| Notes |
- Regarding John J. Ryder's year of birth:
John Ryder commonly lied about his age. He consistently claimed to have been born in Kentucky. I have set his year of birth to 1861 for the following reasons:
- Michael and Rose had a daughter Mary Ann in mid 1860, so he was not born in 1860.
- Michael joined the Union army in Kentucky in September 1861.
- Michael was cited in a St. Catharines news article in June 1862.
- The 1871 Canadian census gave John Ryder's age as 11. It got the ages of his two younger sisters correct.
- Per the census, his birth year was likely between 1859 and 1861. 1861 is the only year in which the Ryders were in Kentucky instead of St. Catharines.
- 1871 Census, St. Catharines, Ward #4, Lincoln County, Ontario, Canada
Michael Ryder, 58 years old, born in Ireland, Roman Catholic, Irish, Laborer.
Rosey Ryder, 47 years old, born in Ireland.
John Ryder, 11 years old, born in Ontario.
Michael Ryder, 9 years old, born in Ontario.
Bridget Ryder, 4 years old, born in Ontario.
Ann Ryder, 2 years old, born in Ontario.
1883 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder John J, printer Daily Globe, rooms cor 5th and Robert
1884 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder John J, printer Daily Globe, bds 20 Fairfield ave
1885 Minnesota State Census
John J. Ryder in 3rd ward, St. Paul. 23 years old, born in Kentucky.
1886 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder, John J, proofreader St. P Globe, rooms 374 Fort
1887 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder John J, clk City Clerk's Office, res 4th cor St. Peter
13 Dec 1887, St Paul Daily Globe
A very creditable musical and literary entertainment was given last evening at Pfeifer's hall under the auspices of the Catholic Total Abstinence union of St. Paul. Mr. John J. Ryder acted as master of ceremonies. State President John O'Brien, of Stillwater, delivered an address that was full of warm words of encouragement to those engaged in the grand work of temperance. All the numbers on the programme were finely rendered and the audience, which was highly pleased, demanded encore after encore.
1889-91 St. Paul City Directory
Rose L. Ryder and Anna T. Ryder, 324 W Third, domestics. John Ryder, rooming at 250 W Third, proofreader.
25 Jun 1890, Minnesota marriage records, St. Paul, Ramsey county
John Joseph Ryder
Minnie I. Gies
FHL Film Number: 1314517
26 Jun 1890, St. Paul Daily Globe
Yesterday morning at ten o'clock a very pleasant wedding took place at St. Francis de Sales church, nuptial high mass being celebrated by Father Stariha. The contracting parties were John J. Ryder and Miss Minnie Gies, Will Daggett and Miss Annie Ryder officiating as groomsman and bridesmaid. The bride was handsomely attired in white, and looked a perfect picture of happiness and contentment. After the wedding the couple, attended by their friends, drove to the residence of the bride's sister, Mrs. L.E. Binet, 643 Martin Street, where a wedding dinner was spread from twelve to five o'clock. Many friends dropped in during the afternoon and tendered their congratulations and best wishes. Cigars were passed around among Mr. Ryder's associates in the GLOBE office during the evening, and between the puffs of the fragrant Havanas they breathed their best wishes to the newly-wedded couple on their life's journey, as a body hoping that it would prove a happy one. At eight o'clock in the evening Mr. and Mrs. Ryder took the train for a short wedding trip.
24 Oct 1890, St. Paul Daily Globe
The Second ward East Seventh street Democratic club held a rousing rally at 1110 East Seventh last evening. The hall was crowded. Larry Fahey was chairman and E.J. Lane secretary. Addresses were delivered by the following well known talkers: John J. Ryder, E.C. Ives, Ald. F.W. Bott, Dr. E.X. Amoss, J.P. Brown and F.F. Price.
1 Nov 1890, St. Paul Daily Globe
(excerpt from an article announcing several Democratic meetings)
Ninth Ward -- At Labor Hall, Corner Sycamore and Park Avenue -- Tom F. Martin, John J. Ryder and R.A. Walsh will be the orators at this meeting, and it is needless to say they will make it a red-hot one. There are probably not three more young men in the city as excellent campaigners as the gentlemen mentioned, and they deserve to have a very large audience.
1 May 1892, St. Paul Daily Globe
"We will bury Col. Wright and the Republican platform under a monument of Democratic ballots that shall rise up to give the lie to their slanderous statements in this campaign." These were the closing words of John J. Ryder's eloquent address to the Democrats of the Eighth ward last evening, and the wild burst of enthusiasm that followed showed how thoroughly in sympathy his audience were with the sentiment. It was a representative audience, composed of hundreds of the most substantial residents of the Eighth ward, who filled every seat in Brent's hall and thronged the stairways of the building. Mr. Ryder was the first speaker. He carried his hearers back some years in the city's history, and traced the record of the two parties down to the present day. He showed the ground upon which each had stood in the various campaigns, and their relation to the laboring man's interests. His speech carried conviction with it, and was frequently interrupted with applause that made the windows rattle in their casements.
27 June 1892, St. Paul Daily Globe
(excerpt from an article about prominent citizens who attended "Derby Day")
John J. Ryder told Anne that Derby Day was the only day he cared about going to the races. They went together, and John J. came home with money enough to buy shoes for the baby for a year or more.
4 Aug 1892, St. Paul Daily Globe
(excerpt from an article about the nomination of three men as judges)
A strong reaction among the delegates from the outside counties set in at this time, Mayor d'Autremont, of Duluth, in a strong and eloquent speech, advocating that Hennepin county was entitled to consideration when she came with a united delegation asking for a place on the ticket. This boom for Mr. Canty was given a tremendous impetus by a short speech from John J. Ryder, of Ramsey, who, on behalf of a large number of his fellow delegates, declared in favor of Judge Canty's nomination. He explained the situation to the delegates so clearly and so fairly that no more argument was needed, and, by a nearly unanimous vote, Judges Buck, Canty and Mitchell were declared the nominees of the convention.
6 Sep 1892, St. Paul Daily Globe
(Ryder gave a speech at a Labor Day celebration)
When President Ryan introduced John J. Ryder to the assembled toilers, he did it with a neat and complimentary statement that he was the orator of the day; but the speaker, in introducing himself, disclaimed all honor to that distinction, although when the speech was finished it was the unanimous opinion that he had been the first real orator of the day that had addressed the workers since the inauguration of Labor day in the Saintly City. Mr. Ryder made the further statement that he was simply chosen from the ranks of labor as a private, and as such would battle for their cause. Let Labor day have many more of that same kind of orators.
