loss in 1884. While he continued to caucus with the Republicans in the Senate after Mahone's departure, Riddleberger returned to the Democratic party by the time his term expired in March 1889. Personal life Riddleberger married Emma Belew, one of the daughters of Dr. Peter Belew (1819-1904), who served in the state Senate after the Civil War, and had owned slaves before the conflict. They had sons Frank Belew Riddleberger (1872–1965), Ralph Heiskel Riddleberger (1877–1949), Hugh Riddleberger (1880–1909) and Harrison Heath Riddleberger (1883–1941), as well as daughters Lelia Myrtle Riddleberger Magruder (1867–1939), Olive Mizpah Riddleberger (1870–1958) and Edna V. Riddleberger Kelly (1875-1950; who married a publisher and moved to Chicago, Illinois). Death and legacy Riddleberger died at his Woodstock home, age 46, less than a year after leaving the Senate, on January 24, 1890. He was interred in the family plot at Cedarwood Cemetery in Edinburg. His widow continued publishing the Shenandoah Herald until 1894, and joined him in 1916 (having survived their son Hugh, who was also buried at Cedarwood). Other children would be buried at Massanutten cemetery, which Riddleberger helped dedicate. Their home in Woodstock survives in the Woodstock Historic District, having been acquired by the Massanutten Military Academy when it was founded in 1899. Now known as "Riddleberger Hall", it houses the alumni association headquarters. References 1844 births 1890 deaths Members of the Virginia House of Delegates Virginia state senators Virginia lawyers Confederate States Army officers Readjuster Party politicians Readjuster Party United States senators Republican Party United States senators from Virginia Democratic Party United States senators from Virginia 1876 United States presidential electors 1880 United States presidential electors People from Shenandoah County, Virginia American slave owners 19th-century American lawyers United States senators who owned slaves