In this content, we are introduced to the life and work of a man named Riddle who lived in the 19th and early 20th centuries. We learn that Riddle began his working life as a mailman, delivering mail on horseback between Pittsburgh and Bethany in West Virginia. At the age of 13, he became an apprentice to a carriage woodworking firm, and at 18 he started working his way down the Mississippi River, practicing his trade along the way.
In 1861, Riddle arrived in Ravenna, Ohio, where he and his brother-in-law, Charles Merts, took over a carriage manufacturing company. They renamed it the “Ravenna Carriage and Hearse Company” and began producing horse-drawn carriages and hearses. Over time, the company grew and became known as the “Riddle Coach and Hearse Company.”
Under Riddle’s leadership, the company expanded its offerings to include motor-driven carriages and hearses. The business was tremendously successful, and Riddle eventually bought out Merts to become the company’s sole owner. He renamed it the “Riddle Manufacturing Company.”
However, the advent of metal-stamped mass-produced vehicle bodies spelled the end of Riddle’s enterprise. Rather than invest in modernization, the company decided to go out of business in 1925.
Overall, Riddle’s life and work are a testament to the ingenuity and hard work of American entrepreneurs during a time when the country was rapidly changing and modernizing. Although his company ultimately fell victim to the forces of economic progress, Riddle’s legacy lives on as an example of what can be achieved through determination and innovation.
Posted by Thomas A Riddle on 2020-03-21 20:36:03