7 Oct 1892, St. Paul Daily Globe
Cretin Hall never before held so large an audience as gathered last night at the opening entertainment of the retail clerks' union in behalf of early closing and regular hours of work. Standing room was at a premium, many ladies being compelled to stand with the throng in the aisles and around the walls. The programme was worthy the audience and was rendered from beginning to end without a hitch or break of any kind...John J. Ryder delivered the address of the evening on "Lessons of Organization". The speaker seemed to feel the inspiration of the magnificent audience he faced, and acquitted himself in such a manner as to win generous applause. Owing to the length of the programme Mr. Ryder confined himself to a brief review of the more prominent lessons taught by the results of organization among the workers in all lands. He cited the record of the retail clerks' union in enthusiastic language, rapidly enumerating the reforms wrought through its influence and persistence in well doing, and paying a handsome tribute to the conservative, sensible and manly course it has pursued from its inception to accomplish its ends. In closing the speaker made an earnest appeal to all clerks to become members of the union, and grew eloquent in an exhortation to the lady clerks of the city to step into line with sympathy and aid for their brother clerks, to form an organization of their own for mutual social and industrial advancement, winding up with a suggestion that they might start the movement by the making of a banner for Clerks' Union No. 2 that would outshine anything of its kind in the city.
1893 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder John J, Asst City Editor St P Globe, res 343 Martin
3 Feb 1893, St. Paul Daily Globe
Under births: Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ryder, a boy
25 Feb 1893, St. Paul Daily Globe
Their many friends will extend sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ryder, in the death of their infant son, which occurred yesterday. the little fellow was a handsome, bright and promising boy, and his death is a heavy blow to his fond parents.
18 Mar 1893, St. Paul Daily Globe
(excerpt from an article about how local prominent citizens observed St. Patrick's Day)
John J. Ryder had a pocket full of green ribbons, and passed them around among the members of the lower branch of the legislature. When he reached Pat Kelly's desk he was stalled, for Pat had one as big as all John had put together, but the young patriot and the old patriarch shook hands and pledged green friendship anew.
10 Apr 1893, Duluth News-Tribune
...Jack Ryder, the St. Paul Globe correspondent, accompanying the party, attempted to descend the ladder into one of the pits at the Minnewausau mine, but the ladder was icy, and Jack will have to interview a tailor when he gets home. There was considerable mud at the bottom...
26 Jun 1893, St. Paul Daily Globe
(from an article about prominent citizens at a German festival in St. Paul)
John J. Ryder did not get a good chance to make a speech at the saengerfest grounds, so he just headed the procession of the cigarmaker's union and went over to the brewers' picnic, where he let flow some genuine oratory, and it was noticeable that immediately after the flow from the brewery was increased. Becoming inspired with this German inspiration, he headed again for Banholzer's and there talked to the assembled multitude in Teutonic tones in a manner that would have put Wolfgang Goethe or Schiller to blush.
2 Nov 1893, Broad Axe
J.J. Ryder, formerly on the reportorial staff of the Globe, has purchased the Luvern News. We wish him success in his venture.
1894 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder John J, moved to Luverne, Minn
7 Oct 1894, St. Paul Daily Globe
Speaking of organized men being in politics brings to mind the fact that John J. Ryder, the bright young man of the Luverne News, is desirous of representing Rock county in the legislature. It is the hope of his many friends here that Mr. Ryder will be elected. He would be a valuable man to organized labor in the hourse, for he has the right ideas and the ability to express them.
10 Oct 1894, St. Paul Daily Globe
In case John J. Ryder, of Rock, is elected to the legislature from the Seventh district, as now seems likely, organized labor and the common people will have a sturdy defender at the coming session. The three Republican candidates of that district were members of the house two years ago, and are strictly corporation men.
22 Oct 1894, St. Paul Daily Globe
John J. Ryder is one of the men who will most certainly be elected a representative in the next legislature from the district comprising the counties of Rock, Nobles, Murray and Pipestone. While he is essentially one of the "fighting phalanx" of Democratic editors, Mr. Ryder never descends to unfair or uncertain methods of warfare. Convictions he holds he is ever ready to defend; but he always respects the convictions and opinions of others. In consequence his standing is good with all parties. In this, his first canvass for public office, he goes into the work with the respect and good will of all the people of his home, village and county. Mr. Ryder was born in Kentucky thirty-two years ago. Coming to Minnesota twelve years ago, he worked as a printer on several country papers. Finally taking a position on the GLOBE, he served successively as compositor, assistant foreman, proof reader, reporter, and as editor on the telegraph and city desks. A year ago, in connection with Max H. Voelz, Mr. Ryder became proprietor of the Rock county News. In the time he has been at Luverne, he has made the News one of the foremost Democratic papers of the state, and one of the best general country newspapers in his section. The policy of the paper, like the man, is largely free and fair, although ever holding fast to the true spirit of Democracy. Reports from the district indicate that Mr. Ryder will make a winning run with John C. Marshall, John E. King and John N. Rivers. He is calculated by his natural attainments and knowledge of public men and affairs to make his mark in the legislature and will make his canvass on definite lines of policy. Fresh from a campaigning tour with the Democratic candidate for governor, Mr. Ryder today enters on a personal canvass in his district. The GLOBE commends him to the voters of all parties who desire to see a live, fearless representative chosen.
7 Nov 1894, St. Paul Daily Globe
Luverne, Nov. 6 -- Rock County will give Nelson and McCleary, Rep., in the neighborhood of 200 majority...Indications point to the election of Ryder, Dem., and two Republicans to the house.
23 Nov 1894, St. Paul Daily Globe
THANKS, MR. RYDER
Rock County News
The St. Paul GLOBE is widening its influence and its circulation every day, by the ability with which it is conducted, its complete news features and its fairness and fearlessness in discussing public questions.
1895 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder John J, City Editor St P Globe, res 673 St Peter
1895 Minnesota census, St. Paul, ward 9
Household at 673 St. Peter Street, headed by John J. Ryder, 33 years old, born in Kentucky, resident of Minnesota for 14 years, resident of this enumeration district 1 year, occupation journalist. Wilhelmina Ryder, 25 years old, born in Minnesota. Mary Ryder, 4 years old, born in Minnesota.
14 Jul 1895, St. Paul Daily Globe
Birth announcement: Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ryder, a girl
5 Sep 1895, Broad Axe
Labor Day was fittingly celebrated in St. Paul...In the afternoon a picnic was held at Fort Snelling which was attended by thousands of toilers. Mr. J.J. Ryder, an attache of the Globe, delivered the labor day oration. His address was carefully prepared and excellently delivered. It possessed a good deal of merit and was well receied by the large assemblage. Want of space prevents us from publishing it. In referring to labor's needs, Mr. Ryder said:
Primal conditions are most wonderfully changed today. Labor's needs have grown with civilization, and labor's field is thronged by a killing competition. Homes are emptied of their children, schools of their pupils, and the public is robbed of its right to have educated citizens, that cheap help may pile up gold for those who minister to the world's desires, good and bad. And despite this fact half a million of young girls and women are sacrificed on the reeking altars of pollution and prostitution in a year -- selling and damning the immortal soul to keep alive the mortal body. For these victims there ascend walls of grief and agony from thousands of homes where the father and the mother have worked without ceasing and yet have failed to conquer poverty, to master sinister conditions that deny them a living in too many cases and allow a competence in all too few. If labor must save itself by peaceful, heaven-approved methods - and in that I most firmly believe - the world itself must be saved, and the spirit of anarchy must be balked and throttled, by wise and timely effort on the part of those who employ labor, who grow rich on its products, and who fatten on the wealth out of the muscles and the bodies of men and women and children.
