Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-30

WOODSTOCK, Va, JAN "a Harrison
Holt Riddleberger, ex-United States sena-
ator, died this morning at 2. 80 after long
/ illness. His death has been expected for
several days. His family We're present
when he died.
Mr.. Riedleberger was born at Edinburg,
/ Shenandoah county, Va, Oct. 4, 1874 He
had common school education and then
studied with tutor at home for two years.
He was II years old when the war began.
and was for three years In the Confederate
army as lieutenant of infantry and cap
tain of cavalry After the war he studied
law and was admitted to the bar. begin
ming his practice at Woodstock. where his
home was. For two years he was COM
monwealth's attorney for his county: he
served four years in the house of delegates.
and for a similar period in the state sem
ate. He was a member of the democratic
state committee until 1875. In 1888 he
entered the United States senate as a re-
adJuSter, and his term of service ended In
1889. Since 1870 ne has been editor of
three papers, The Tenth Legion. The
Shenandoah Democrat, and The Vir-
ginian
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-Ex-Senator
Riddleberger's colleagues, who heard the
news of his death today, were shocked.
Despite his faults they all had a k ndly
feeling for him. Though his conduct
scandalized the senate ON more than one
occasion it had been scandalized in the
same way by men of greater reputation
than the Virginia readjuster. Riddle
berger was born debater. He had
fine voice, and his delivery was
both forcible and polished. He
could think on his feet, and even
St. Jerome Edmunds was careful to avoid
his retorts. After once taking up a sub.
ject he never let go, as his fight for open
executive sessions and against the Rose
berry-Phelps extradition treaty showed.
The integrity of his public life was never
questioned, and those who knew him best
never ceased to regret that his unfortunate
habits rendered his talents useless His
later years In the senate were soured by
the belief that his colleague, Gen. Malone,
had undermined him. He brooded over
this belief until it colored all his actions,
and last fall he was one of the strongest
opponents of Gen. Malone for governor of
Virginia, taking the stump in support of
the whole democratic state ticket.
Mr.. Riddleberger's public career was a
varied one. A lawyer by profession, he
proved brave confederate soldier. After
the war, accepting It's results in good faith,
he became newspaper editor, served in
the legislature, and during the time when
the old dominion democracy went under
the name of the conservative party he
acted with it. In 1876 he was presIden-
tial elector on the Tilden ticket, but four
years later he had become one of the lead
ers in the readjustment movement, and
was an elector on that ticket. The read
juster movement swept him from the
state senate to the senate of the United
States, which he entered In 1888.
When In the senate he was strong
advocate of the Blair educational bill,
and an ardent protectionist. There
been senators from Virginia of more prom
inence who did less Tor the state than Mr.
Riddleberger, but during the last two
years his influence was all gone. Last
winter several times he created scenes, but
the most painful happening was the night
of March 4, few hours before the end of
is official life, when President pro. tenn