Placer
County
Biographies
ANDREW RYDER
A
veteran of the Civil War, prominent banker, and public official, as well as one
of the most progressive and influential up-builders whose memory is held in the
highest veneration by the citizens of Placer County, was the late Andrew Ryder,
who was born in Jamaica, Queens County, Long Island, N. Y., on April 18,
1842. His father, William Ryder, was a
merchant in New York State, where he passed his last days. The mother was in maidenhood Nancy Charlick; she survived her husband, coming to California in
1869, and made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Ryder until she passed on, her death
occurring July 8, 1903.
Andrew
Ryder’s parents being in moderate circumstances, he began life as a clerk in a
hardware store. Later he obtained a
position with the Long Island Railroad under his uncle, Oliver Charlick, who was ticket agent. He held a position with the company for
fifteen years, with the exception of the time he was serving in the Civil War
as a member of Company F, 71st Regiment, N.
Y. S. M. On receiving his honorable
discharge at the close of his enlistment, he resumed his position with the
railroad company and continued with them until 1865. Being ambitious and aspiring, however, he
struck out for the great West in 1865, coming via the Isthmus of Panama with two
friends, Ed Francis and Ed Dow, to San Francisco. Mr. Ryder entered the employ of the Central
Pacific Railroad at Sacramento, and as baggage master ran out of Sacramento to
Colfax until, as the road was extended, his trips became longer. He was soon made conductor and ran trains as
early as 1866. After the road was
completed he ran to Truckee and also from Truckee to Wadsworth, Nev. As conductor he ran the special that carried
the railroad officials to Promontory Point at the time of the driving of the
golden spike in 1869.
At
Reno, Nev., on May 27, 1869, Mr. Ryder was united with Miss Frances E.
Atkinson, a daughter of the late Charles H. and Clarissa (Severens)
Atkinson. She was born in Hollis, Maine,
July 16, 1843, and there she was reared and educated, remaining with her
parents until 1865, when she made the trip via the Isthmus of Panama to San
Francisco. After Mr. Ryder was married
he brought his bride to a home had built in Truckee. Later he sold this home and moved to Oakland,
where he resided at 1015 Peralta Street for nineteen years. During this time he was engaged in the
grocery business for a year; and then he tried mining in Arizona. He was elected county clerk of Alameda
County, and was reelected to the same position, serving acceptably and well for
two terms. From Oakland, in 1889, he
moved to Loomis, where as early as 1883 he had purchased 160 acres of raw land
on the edge of the town. Here he used to
spend his spare time in fruit culture.
He cleared the land and improved it, setting out 108 acres to
orchard. Before it came into bearing he
predicted great things in fruit-production in this region; and his most
sanguine expectations have since been more than realized.
Mr.
Ryder named his ranch “Graystone Orchard”, a very
fitting name; and with his care he made of it a beautiful place, building a
fine mansion. He and his wife planned
and laid out the grounds, setting a variety of ornamental trees and shrubs,
making of the property a very attractive showplace. They did not obtain these results without a
great deal of effort on their part, for they worked faithfully and hard to
accomplish their ambition while growing this lovely and profitable orchard and
establishing their beautiful home.
Mr.
Ryder was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Bank of
Loomis. As vice-president of the bank he
was always ready to advise people in financial matters, and his judgment was
considered able and reliable. In the
early days of Loomis, Mr. Ryder had built a frame store; and when this was
destroyed at the time of the big fire in Loomis, he immediately rebuilt it,
this time of hollow tile. Thus, he
erected the first fireproof structure in Loomis. A part of this building was occupied by the
bank until they built their own home.
Mr.
Ryder was a great fancier of livestock, and owned some valuable specimens of
horse-flesh as well as choice Jersey cows.
In fact, in every department of agriculture he believed in producing the
best.
On
the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ryder celebrated their
golden wedding, on May 27, 1919, by entertaining a few close friends at their
home, where a delightful time was enjoyed by all present.
Mr.
Ryder was made a Mason in Putnam Lodge, No. 338, A. F. & A. M., in New York
City, June 3, 1864, becoming a life member, and was exalted to the Royal Arch
degree in Zetland Chapter, No. 141, R. A. M., in the
same city. He was knighted in the
Oakland Commandery of Knights Templar’s, and was also a member of the Order of
the Eastern Star. He belonged to the
Grand Army of the Republic.
A
pioneer of Loomis, Mr. Ryder located here when the little place was called Pino; and many think the place should have been named Ryder
after him, instead of Loomis after another party when the name was changed from
Pino. A remarkable
man in every way, he had keen foresight, and was not afraid to back his
judgment. In appearance he was a
handsome man, always well groomed, and very affable in his manner, while his
countenance and eyes seemed brim-full of good humor. His straightforwardness and honesty of
purpose made him many friends, and his integrity was never questioned, his word
being as good as his bond. Thus he was
greatly mourned at his passing which came on October 7, 1920, when Placer
County lost one of its best and foremost citizens.
Mrs.
Ryder has been prominent and active in fraternal and social circles. She joined Oakleaf
Chapter, No. 8, O. E. S., Oakland, in 1876, of which she is now a life member,
and of which in 1879 she served as Worthy Matron, being the seventh Matron of
the chapter. In 1881 she was elected
Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of California, serving during the year 1881 –
1882. She faithfully performed her
duties as head of the order in the State, visiting the various chapters and
lending her encouragement and influence in their work. She was the tenth Grand Matron of the order
in California. She is also an honorary
member of the Society of Pioneer Women of Oakland.
Mrs.
Ryder was an active worker in the local chapter of the Red Cross during the
World War, and has the honor of receiving a blue ribbon Red Cross badge for 800
hours spent in knitting socks, mittens, mufflers and sweaters for the soldiers,
an honor of which she is justly proud.
She was one of the founders of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union at
Loomis, and served as president of the Loomis local, taking a very active part
in forwarding the temperance cause which led to the passing of the Eighteenth
Amendment. She is a member of the
Episcopal Church, and in politics she is an ardent Republican, as was her
esteemed and lamented husband. Since his
death Mrs. Ryder continues to reside at her beautiful home, “Graystone Orchard”, where she loves to dispense the good
old-time California hospitality. Cultured
and refined, Mrs. Ryder possesses a pleasing personality and is much endeared
to all who know her, being appreciated for her many charities and kindnesses,
as well as for her many noble attributes of mind and heart.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“History of Placer & Nevada Counties,
California”, by W. B. Lardner & M. J. Brock. Pages 457-460.
Historic Record Co., Los Angeles 1924.
© 2013
V. Gerald Iaquinta.