6 Dec 1895, St. Paul Daily Globe
(from an article speculating who would be appointed postmaster)
...When John J. Ryder was disappointed in the efforts of his friends to secure for him the position of surveyer general which plum went to P.H. Kirwan, it was suggested, on the same grounds as those advanced by Mr. Hinebaugh's friends, that Mr. Ryder might be remembered in connection with the postmastership. The same friends who worked for him in connection with the other position, it is said, would indorse him for the position. Besides, Mr. Ryder is the original Hill man in the Northwest, and if the president and the New York senator are again on more than speaking terms it was thought that Mr. Ryder could secure the distinguished New Yorker's support, so far as it goes. Mr. Ryder had a private conversation with Senator Hill when he was here the other day, and it is understood that the matter was mentioned at that time...
9 Dec 1895, St. Paul Daily Globe
President Cleveland will have a good long list of names from which to select a postmaster for St. Paul, if all of those who are mentioned for the place are presented to him. Some of those whom the Globe mentioned Friday may not be candidates to the extent of making any efforts to secure the appointment, but it is understood that any of them with possibly one exception, would not refuse the position if tendered to him. That one is John J. Ryder. Mr. Ryder doesn't want the position, rumor to the contrary notwithstanding. He says he wouldn't accept the position...
1896 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder, John J, Political Editor St P Globe, r 312 University av
2 May 1896, St. Paul Daily Globe
John J. Ryder, candidate for assemblyman, was born near Louisville, Ky., in June, 1862. He came to St. Paul fifteen years ago, and has since been an employe of the Globe, except at short intervals. He is a printer by trade, but left the case some years ago to become a proofreader, and is now a reporter. From the nature of his business Mr. Ryder has become familiar with municipal affairs, and is conversant with the methods of procedure in the council. At different times Mr. Ryder has been president of the Trades and Labor assembly and of the State Eight-Hour league; also a member of the committee on legislation of the State Federation of Labor. These organizations have been mainly instrumental in securing the enactment of legislation to benefit women and children and to secure more humane conditions for laboring people. Mr. Ryder is a Democrat in political belief, but has not hesitated to declare that in any question which arises the party interest must take a secondary place to the welfare of the city. He is known as an independent thinker, who has never been in favor with party bosses, so called. An active member of several fraternal societies, he has a wide acquaintance in all parts of the city, and says, if elected, his friends must do the work, because he has no money to spend. He lives in the Eighth ward with his wife and family.
12 Jul 1896, St. Paul Globe
The infant child of John J. Ryder, of the Globe, died suddenly last evening at his home on University avenue. The death is peculiarly sad, as Mr. Ryder has been in Chicago attending the national convention, and did not know of the little one's illness.
13 Jul 1896, St. Paul Globe
Death announcements
Ryder -- In St. Paul, Minn., July 11, 1896, Irmine Rose Ryder, aged one year, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ryder, 310 University avenue
4 Aug 1896, Minneapolis Journal
John J. Ryder officiated as reading clerk at the democratic state convention today, but his heart was hardly in the work. It is probable that if the convention had known of a certain letter offering Mr. Ryder's services to the republican party, he would not have been chosen to the position he held. It is a fact, however, that Mr. Ryder has left the democratic party to all practical intents and purposes...
6 Aug 1896, Broad Axe
"What!" said an old time democrat after reading J.J. Ryder's letter in the Dispatch of Tuesday bolting the democratic presidential nominees. "Is that the fellow who looks as if he was smelling something all the time?" The writer could not help but smile at the correctness of the description of this peculiarity in Mr. Ryder's phiz and acknowledged that he was the chap...
14 Sep 1896, Duluth News-Tribune
At West Duluth on Tuesday J.J. Ryder of St. Paul will make a special address to working men at the Great Eastern hall. He is a logical and convincing speaker and merits a large audience.
15 Sep 1896, Duluth News-Tribune
J.J. Ryder of St. Paul, a prominent union man, will speak to the people of West Duluth this evening on the political issues of the day. Mr. Ryder has been honored by an assault upon him by the Herald just as A.C. Rankin was assaulted except in the present instance the assailant takes the form of an anonymous writer...Mr. Ryder is known to be a good speaker and his record is clear according to all accounts. The man who maligned him through the Herald did not sign his name to the article and is therefore unworthy of attention. Mr. Ryder will undoubtedly be greeted by a large audience this evening.
15 Sep 1896, Duluth News-Tribune
J.J. Ryder of St. Paul will speak this evening at the Great Eastern hall...He is said to be a very forcible and earnest speaker.
16 Sep 1896, Duluth News-Tribune
An audience of about 500 people assembled at Great Eastern hall last night to hear J.J. Ryder, a well known trade's unionist of St. Paul discuss the political issues of the day. After President L.A. Barnes had called the meeting to order...a telegram was received from Mr. Ryder stating that owing to serious illness in his family he was unable to be present. While the audience was somewhat disappointed when the announcement was made that Mr. Ryder would not be present it was very evident that the crowd was too enthusiastic to leave without hearing a talk on the political problems of the hour...
28 Sep 1896, Duluth News-Tribune
J.J. Ryder of St. Paul will address the people this evening at Republican headquarters in West Duluth. Mr. Ryder was due to speak here some time ago, but was unable to be here at that time. He will appear this evening without fail at West Duluth. Mr. Ryder is a printer by trade, but is experienced in all branches of newspaper work. He is a good reasoner and an interesting speaker. He will doubtless receive a good reception at the meeting this evening.
29 Sep 1896, Duluth News-Tribune
An audience which completely filled the Republican headquarters assembled to hear J.J. Ryder of St. Paul discuss the political issues. Mr. Ryder is a very earnest speaker, possessing a good voice and an easy manner that makes him a pleasing speaker to listen to. He viewed the different questions as they would affect the working man and he was a working man himself. Mr. Ryder opened his address by apologizing for not appearing when announced a few weeks ago, when he was detained by sickness. Among other things he said that when he cast his first vote in 1884 that he voted the Democratic ticket, but that this campaign he could not conscientiously vote that way. The address was full of practical applications of the theories of the silver men. In every instance the theories were laid so bare that it was shown that they had no foundation whatever...
27 Oct 1896, Duluth News-Tribune
J.J. Ryder of Minneapolis made one of the best all round speeches of the campaign in this city last evening. He spoke at Republican headquarters...and had his audience with him from the start. Mr. Ryder was listened to with much attention, and made a good impression by the manner in which he presented the doctrine of sound money and protection to American workingmen.
- 2 Jan 1897, Minneapolis Journal
J.J. Ryder and E.A. Taylor are both candidates for reading clerk. Ryder was a gold democrat, working last election in the interest of sound money. He has an enviable record on the stump.
14 Jul 1898, Minneapolis Journal
J.J. Ryder, nominated for the state senate by the republicans of Polk county, is an old St. Paul newspaper man, and is now writing editorials for the East Grand Forks Courier. He was reading clerk of the last house of representatives, and was elected as a gold democrat. Ryder is a good campaigner and will make the contest interesting for his populist opponent, whoever he may be...
