Riddell, a former resident of Sycamore, and-father of a large family, died suddenly from a stroke of appoplexy (sic) at his home in DeKalb on Thursday evening. He had just returned home from work as Wells Fargo Express agent, and was preparing for sapper, when he fell over dead.

Mr. Riddell was born 79 years ago, at Cobourg, Canada, and grew to manhood on a farm there* He was there married in 1863. The family removed in 1865 to DeKalb county, and the father was engaged in farming in Cortland township for over 15 years until their removal to Sycamore. ln 1883 they became residents of DeKalb where Mr. Riddell was employed as engineer for what is now the American Steel & Wire Co., with which company lie continued until lie was retired on a pension a few years ago* He had since been engaged as a merchant and later as agent for the express company. His first wife died in 1892. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters, all of remarkably fine physique and a credit to their parents, of whom there are surviving:

Walter H., David H., and Wallace D. all of Chicago; Frank who is chief of the DeKalb police department; and two daughters Mrs. C. E. Sagle of Sterling and Mrs. J. J. Helming of Chicago.

Mr. Riddell affiliated with the Congregational church in 1867, arid had been deeply Interested and active in that church ever since. He was a good man in every sense.

The funeral services were held at 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon at the Congregational church in DeKalb.

David Riddell, member of a family of early residents of DeKalb county and whose father was engaged in farming in Cortland township and were former residents of Sycamore, died at the Garfield Park hospital in Chicago on Tuesday, Feb. 6, just eight weeks after he was injured in a railway accident in Chicago.

He had been employed for many years as a trainman, and was engaged in his work as conductor, when the coach on which he was standing side-swiped by a locomotive and precipitated down an embankment.

As soon as possible after the accident one leg, which was terribly crushed, was amputated. The patient rallied, and appeared to be on the road to recovery when a blood-clot formed in the limb and although the most skilled surgeon specialists attended him he continued to fail.

He was a son of France Riddell, and was born in 1866. He had been employed to railroad work for 32 years. He was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Townsend, daughter of a well known pioneer of this county and they had made their home In Chicago. To them was born one son, Walter, now 18 years of age. Besides the widow and son he leaves surviving three brothers and two sisters: Walter Riddell, super- about 12 o’clock on his way to the (sic) Wallace Riddell, Chicago, and Frank W. Riddell, chief of police of DeKalb; Mrs. Anna Sagle, Aurora, and . Mrs. Minnie Helming, Chicago.

Mr. Riddell was a member of Chapter No. 52, R. A. M. and A. F. & A. M. No. 144 of DeKalb, and was also a Knight Templar

Name:M*I? Helming [I read Minnie R Helming]
[Messie R Helming]
Age:40
Birth Year:abt 1880
Birthplace:Illinois
Home in 1920:Chicago Ward 23, Cook (Chicago), Illinois
Race:White
Gender:Female
Relation to Head of House:Wife
Marital Status:Married
Spouse's Name:John J Helming
Father's Birthplace:Canada
Mother's Birthplace:Canada
Able to Read:Yes
Able to Write:Yes
Neighbors:View others on page
Household Members:
NameAge
John J Helming50
M*I? Helming40
Wallace D Riddell34