St. Louis pioneer. Born into a prominent political family in Virginia, Riddick came to St. Louis in 1804, about the time Louisiana was transferred to the U.S. He soon played a prominent part in the social organization of the new community. In 1806 he was appointed clerk of the Board of Commissioners of Land Claims and assisted in settling the titles to lands in Upper Louisiana. That experience was put to good use when Riddick discovered that there were many lots to which no valid title was held by anyone. Riddick proceeded to Washington in 1812 and had a bill introduced and passed in Congress conveying all unclaimed lots in St. Louis and adjacent villages to the common school, securing for the schools property from which the St. Louis School Board derived a large revenue. In recognition of his effort, one of their schools was named Riddick School. In the organization of the first Legislature of the Territory in 1812 he acted as Clerk Protem of the House and in the same year was appointed by President Monroe as a member of the legislative council of the Territory. In 1820 he was a member of the convention which framed the Constitution under which Missouri was admitted into the Union. He also served the city for many years as alderman and justice of the peace. He was the lay organizer and first senior warden of Christ Church, now Cathedral. He was one of the incorporators of the Bank of St. Louis, the first bank established in the Territory and was president of the Territorial Bank of Missouri in 1820. The charter of the first lodge of Free Masons in St. Louis was granted to Riddick as senior warden. In 1821 Colonel Riddick assisted in the organization of the Grand Lodge of Missouri and was elected its first grand master.
St. Louis pioneer. Born into a prominent political family in Virginia, Riddick came to St. Louis in 1804, about the time Louisiana was transferred to the U.S. He soon played a prominent part in the social organization of the new community. In 1806 he was appointed clerk of the Board of Commissioners of Land Claims and assisted in settling the titles to lands in Upper Louisiana. That experience was put to good use when Riddick discovered that there were many lots to which no valid title was held by anyone. Riddick proceeded to Washington in 1812 and had a bill introduced and passed in Congress conveying all unclaimed lots in St. Louis and adjacent villages to the common school, securing for the schools property from which the St. Louis School Board derived a large revenue. In recognition of his effort, one of their schools was named Riddick School. In the organization of the first Legislature of the Territory in 1812 he acted as Clerk Protem of the House and in the same year was appointed by President Monroe as a member of the legislative council of the Territory. In 1820 he was a member of the convention which framed the Constitution under which Missouri was admitted into the Union. He also served the city for many years as alderman and justice of the peace. He was the lay organizer and first senior warden of Christ Church, now Cathedral. He was one of the incorporators of the Bank of St. Louis, the first bank established in the Territory and was president of the Territorial Bank of Missouri in 1820. The charter of the first lodge of Free Masons in St. Louis was granted to Riddick as senior warden. In 1821 Colonel Riddick assisted in the organization of the Grand Lodge of Missouri and was elected its first grand master.
Bio by: Connie Nisinger
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