7 Oct 1898, Duluth News-Tribune
J.J. Ryder is announced by the Republican county committee to speak tomorrow evening at Great Eastern hall. Mr. Ryder is an entertaining talker and has the happy faculty of presenting his ideas without burying them in a multiplicity of words.
8 Oct 1898, Duluth News-Tribune
Indications point to a large turnout to greet J.J. Ryder, the Republican speaker who is to address a meeting tonight at Great Eastern hall. Mr. Ryder is said to be a very good speaker, having a happy faculty of explaining things in a clear concise way that takes much of the dryness out of a political talk.
14 Nov 1898, Minneapolis Journal
The most pronounced legislative victory of the late campaign was won by J.J. Ryder, editor of the East Grand Forks Courier. Polk county has heretofore been populist by a majority of from 2,500 to 3,000. This he succeeded in overcoming, much to the surprise of fusionists as well as republicans. Everywhere over the state his case was regarded as utterly hopeless. There was not a man in the state, Ryder included, who would have staked any large sum of money on his success. His election is due not only to his personal popularity and ability as a campaigner, but to the fact referred to elsewhere in this article, namely, that the populists of the seventh district are getting ready to come back into the republican party. Ryder will be no unworthy successor of Senator P.M. Ringdal, the populist who went down to defeat this year as candidate for congress against Eddy. He is known in the twin cities as Jack Ryder, and in former years was a reporter for the St. Paul Globe.
27 Nov 1898, St. Paul Globe
Senator-elect J.J. Ryder, of Polk County, came to town last night to look the ground over. It is the senator's first visit to the city for some time, and he said that he had only dropped in on his way to Duluth. He was given an ovation by politicians of all parties because of the phenomenal run he made in Polk County, turning a majority of about 1.200 against him to a winning majority of about 250. He cleaned up his own town of East Grand Forks and carried Crookston by a big majority. His advent recalled the fact that he came very near winning out in Rock county four years ago when he was a candidate for the huse. It is understood that Mr. Ryder will be the chairman of the labor committee of the senate, he having been identified with union labor through the Typographical union for many years. He will be in town for a couple of days.
25 Dec 1898, St. Paul Globe
Talking about wise reminds one of John J. Ryder, not because Ryder is wise, but because he ran just as well as though he knew classic lore and current literature from one end to the other. Ryder is a prospective legislator, and it would not be fair to tell on him the old story that he went to a city hotel and blew out the gas when he went to bed. He knows better than that. But "Jack" came into the cities Saturday morning, checked his grip at the depot, and wandering up town, became hungry. Sauntering into the lobby of a convenient hotel with a sang froid acquired in a considerable experience gathering the lists of arrivals the whilom newspaper man seized a pen and spread his name over the hotel blank book as though that specimen of publication cost but 14 cents a thousand. Ryder intended to ask the clerk where the dining room was, but before the astounded official recovered from his fainting spell, Ryder heard a clatter of dishes in an adjoining room and -- wandered into the cafe. He paid for his breakfast before he remembered that he had registered, and now he is eating at establishments where all the dining rooms converge in one cashier's desk.
1899 - The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota:
Sixty-Second District
John J. Ryder (Republican) was born in Kentucky in 1863. He was educated in the public schools until eleven years old, then worked on a farm; afterwards learned the printer's trade, at which he worked for several years. For the past ten years he has been engaged in editorial work. Mr. Ryder is married and resides at East Grand Forks.
26 Jul 1899, Duluth News-Tribune
...Mr. Ryder represented Polk county in the state senate last winter, and he is editor of the East Grand Forks Courier...
3 Aug 1899, Minneapolis Journal
Senator "Jack" Ryder of East Grand Forks is being talked of for congress from the seventh district in the event of Congressman Eddy's being switched onto the gubernatorial track. As the latter contingency is next to an impossibility, Mr. Ryder's candidacy will continue to be a potential one for some years to come.
From "Le Grandes Fourches", excerpt from the book "The Bushees and Enrights: A Family History" by Dale Voiss:
"Across the Red River from Grand Forks, in west central Polk County, lies Grand Forks' sister city East Grand Forks, Minnesota...In the early days the only way to travel across the river to Grand Forks was by ferry...In 1887, in an effort to accommodate foot and buggy traffic, two bridges were built which spanned the river...Determined to compete with their larger neighbor to the west, East Grand Forks turned to liquor sales. This took on added significance in 1890 when North Dakota gained statehood. At that time Grand Forks was forced to go dry as the new state constitution put prohibition in place. In an effort to get the people of Grand Forks to come across the bridge several saloons were built...This led to an influx of crime into the area, particularly prostitution. Prostitution thrived in the area throughout the 1890s and early 1900's and East Grand Forks gained a reputation as what today would be called a party town. Police would simply look the other way. The reasons for this were twofold. One, because the ladies brought the young town business it would not otherwise have, and two, occasionally arrests would be made and fines levied to sweeten the young towns coffers. The Madames simply accepted this as cost of doing business. Eventually as North Dakota dropped their prohibition order things began to settle down on the Minnesota side. By 1906 the prostitutes had been driven out of EGF by a police department which no longer looked the other way. The town was now more concerned about its reputation than it was about the business the ladies brought to town."
1900 US Census: East Grand Forks, Ward 4, Polk County, Minnesota.
Household at 248 Third Street, headed by John J. Ryder, born Jun 1862, 38 years old, born in Kentucky, both parents born in Ireland, married 10 years, no occupation given, renter. Wife Minnie, born Jul 1872, 28 years old, born in Minnesota, mother born in France, father born in Germany. Daughter Mary, born Jun 1891, 8 years old, born in Minnesota, born in Minnesota, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Minnesota.
24 Feb 1900 through 13 April 1901
J.J. Ryder published the "Saturday valley view" in East Grand Forks, Minnesota
Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, Volume XIV
Minnesota Biographies 1655-1912
"Ryder, John J., journalist, b. in Kentucky in 1863; resided at East Grand Forks; was a state senator, 1899-1902"
1901 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder John J, b 243 W University av
9 Feb 1901, The Minneapolis Journal
Senator "Jack" Ryder has disposed of his newspaper interests at East Grand Forks. It has been a current rumor for several weeks that Mr. Ryder intended to return to St. Paul. Congressional reapportionment has brought out a number of new congressional possibilities in the north valley counties, but if the report is true, Ryder does not figure on entering the derby there.
9 Mar 1901, Duluth News-Tribune
Among the doomed bills before the legislature is that introduced by Senator Ryder of Polk county legalizing prize fights. The people of this state have passed the stage when they would tolerate such contests.
26 Mar 1901 Duluth News-Tribune
...Quite a bit of excitement occurred during the meeting. Senator Ryder, of East Grand Forks, who is a member of the committee, was present and became somewhat obstreperous. He began making insulting remarks about those that came in opposition to the bill. He was for the bill. He kept up these insults and the patience of Senator Baldwin, of Duluth, broke down when Ryder stated that Superintendent Denfield had no ability as an educator, or words to that effect. Senator Baldwin called Ryder down. Ryder replied by claiming that he has a right to his opinions. Senator Baldwin said: "Yes you have, but if you know what is best for you, you will keep those opinions to yourself."
