Saturday, July 27, 2013

John Hamilton Fuller Rider

John Hamilton Fuller Rider
I never met my cousin John Rider.  We shared a common bond, the love of family history.  We connected through genealogy research.  We were third cousins, connected by Ezra Bartlett Rider (1798 - 1862).

I understand he was a good man, and that is not at all surprising to me. He came from some pretty strong roots in the family tree.  Many of his family lines can be traced back to Plymouth Massachusetts, and the pioneers who helped to form our country.   One of John's fifth great grandfathers was Resolved White who was just five years old when he accompanied his parents to the new world aboard the Mayflower in 1620.

Soloman Franklin Smith
Picture from his book, THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT, In The West and South, For Thirty Years!
More recent famous ancestors are: Soloman Franklin Smith (1801-1869) an actor, stage manager, and author.  One of his sons, Sol Smith Russell (1848-1902)
was known as Americas Greatest Humorist.  Who was first married to Louisa A.M. Berger of

The Berger family: young lady orchestra! bell ringers, vocalists! musicians! silver cornet band!
The performance of the Bergers and Sol Smith Russell at Hamilton Hall in Grass Valley, a mining town in Nevada County, California.

Sol Smith Russell had a second wife, Alice Maria Adams (1853-1923) her father was William Taylor Adams (1822-1897) a better known author under the pen name Oliver Optic.


You may check all of this out in the following pedigree of John Hamilton Fuller Rider.

Now to say good bye to John Rider.  Here are the words from his obituary. 
RIDER, John Hamilton Fuller
May 21, 1937 - July 20, 2013




Great man, great life, too soon.
His place at the head of the table and in the hearts of his family and friends will always be reserved with honor and gratitude for John Rider Sr. We are forever grateful to have had such a principled and ethical gentleman, loving and supportive husband, caring and encouraging father, quietly wise and patient grandfather, and loyal and endearing friend in our lives. John loved world travel, tennis, golf, history, wine, billiards, large gatherings and his precious oil lamps. Born in Sherbrooke, QC to Hamilton and Margaret "Peggy" Rider, raised in Valleyfield, QC. Loving brother to Fred Rider (Jill), Lillian Rider, and predeceased by Martha Chamberlain (Ken). Graduated from Bishops University in 1957 where he began his lifelong love affair with his wife and former sweetheart of 55 years, Sandra (nee Currie). They lived in Nitro, Montreal West, Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Pickering and spent the last 37 years in Whitevale, ON. Loving father to John Jr. (Dale), Timothy (Linda), Andrew and Joanne. His pleasure, pride, patience and love for his grandchildren Joshua (Angela), Samuel, Benjamin (Tara), Jordan, Drew, Jessica, Connor and Mac is boundless. Much loved brother-in-law of Lynne Schwachenwalde (Peter), predeceased by Sydney Currie. Missed by cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Retired Executive Vice President of Manufacturing at Purdue Pharma, dedicated member of Whitevale and Pickering communities, proud of his work with United Way, Pickering Museum, St. Martin's Senior Center and his time as an Akela in Montreal. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, July 28 at 1:00 p.m. at McEachnie Funeral Home, 28 Old Kingston Road, Ajax Pickering Village, ON 905 428-8488. All family and friends are invited to attend a dinner of great wine and food at 5:30 p.m. Venue TBA at the service. In lieu of flowers, donations to Durham Children's Aid Foundation, United Way or the charity of your choice would be appreciated. Online condolences may be placed at
www.mceachniefuneral.ca 
Published in The Gazette from July 25 to July 26, 2013
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/montrealgazette/obituary.aspx?n=john-rider&pid=166032472#fbLoggedOut