Harrison H. Riddleberger
Encyclopedia
Harrison Holt Riddleberger (October 4, 1844 January 24, 1890) was an American
lawyer, newspaper editor, and politician from Woodstock
, Virginia
. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates
and State Senate
, and was U.S. Senator
from Virginia from 1883 to 1889.
Riddleberger was born in Edinburg, Virginia
in Shenandoah County. During the American Civil War
, he served in the Confederate Army
for three years, reaching the rank of captain. After the war, he became a practicing attorney in Woodstock. He also held a number of public offices. In 1871, he was elected to the House of Delegates, serving until 1875. In 1876, he became a Commonwealth attorney of Shenandoah County, serving until 1880. In 1879, he was elected to the state Senate, serving until 1882. He was editor of the Shenandoah Democrat and the Virginian at Woodstock.
In the late 1870s, Riddleberger joined former Confederate general and railroad builder William Mahone
in forming a coalition of blacks, Republicans, and "Conservative" Democrats which became known as the Readjuster Party
. The Readjusters dominated Virginia's politics for about 10 years, until a group of "Conservative" Democrats led by John S. Barbour, Jr.
took power in the late 1880s.
Riddleberger was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Readjuster, serving from March 4, 1883, to March 4, 1889. In the Senate, he caucused with the Republicans. He served as chairman of the Committee on Manufactures (which later became the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
). He was not a candidate for reelection. He died the year after leaving the Senate, on January 24, 1890. He was interred at Cedarwood Cemetery in Edinburg.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, newspaper editor, and politician from Woodstock
Woodstock, Virginia
Woodstock is a town in Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States. It has a population of 5,097 according to the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Shenandoah County....
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
and State Senate
Senate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
, and was U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Virginia from 1883 to 1889.
Riddleberger was born in Edinburg, Virginia
Edinburg, Virginia
Edinburg is a town in Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,041 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Edinburg is located at ....
in Shenandoah County. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he served in the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
for three years, reaching the rank of captain. After the war, he became a practicing attorney in Woodstock. He also held a number of public offices. In 1871, he was elected to the House of Delegates, serving until 1875. In 1876, he became a Commonwealth attorney of Shenandoah County, serving until 1880. In 1879, he was elected to the state Senate, serving until 1882. He was editor of the Shenandoah Democrat and the Virginian at Woodstock.
In the late 1870s, Riddleberger joined former Confederate general and railroad builder William Mahone
William Mahone
William Mahone was a civil engineer, teacher, soldier, railroad executive, and a member of the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress. Small of stature, he was nicknamed "Little Billy"....
in forming a coalition of blacks, Republicans, and "Conservative" Democrats which became known as the Readjuster Party
Readjuster Party
The Readjuster Party was a political coalition formed in Virginia in the late 1870s during the turbulent period following the American Civil War. Readjusters aspired "to break the power of wealth and established privilege" and to promote public education, a program which attracted biracial support....
. The Readjusters dominated Virginia's politics for about 10 years, until a group of "Conservative" Democrats led by John S. Barbour, Jr.
John S. Barbour, Jr.
John Strode Barbour, Jr. was a Representative and a Senator from Virginia. He is best remembered for taking power in Virginia from the short-lived Readjuster Party in the late 1880s, forming the first political machine of "Conservative Democrats", whose power was to last 80 years until the demise...
took power in the late 1880s.
Riddleberger was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Readjuster, serving from March 4, 1883, to March 4, 1889. In the Senate, he caucused with the Republicans. He served as chairman of the Committee on Manufactures (which later became the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is a standing committee of the United States Senate in charge of all senate matters related to the following subjects:* Coast Guard* Coastal zone management* Communications...
). He was not a candidate for reelection. He died the year after leaving the Senate, on January 24, 1890. He was interred at Cedarwood Cemetery in Edinburg.