Ryder was, after that, very much subdued, making only an occasional remark. It is likely if he had kept up his insults he would have been invited to leave the room.
16 May 1901, Duluth News-Tribune
Senator "Jack" Ryder is no longer publishing the "Valley View" at East Grand Forks. E.W. Robbins has consolidated the View with another weekly there, and has covered the "result" with generous "ads".
17 Aug 1901, Duluth News-Tribune
Senator "Jack" Ryder, it is claimed, never returned to his constituency in Polk county since the adjournment of the legislature. He is now at his old trade in St. Paul -- printing.
18 Nov 1901, Duluth News-Tribune
Senator Jack Ryder, of Polk county, is telegraph editor of the St. Paul Globe.
2 Dec 1901, Duluth News-Tribune
Polk county's senator will not be Jack Ryder, if the neighborhood newspapers know what they are talking about. But as Senator Ryder is back in St. Paul wielding a blue pencil, he probably doesn't care.
8 Dec 1901, Duluth News-Tribune
...Charley Cheney says, in the Minneapolis Journal's political column: "Members of the state senate seen recently do not think there will be any disposition to dismiss from that body the three senators who have moved beyond the bounds of their districts. Senators Ryder, Sheehan and Daugherty are clearly ineligible, but each house is the sole judge of the qualifications of its members, and, if the senate declines to take ation, the three will be senators as well as anyone else...
14 Dec 1901, Duluth News-Tribune
It is very likely that Jack Ryder will occupy his seat in the senate, if an extra session is called, despite the manifest chagrin of his Polk county constituency.
19 Dec 1901, Duluth News-Tribune
It is said around the prairies that Hugh Thompson, of East Grand Forks, and A.D. Stephens, of Crookston, severally fain would succeed Senator Jack Ryder at the next election.
19 Dec 1901, Duluth News-Tribune
From the Crookston Times: The McIntosh Times thinks that Polk county does not need a new senator for Jack Ryder can accomplish just as much there as he ever did. That's why we want another.
1902 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder John J, comp St P Globe, r 685 Harriet
6 Jun 1902, Duluth News-Tribune
Up in Polk county a good many folks are just as interested in selecting a successor to Senator "Jack" Ryder as they are in sending the most favored member of the congressional big four to Washington.
17 Jul 1902, Duluth News-Tribune
According to the St. Cloud Journal-Press, Senator Ryder has shifted his topography, but has the same old ambitions: "Jack Ryder has announced that he will be a candidate for the state senatorship in the Thirty-fourth senatorial district, St. Paul. McNamee, a Democrat, now represents the district. Ryder formerly appeared from the Polk county district, but is now doing newspaper work in St. Paul."
3 Aug 1902, Duluth News-Tribune
A.D. Stephens, of Crookston, will probably be nominated to succeed Senator "Jack" Ryder, who wants Senator McNamee's seat. Mr. Stephens will be a fine change for Polk county folks.
26 Dec 1902, Duluth News-Tribune
The Minneapolis Journal says: "J.J. Ryder, of St. Paul, former senator from Polk, sends a timely warning to a morning paper that there may be corruption in the next legislature. Mr. Ryder was unfortunately defeated for nomination this time."
1903 Kansas City, Missouri, City Directory
John J. Ryder, proofreader at Burd & Fletcher Ptg Co, r 1420 Cherry
1904, Kansas City, Missouri, City Directory
John J. Ryder, proofreader at Burd & Fletcher Ptg Co, r 426 e 17th
10 Jul 1907, The Columbus Journal, Columbus, Nebraska
John J. Ryder of Omaha was appointed deputy labor commissioner last week by Governor Sheldon, the appointment to become effective immediately. Mr. Ryder will succeed Don C. Despain, who resigned to accept the management of a manufacturing company. The salary of the deputy labor commissioner is $1,500 a year. Mr. Ryder is an old-time newspaper man of marked ability. He served one term in the state senate of Minnesota and was reading clerk in the Minnesota house of representatives.
9 Nov 1907, Kansas City Star
Lincoln, Neb. -- Labor Commissioner Ryder this morning announced that children under 16 years of age must not appear behind the footlights in Nebraska. the state child labor board held a meeting and decided that the law must be rigidly enforced in this regard.
17 Nov 1908, Nebraska State Journal
It is rumored at the state house that C.J. Bowlby, the well known democratic editor of Crete, may succeed John J. Ryder, the present deputy commissioner of labor. Governor Sheldon set a precedent by appointing a newspaper man deputy labor commissioner and the governor-elect may follow it.
22 Nov 1908, Nebraska State Journal
Maupin for Labor Bureau
Union labor men are seeking to have one of their number appointed labor commissioner to succeed J.J. Ryder. Will Maupin, editor of the "Wageworker", is a candidate for the place and it is alleged by his friends the governor-elect has promised the place to him if any Lincoln man gets it. For the past eight years the office has been held by Omaha men. Watson was a horse shoer by trade. Bert Bush was a painter and decorator, and Ryder is a newspaper man. Mr. Ryder has endeavored to beat the headsmen to it by anticipating his decapitation. He has sent his resignation to Governor-elect Shallenberger to take effect on January 7.
- 1910 US Census: 9-Wd, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska.
Household at 2716 Burt Street, headed by John J. Ryder, 46 years old, married 19 years, born in Kentucky, both parents born in Ireland, occupation editor at a newspaper, renter. Wife Minnie L. Ryder, 41 years old, born in Minnesota, mother of 3 children, 2 of whom are living, father born in Germany, mother born in France, occupation none. Daughter Mary Ryder, 18 years old, single, born in Minnesota, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Minnesota. Son John J. Ryder, 5 years old, born in Minnesota, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Minnesota.
In a nearby area of Omaha (7-Wd), the 1910 census records a 28 year old lodger Ambrose R. Erhard, single, occupation salesman.
1910 Omaha City Directory
John J. Ryder, reporter at the Omaha Bee, residence 2716 Burt
(Also in the 1910 Omaha City Directory, J.J. Ryder appears on the list of reporters at The Omaha Bee)
12 July 1910, Nebraska State Journal
Information has reached the state house that John J. Ryder of Omaha will soon file for the republican nomination for secretary of state, opposing Addison Walt. Mr. Ryder was deputy labor commissioner under Governor George L. Sheldon.
14 July 1910, The Lincoln Evening News
The following have filed nomination papers with the secretary of state: John J. Ryder, Omaha, republican secretary of state...
25 Aug 1910, The Lincoln Evening News
Close To End
Only Two Counties Shy With Official Returns of Primary Election
With all county returns now in the office of the secretary of state, with the exception of Douglas and Thurston counties, the compilers of the vote on governor now know pretty nearly the exact result of the state primaries...The ninety counties that have filed returns with the secretary of state, not including Douglas and Thurston, give Shallenberger a total of 24,966 and Dahlman 20,050. The same counties gave Addison Walt, candidate for secretary of state, 17,707 and John J. Ryder 14,704. Estimating Ryder's majority in Douglas at 2,200 and making no allowance for Thurston county's vote, Walt has the nomination by 802.
