>From "The History of Washington County, Georgia" by Ella Mitchell 1924 Chapter Vlll, Titled, "RIDDLEVILLE". The beginning of this quaint typical Middle Georgia town was due to the generosity of a pioneer, Mr Anderson RIDDLE, who came to Georgia in 1815 and settled near the town that bears his name. He was an ardent advocate of education, so when the opportunity came he offered to the Mount Vernon Baptist Association the land, three hundred acres, and money to help build the school, to be called Mount Vernon Institute. The town that was built around the Institute was called RIDDLEVILLE. It was incorporated by an Act of Legislature in 1859, at the same time Mount Vernon Institute was chartered. One provision of the charter was that no intoxicants could be sold within a radius of three miles of the school, unless by vote of a majority of the best citizens. Of course the outcome was - no liquor, even in the day when it was sold at every crossroad and frequently several grog shops still nearer together. The Institute was governed by a board of fifteen men selected by the association. The first chairman was Rev. W. I. Harley of Sparta, the secretary Rev. J. R. Taylor, the first teacher Prof. T. J. Evans. About this time James A Page gave twenty acres to the school. Until the outbreak of the War Between the States the school flourished. Then for four years there were but few sessions. In 1891 at a meeting of the association the title of the school property was conveyed to the Baptist Church at RIDDLEVILLE. The town grew slowly because remote from the railroad. It was not invaded by Sherman's troops. Of late years it has developed into an enterprising town; many of our prosperous farmers and business men live within its limits, among which are the Fulghums, Bryans, Pages, Pates and RIDDLEs. The first mayor and aldermen were members of the Mt. Vernon Association. Mr W. H. Fulghum, a veteran of the War Between the States, made RIDDLEVILLE his home for many years. He was a man who always stood for the right. In sorrow or trouble the community turned to him for consolation or advice. Perhaps the above will help someone on their family history search. I enjoyed the above article from this book and hope others will as well. J Parker