Major Robert G. RIDER was born in Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, March 14, 1831, attended Jefferson college at Cannonsburg, and studied medicine at Washington college, Washington, Pa. He removed to Illinois in 1855 and the following winter attended a course of lectures at a medical college, Dubuque, Iowa. He began the practice of his profession at Mobile, Ala., but returned to Illinois some three years later, and at the beginning of the War of the Rebellion was practicing medicine at Havana, in Mason county.

He enrolled [in] Company K and was elected captain of that company at its organization, commanded the company at the battle of Perryville, through the Kentucky and Murfreesboro campaigns, and was promoted to be major of the regiment April 6, 1863. He was appointed provost marshal when the brigade was assigned to garrison duty at Murfreesboro, Tenn., but returned to duty with the regiment when the brigade was ordered to Nashville to prepare for an active campaign at the front. When in the assault on Kennesaw mountain Colonel DILWORTH was called to command the brigade, the command of the Eighty-fifth devolved upon Major RIDER. He retained command of the regiment until disabled by a gun shot wound in the head at the assault upon the enemy's lines at Jonesboro, Ga. Recovering, at least partially, from his wound he resumed command of the regiment, which he led in the march to the sea. He resigned at Savannah, Ga., December 19, 1864.

Returning to Havana he resumed the practice of medicine, which he continued until 1880, when he removed to Mount Ayr, Iowa. In 1884 he retired from the active practice of his profession, but resided in Mount Ayr to the time of his death, which occurred on November 14, 1899 [interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa].

Dr. RIDER was born March 14, 1831, in Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio. When about five years old, his parents removed to near Logansport, Indiana, where his father died. The mother then removed with the family to Pennsylvania, where the Doctor attended the common schools till the age of fifteen years, when he entered Jefferson College, at Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, continuing there four years. He then commenced reading, in Washington, Pennsylvania, continuing there three years. He then attended medical lectures, in the Iowa Medical University, at Keokuk, Iowa. In the spring of 1853 he went south, and settled near Mobile, Alabama.

He remained in practice until the fall of 1856, when he came to Mason county, and settled where the town of Topeka now standr. In the spring of 1857, he married Harriet M., daughter of Aaron LITTELL, late of that vicinity.

In the fall of 1862, he recruited Co. K, 85th Vol. Inf., was elected Captain, and soon after promoted to Major, and was with SHERMAN in his march to the sea.

[Dr. RIDER] resigned his commission, in Savanah, Georgia, returned home and resumed his profession. In the spring of 1876, he removed to Havana, where he continues the practice of medicine, and the superintendence of a fine farm, south of Forest City.

The medical qualifications of Dr. RIDER are of a high order, and a varied experience in his profession to which few men attain. He stands second to none in his profession in Mason county. [In 1869, Dr. RIDER was a trustee of Mason County.]

SOURCE:
ATEN, Henry J. History of The EIGHTY-FIFTH REGIMENT: Illinois Volunteer Infantry Pp. 336-37. Harvard University. 1901.
SMITH, John W. Esq. History of Macon County Illinois Rokker's Printing House. Springfield, Illinois. 1876.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009