29 Aug 1910, The Lincoln Evening News
The City In Brief
...Douglas county has filed its official returns with the secretary of state. Dahlman gets a majority of 305 according to the official returns. Deputy Secretary of State Walt gets more than was expected and is nominated over John J. Ryder by 1,657...
Excerpt from www.historicomaha.com (Installment VIII):
When Mr. Dahlman first took office in 1906, Omaha was under the smile or frown of the Legislature. A policeman's salary could not be raised without permission from that body. Such a system placed an unnecessary responsibility upon the Legislature, for a great deal of its time each session was taken up by Omaha affairs.
During Mayor Jim's years in Omaha, tremendous changes took place in the city as it grew rapidly in population and wealth. There seemed to be no sane reason for continuing such an antiquated governmental system. Mr. Dahlman saw the absurdity of it. He proposed giving the city the right of governing itself ? and the battle for "home rule" was begun.
It was a battle, too. The Mayor was accused of wanting to "secede" from the state. State legislators scoffed at Omaha's ability to control her own affairs. But Mr. Dahlman and his supporters continued to fight. At last a constitutional amendment was submitted to the voters, who approved it.
In 1912 Omaha adopted its present commission form of government. The voters elected seven Commissioners for a term of three years. These were Mr. Dahlman, Dan B. Butler, (later Mayor), Charles H; Withnell, J. J. Ryder, J. B. Hummel, A. C. Kugel and Patrick McGovern.
excerpt from http://www.rootsweb.com/~neresour/OLLibrary/MWHNE/mwhne830.htm
The city of Omaha adopted the commission form of government in the spring of 1912. Its affairs down to that time had been administered by councilmen, two chosen from each ward, and a mayor. They are now entrusted to seven commissioners selected by the people, each commissioner having charge of a separate department. These departments are public affairs; accounts and finance; police, sanitation, and public safety; fire protection and water supply; street cleaning and maintenance; parks and public property; and public improvements.
10 April 1912, Lincoln Daily News
Dahlman's Name Leads All the Rest
Omaha, Neb., April 10 -- James C. Dahlman, present mayor of the city and in 1910 a candidate for governor against Chester H. Aldrich, has "come back." Though politicians the state over had repeatedly asserted that he never more could be nominated for even the most insignificant office within the gift of his people, results of the vote of the commission primary held here yesterday give him the highest vote of any of the fourteen successful candidates.
With ninety-seven candidates running for the places and with the people interested particularly because of the significance of the event, the deciding votes placed in nomination seven republicans and seven democrats as follows:
J.C. Dahlman 5486, Chas. H. Withnell 4903, J. Ryder 4651, A.C. Kugel 4396, W.A. Redick 4054, Geo. H. Thumme 3700, Frank A. Furay 3555, John N. Nele 3253, John A. Swanson 3055, M.F. Funkhouser 3047, Alfred C. Kennedy 2893, Thos. McGovern 2723, Dan B. Butler 2497, John A. Rine 2165.
Seven commissioners from among this number will be chosen at the next election and these, after assuming the office, will operate the affairs of the city under the Ranning commission law passed at the last session of the state legislature.
11 May 1912, Lincoln Daily News
Ryder Will Have Police in Charge
Omaha, Neb., May 10 -- J.J. Ryder, formerly deputy labor commissioner, is to have charge of the police and health department of this city under the commission plan of municipal government. "Actions speak louder than words" is to be his motto for conducting affairs in both departments, according to his own statement.
Ryder, who was selected for the police department by the other commissioners, will not make any forecasts, official or otherwise, until he assumes his office, and says he will let his orders speak for themselves.
The new police commissioner asserted that the people of Omaha could judge by his orders and by the way he had those orders envorced whether he was doing his duty or not.
Ryder intimated very strongly, however, that he contemplates running his own department without dictation from anyone.
"Both of the departments will be conducted solely for the benefit of the people of Omaha, and everything I do will be in the open and above board. I am willing to stand by the record I make," said Ryder, and that's all he would say.
Ryder's department will probably be the most important in the new system of government. He will have entire charge of the police regulation and of the city health and sanitation.
11 May 1912, Omaha World Herald
Ryder's Thankless Job
The most difficult if not the most important place on the new city commission has fallen to the lot of Col. John Ryder, who will have charge of the police department. It is distinctly a healthful sign that this billet was dodged and avoided by practically all the commissioners-elect. Both Kugel and withnell refused to accept it because of the charges that had been scattered broadcast during the campaign, and their refusal will go far to satisfy many people that the charges were unfounded. Col. Ryder, who would have preferred the department of parks and public property, was finally deignated as the man to take up the hardest and most thankless position in connection with the city government. This newspaper hopes and is inclined to believe that the choice was a happy one. John J. Ryder is still a young man and ambitious. He has a future to make or to mar by his record of the next three years. He is an experienced, successful and popular newspaper man, and has a newspaper man's thorough knowledge of police conditions and problems. From among his neighbors and his wide circle of friends come the assurances that he has courage, integrity and ability. Excellent qualities, these for the commissioner in charge of the police department. Indeed, they may be said to be indispensable. We hope John Ryder will make good. We hope that his administration of the police department will be such as to confound the critics and free-and-easy prophets who fulminated against the "Square" ticket in the campaign just closed. We realize fully how hard is the work ahead of him, how inevitably he must become the target of criticism, how powerful will be his temptations, how perplexing and distracting the problems with which he will have to deal. Realizing this, we are disposed to go to the farthest possible extent in holding up his hands and according him the public support to which he, together with the entire new administration, is entitled.
17 July 1912, Lincoln Daily News
Omaha Commissioner Starts New Bureau
Omaha, Neb., July 17 -- Because of the great number of men who have applied for work since Police Commissioner Ryder declared his intention to compel able-bodied men to work or leave the city, the commissioner has decided to start a free employment bureau, keeping a list of jobs and job-seekers. Several men have already been furnished work.
Mr Ryder says he will get in touch with big contractors, manufacturers and other employers and find out how many men they can employ and will seek to furnish the needed help.
Clerks, chauffeurs, railroad men, farmers, day laborers and even "professionals" have applied to Ryder's office within the last three days for work.
Mr. Ryder says he believes that the state should foster employment bureaus, maintaining them in cities and towns where they would be of most service. During his term as state labor commissioner he attempted to put his plan into effect but failed.
15 Oct 1912, Omaha World Herald
(excerpt from an article about a meeting of the Women's Club)
Mr. Ryder declared his stand for the abolition of the county poor farm, the state insane asylum, the state penitentiary and all like institutions. The penitentiary he declared a "farm for the devil" and the others equally worthless. Instead of such asylums for the shipwrecks of society, he would have playgrounds, reformatories and corrective institutions for preventing the development of criminals and other unfortunates such as are now housed in these places. On this position he received the warm endorsement of the club.
12 Jun 1913, Omaha World Herald
Invitations are out for the wedding of Miss Mary Theresa Ryder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ryder, to A. Robert Erhard, which will take place on Wednesday morning, June 18, at 9 o'clock at the St. John's Collegiate church. A reception will be held from 12:30 to 2:30 o'clock at the home of the bride's parents, 2623 Meredith avenue.
