Silas Riddle was born around 1822 in South Carolina to William Riddle. His father was a farmer who owned $900 of real estate by 1850. He married Nancy Childress, and they had at least five children: Thomas, born around 1844; Levina, born around 1847; Fidelia, born around 1849; Oliver, born around 1852; and Mattison, born around 1854. They lived in Laurens District, South Carolina, and he earned a living as a farmer. By 1850, he owned $500 of real estate. A decade later, he owned $275 of personal property. By 1880, he was living in Bates, South Carolina. He died sometime after 1881.