GEORGE K. RIDER

       George K. Rider is numbered among the capitalists of Sacramento city, a position which he has attained through his own energy, business ability, diligence and resolute purpose.  Industry is the golden key which unlocks the portals of success. Possessed of these elements in a high degree, Mr. Rider has steadily worked his way upward. He was born in Wellsville, Columbiana county, Ohio, October 14, 1844, and is a son of John Rider, whose birth occurred on the 13th of March, 1815 in Jefferson county, Ohio, his parents being George and Jane (Culp) Rider, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania.  The great grandfather of our subject, however, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and became the founder of the Rider family in America.  John Rider, the father of our subject, was early employed on a flatboat on the Ohio river.  He married Nancy Ann Stoakes, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio, August 6, 1819, a daughter of John and Nancy (Tillingham) Stoakes.  Her father was born in London, England, and her mother was a native of New Jersey.  In September, 1852, John Rider came with his family to California, making the journey across the plains.  Here in Sacramento he engaged in contracting and building until March 1869, when he was elected street commissioner for a term of six years.  On the expiration of that period he retired to the old home place, at the corner of A and Eighteenth streets, and put aside all business cares.  He cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison and on the organization of the Republican party joined its ranks, continuing as one of its advocates until his death, which occurred January 8, 1901.  His wife died in Sacramento, at the age of seventy-four years and six months.

       George K Rider continued under the parental roof during his minority or until the call for troops was issued during the Civil War, when he responded and joined the Union army, as a member of Company G, Second California Cavalry.  He enlisted for three years, but on account of the close of the war was honorably discharged.  He held the rank of corporal.  On his return from the army he became connected with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, and in 1867 was appointed a member of the police force of Sacramento, which position he occupied for ten years.

       On the 19th of March, 1874, Mr. Rider was united in marriage to Miss Anna Eagan, of Boston, Massachusetts, a daughter of Thomas and Mary A. Eagan, who were natives of Ireland but died in San Francisco, the former at the age of seventy years and the latter at the age of sixty years.  They were the parents of thirteen children, eleven of whom are yet living.  It was in 1860 that they took up their abode in California, and Mr. Rider has since been a resident of this state.  In his political views he has always been a stalwart Republican since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He is an inflexible adherent of the principles of the organization, and does all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success, yet has never been an office-seeker.  For thirty-two years he has been numbered among the members of the Odd Fellows Society, is also a member of the Exempt Fireman's Association, and has been the commander of Fair Oaks Post, G. A. R. His fidelity to duty whether of public or private nature, is most marked, and has won for this the confidence and esteem of his fellow men, which he enjoys in an unusual degree.

 

Source: “A Volume Of Memoirs And Genealogy of Representative Citizens Of Northern California” Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. Chicago. 1901. Pages 487-488.

 

Submitted by: Betty Tartas.