25 Jun 1913, Omaha World Herald
Bright and early in the morning the various officials hied forth in their Sunday best to St. John's Catholic church, where they witnessed the marriage of Miss Ryder, daughter of City Commissioner John J. Ryder to A. Robert Erhard. At noon there was a reception at the Ryder home.
29 Jul 1913, Omaha World Herald
Superintendent of Police John J. Ryder today ordered Police Chief Dunn to exercise the strictest possible control of the pleasure steamboat "Saturn", plying the Missouri river between Omaha and Florence, to the end that alleged grossly immoral and disorderly conduct may be eliminated. Superintendent Ryder also instructed the chief to confer with the city legal department to determine just how far the city may go in abating the nuisance. Mr. Ryder's order followed his perusal of a World-Herald editorial, which called upon the police department to put a check on the notorious daily cruises..."I guess things have been pretty bad" [Ryder] said, "but I have no direct information on the subject. However, we will look into it, and I will promise that everything will be done that can be done by this department. I do not know just what power we possess over a boat that runs in a navigable stream." In Kansas City police officers regularly arrested all who landed from the boat, but Superintendent Ryder doubts his power to do this unless a disorder is raised on the landing...
7 Aug 1913, Omaha World Herald
Placed under arrest by John J. Ryder, superintendent of police, after a pursuit of several blocks at the rate of forty miles an hour, Larren B. Scott of the real estate firm of L.B. Scott & Son, arraigned in police court yesterday on a charge of speeding and violating the rules of the road, was fined $100 and costs, the maximum penalty under the state law. Scott paid the fine. The arrest was made Monday afternoon. Scott was driving south on the boulevard at a speed declared to have been forty miles an hour. Superintendent Ryder happened along behind in another machine and tendered Scott a "golden rule" summons when he hove alongside the latter's car at the Nineteenth and Ohio streets turn...
9 Aug 1913, Lincoln Daily News
Town Once Made Famous To Be Meeting Place
Winnipeg, Man., Aug 9 -- Milwaukee was chosen unanimously as the next convention city for the national league of American municipalities. The decision was reached just before the adjournment at noon when Charleston, S.C. withdrew from the race for the 1914 convention.
John J. Ryder of Omaha was re-elected president and all the rest of the old officers were returned to office.
4 Oct 1913, Lincoln Daily Star
Row Begun in Omaha Over Sales of Liquor
Omaha, Oct. 4 -- With two newspapers locked horns, one declaring the violations of the 8 o'clock law in Omaha are flagrant, and the other maintaining that Police Superintendent John H. Ryder has failed to discover a single liquor sale after hours, a merry fight has been started here.
It is declared that the police superintendent accompanied by his wife failed to find a single case of liquor sales. On the other hand one newspaper says that liquor is being sold all night to men and women, and that these sales take place under the noses of the city officials.
9 Oct 1913, Lincoln Daily Star
What Has Jack Done?
Now what can we suspect Jack Ryder of doing that did not accord with the plans and wishes of his newspaper sponsor?
Jack Ryder is a former attache of the Bee. He was elected as a member of the city commission as a friend and representative of that paper. He was recognizable at a distance as the mouthpiece of that paper in municipal officialdom.
After election he was put in charge of the police department, which is the one department that the editor of the Bee has always honed to control.
A few days ago the Bee started a number of reporters out to haunt the dark places and ascertain where noise paint was being sold on Sundays and after 5 o'clock. When reporters for the Bee are sent out to find anything they find it. And when they get the wink to tell about it, they tell it.
Of course that sleuthing stunt was a knock on the police regulation and administration of Omaha, conducted by Jack Ryder.
Explanations will be received thankfully concerning just what Jack Ryder has been doing to invite this scornful exposition of the shortcomings of his police department.
21 Oct 1913
John J. Ryder, police commissioner, was painfully burned about the face and head and inhaled a quantity of flame and smoke, searing his throat and lungs, last night when he rushed into the burning basement at his home, 2819 Meredith avenue. The fire originated in a pile of kindling wood near the furnace. Just what caused the blaze has not been determined. Mr. Ryder and his son were at home alone, but were unaware of the blaze until neighbors hurried over and gave the alarm. Firemen extinguished the flames before any great damage was done.
22 Oct 1913, Omaha World Herald
Harsh criticism of the police commissioner for what is termed his "lack of foresight", is to be heard in police circles just now, due to the fact that each of the department officials is to be compelled to take a five days' leave of absence without pay. John J. Ryder, police commissioner, has repeatedly been quoted as saying that last January, when the various department appropriations were made, he drew attention to the fact that he would encounter a deficit of $2,000 or more, unless given more money. The policemen, who are the only ones vitally concerned in the shortage of funds, declare that Commissioner Ryder should have permitted the men to take their enforced vacations during the summer months, rather than waiting until winter had set in. "It would have been much better, and more fair treatment to everybody concerned, if the men had been laid off last summer, instead of this winter," said one officer last night. "Here is Christmas right at hand, and the winter coal to be put in. Some of the men are going to be pretty hard pressed by this layoff."...
24 Oct 1913, Omaha World Herald
That troublesome deficit in City Commissioner John J. Ryder's various departmental funds is the reason for dirty and unsanitary conditions found in two of the six dairies inspected Wednesday by Dr. Charles E North of New York city, sanitary expert of the New York milk commission. City Health Officer Connell so explained the situation yesterday. "We haven't had an inspection of some dairies for nearly two months," he said. "Inspector Bossie only makes the rounds once a month and he has been laid off for three weeks owing to lack of funds for the payment of his salary. 'When the cat's away, the mice will play,' and some of the dairymen are doing it in Bossie's absence."...
20 Nov 1913, Omaha World Herald
City Commissioner John J. Ryder, head of the police department, and said to be one of the two commissioners against whom the Economic league plans to institute recall proceedings, is frightened not one whit by the threat. Commissioner Ryder is well satisfied with his administration of his department. He believes he has acted fairly and wisely, for the benefit of the public, and if anyone can gainsay him - and make it stick - he is ready to take his medicine. So he said yesterday. "If they want to start recall proceedings, I say that this is the place for them to start," he said. "They can investigate my funds and they will find everyone of them short. They will find, also, if they go into the matter and are fair about it, that city affairs can't be run without money. That is what we have tried to do and, naturally, it can't be done. The city finance department says that I should economize at the beginning of the year, so as not to run out at the end. I don't give a hoot for the city finance department. This is my department and I have run it in the best possible manner, for the best public good, with the funds at my disposal -- which were wretchedly inadequate. The Economic league talks about mal-administration. Let them investigate my department. My record will stand. I introduced a resolution in the council the other day for an exhaustive survey of the conduct of all city affairs by an outside expert. do you think that that was popular with the city commissioners? Do you think that they wanted all their departments, all the jobs, investigated? But they couldn't very well vote against it and it will be done, unless funds are not provided January 1. The Economic league wants every public official to be a coward. I won't be a coward for all the public offices in Christendom. They can recall me all they please. I have done the best to be done with what I had, but if they can make the people believe otherwise I can quit. I was never happier than as a newspaper man and I can be very happy again outside a city job."
