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1907 Past and Present Biographies
George F. RiderMr. Rider is a native of Muscatine county, Iowa, born on the 9th of November, 1853. His father, John E. Rider, was born in Pennsylvania, May 13, 1813, and was reared in that state. In 1851 he became a resident of Muscatine county, Iowa, and two and a half years later he took up his abode in Cedar county, this state, where he lived for eleven years, removing thence to Linn county in 1865. Eleven years were also there passed and in 1876 he came to Greene county, settling on the farm which is now the home of his son George and which came into his possession as an unimproved tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres. He made all of the improvements upon it and transformed the raw prairie into richly cultivated fields that responded readily to his care and labor in the production of golden harvests. He carried on farm work until the time of his death, which occurred September 2, 1886. Both he and his wife were members of the United Brethren church. Mrs. Rider bore the maiden name of Lydia Wertz and was born in Pennsylvania, June 13, 1818. There the days of her girlhood were passed and in June, 1840, she gave her hand in marriage of John E. Rider in the Keystone state. After living for eleven years in Pennsylvania they came to Iowa, as before stated. Mrs. Rider survived her husband for about fourteen years, passing away on the 5th of December, 1900, upon the old home farm on section 29, Paton township. They were both highly esteemed people, enjoying the good will and confidence of all with whom they were associated through business or social relations. Their family numbered seven children: William S., who died at the age of one year; Lucy A., who died when fifteen years of age; David O., who enlisted for service as a member of Company K, Eighth Iowa Cavalry, at the age of eighteen years, but died at Davenport, Iowa, before being sworn into the United States service; Martin M., who wedded Mary E. Karr, and lived in Linn county, Iowa, and died at the age of twenty-seven years, his wife having also passed away; George F., of this review; John F., who died at the age of five years; and Sarah E., the wife of William T. Swearingen, of Pueblo, Colorado. George F. Rider spent the days of his boyhood and youth on the farms in Cedar and Linn counties which his father owned and cultivated. He was provided with excellent educational privileges, completing his studies in the Western College of Linn county, after which he engaged in teaching school for three years in Linn and Greene counties. The greater part of his life, however, has been devoted to agricultural pursuits and, remaining at home, he afterward bought the farm from the estate and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and fertile land on section 29, Paton township. He assisted his father in developing this place and has made many of the improvements here himself. He has now a well equipped property, having good buildings, substantial fences and the latest improved machinery. His life is one of diligence and his activity has been crowned with success. On the 3d of April, 1878, in Linn county, Mr. Rider was united in marriage to Miss Addie McDowell, who was born in Linn county on the 15th of October, 1857, a daughter of Godfrey and Keziah McDowell, who were residents of Linn county, where the father followed farming and carpentering. He was a native of Pennsylvania, however, and both he and his wife are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rider have three children. Ethel V., who was born April 9, 1879, is the wife of Merton J. Stroud, of Des Moines, and they have one child - Harold M. Mabel A., born May 11, 1882, is a graduate of the Paton schools, has also attended Drake University at Des Moines, and is now teaching in the primary department of the public schools at Linn Grove, Iowa. Edna B., born December 30, 1883, is the wife of Edgar Roberts, a resident of Fowler, Kansas. Mr. Rider was formerly an advocate of republican principles, but is now a prohibitionist, believing the temperance question to be one of the paramount issues before the country today. He keeps well informed on matters of general interest, political and otherwise, has always been a great reader and is a man of more than average intelligence, whose opinions are the result of study and investigation and whose ideas are usually based upon sound common sense. He has served in several local offices, to which he has been called by the vote of his fellow townsmen, who recognize his worth and ability. He has served as township clerk, as assessor and as a member of the school board. In religious belief Mr. Rider is a keeper of the seventh day Sabbath, though not a member of any seventh day church. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Both are highly esteemed people, whose circle of friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintance. |
Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead," by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver, Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.  Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer |