Samuel Riddle (textile manufacturer)

Samuel Riddle (1800 - 1888) was a textile manufacturer in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Riddle was born in 1800 near Belfast, Ireland. He received a private school education but quit when he was 14 years old to work in a textile mill. In 1823, Riddle sailed to Philadelphia, United States and began working at a cotton-mill in the Manayunk section of town.

In 1827, Riddle went into business for himself by renting a mill in Springdale, Pennsylvania with 480 mule spindles and 10 employees. In 1830, Samuel Riddle along with his brother James moved operations to the Parkmount Mill on Chester Creek in Aston, Pennsylvania. The Riddle brothers operated the Parkmount Mill until 1841 when it was leased to other manufacturers. Riddle eventually owned 5 mills and employed 400 people. The mills had approximately 10,400 cotton and woolen spindles as well as 270 power looms.

In the 1840s, Riddle began building an estate of several hundred acres which he named Glen Riddle. In the early 20th century, his son Samuel D. Riddle used the property to raise racehorses including Man O' War and War Admiral. This area became the unincorporated community of Glen Riddle in Middletown Township.

Riddle was married to Linda Doyle. Together they had four children. Their son, Samuel Doyle Riddle was an American businessman and racehorse owner. Riddle passed away on February 19,1888.

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