22 Nov 1913, Omaha World Herald
William (Billy) Hareld, a policeman for the last twelve years, was summarily discharged from the department last night by the city commission at the conclusion of a hearing on charges of misconduct, preferred by Lawrence (Larry) Queeley, a locomotive engineer. The commission stood six to one for discharging the officer, John J. Ryder, superintendent of police, casting the only dissenting vote. This was contrary to expectation, it being popularly believed that at least one other commissioner would stand or fall with Ryder. Queeley, in his specifications against Hareld, charged that early in the forenoon of November 3 he found his wife, Mrs. Matilda Queeley, alone with the policeman in the former's room at the Rex hotel. Hareld wore only his night clothes at the time, the charges recited..."
25 Nov 1913, Lincoln Daily News
Anti-Saloon League Wants Liquor Laws Enforced in Omaha
Omaha, Neb., Nov 25 -- The Anti-Saloon league of Nebraska, through District Superintendent High of Omaha, yesterday filed with Police Superintendent John J. Ryder a demand that the liquor laws be enforced in Omaha.
Superintendent High cited for the information of Mr. Ryder the names and addresses of twenty-seven places in which he says reputable witnesses testify liquor is being habitually sold in violation of the 8 o'clock closing law. The list includes thirteen saloons, six restaurants, five hotels and three drug stores.
Superintendent High says he cannot conceive how police officials can be ignorant of violations.
"This means that we want the liquor laws enforced," said State Superintendent Carson, who was in Omaha yesterday. "It means, too, that when the time comes we will protest against the granting of licenses to these and other present proprietors of saloons."
30 Nov 1913, Omaha World Herald
John J. Ryder has been in nominal charge of the police department for more than a year, yet within that time very little has been done to perfect the organization or improve facilities at the station house. In face, the police department has lost in value in this time. Disorderly resorts of various character have been permitted to spring up, mushroom-like in different parts of the city, contrary to legislative enactment, and today they flourish unmolested by policemen. Mr. Ryder was able to find one such resort on lower Douglas street. He found it because he was accosted and invited to "come in and meet the girls." He compelled the policeman to arrest the keeper. None of the inmates were sent to jail. No one appeared in police court to prosecute the keeper...Is Mr. Ryder superintendent of police in name only?...If Commissioner Ryder is willing tamely to submit to such public humiliation the intelligent people of Omaha will have him properly catalogued. If, on the other hand, he has the courage and the fidelity to stand up, assert his power, call his disloyal subordinates off of their high perch, and compel an enforcement of the law against disreputable houses...he will find the people rallying to his support. There was a time when a public official in Omaha, eager for re-election, might have felt it wise to make his peace with the Third ward machine and allow its perquisites and unlawful pursuits to go unnoticed and unmolested. That was when the machine controlled the election machinery. But it enjoys that control no longer...Mr. Ryder, as an honest, impartial and fearless superintendent of police, could safely defy it. He could make himself invincible by doing his sworn duty. He will only leave himself an object of contempt if he bows his head submissively to a boss already dethroned.
9 Dec 1913, Omaha World Herald
The lid can be clamped down tight on Omaha saloons. Furthermore, it will be. This was the statement Monday of Police Superintendent John J. Ryder. Mr. Ryder said that he had been in doubt until recently as to whether or not public sentiment wanted a tight town. He had decided that the public wants it and, forsooth, the public shall have what it wants. As to boot-legging, Mr. Ryder is not so certain as to the ability of the police. He doubts the possibility of preventing a considerable amount of this illegal traffic and he doubts whether it is worth while to use valuable policemen for that purpose. "Why the lid can be kept on tight," said the police superintendent..."There is no question about that. Anybody who says that the police can't make a tight Omaha is foolish -- doesn't know what he is talking about. I have been in doubt, however, as to whether or not public sentiment demanded a tight town. I haven't found the newspapers clamoring for it, until recently. Now it seems that the public wants a tight Omaha. Well, the police can give it to them and they will. The saloons will be closed after 8 p.m." Mr. Ryder was asked about bootlegging outside of licensed saloons. "That is another question." he said. "It is a very hard problem and one that can hardly be absolutely corrected. Any man, anywhere, may buy a few bottles, keep them till 8 o'clock and then sell them, at a high price, in violation of the law, while the police are forcing the men who pay $1,000 a year license to obey the law. Repeated arrests stop a few bootleggers for the time being, but do not prevent constant repetition of the offense. Furthermore, I have doubts myself as to whether it is economical to use a policeman in that work. It can't be entirely stopped; at most, we can only harass them. There are a good many other things that a policeman should do, and we have few enough to do them. Yes, we can put the lid on tight on the licensed places, and we will continue to do so as we have in the last two weeks. but the bootlegging is a problem. I shall keep the men at work on it, but I don't know what the result will be."
16 Dec 1913, Lincoln Daily News
(at end of long article about a campaign against "immoral houses" in Omaha)
Police Superintendent John J. Ryder Monday backed up the statements of his chief of detectives, Steve Maloney, to the effect that white slavery is practically unknown in Omaha.
Ryder, like Maloney, says that Marshal Eberstein, special agent of the federal department of justice, doesn't know what he is talking about when he says that Omaha is one of the worst recruiting stations of white slavery in the country.
13 Jan 1914, Omaha World Herald
Hot words were exchanged across the city council table this morning when Mrs. Adeline Donahue, 1402 North Eighteenth street, appeared to protest against an alleged nuisance of rubbish in an alley at Eighteenth and Paul. A petition was also presented to the same end. She was told by Commissioner Ryder, head of the police department, that nothing could be done. "I'd like to know why something can't be done," reorted Commissioner Hummel. "It seems to me that these people are entitled to an abatement of this nuisance." "Tell me how," suggested Ryder. "Arrest them and jail them if they don't clean it up," was Hummel's remedy. "Yes, but you can't do it," said Ryder. "The legal department advises me it can't be done, when it is only a collection of rags, boards, etc., when the alley is really private property used for a driveway and not really owned by the city." "Have you really tried it?" queried Hummel. "Yes, I've tried it," retorted Ryder, with some heat. "You say it is a nuisance. Well, it takes more than your say-so to make it a nuisance, I'll tell you that right now." The council took the matter under advisement.
16 Jan 1914, Omaha World Herald
Conversion of the old county jail, now owned by the city, into a municipal lodging house for possibly 500 unemployed, with a rock pile and wood yard in connection, is an ambition of City Commissioner John J. Ryder, head of the police department. The city has no funds available to bear the initial expense of the plan, and Mr. Ryder's present hope is that some citizen, or group of citizens, may care to bear the $5000 burden. The old county jail cost $18,000 only a few years ago and became the city's property when the county moved into new quarters. It was intended for use as a city jail, but no funds have been available to remodel it for that purpose. The present cells and arrangements are unsanitary and not appropriate for use in caring for drunks, disorderly characters and women, which classes make up a large part of the city station inmates. Mr. Ryder believes that an initial expense of $5,000 would equip the building for a maximum of 500 lodgers. He thinks that a wood yard and stone pile, or something similar, would make the institution practically self-sustaining. "Omaha now bears the reputation of being the 'softest town' between the two oceans," said Mr. Ryder. "The reason is that we have no workhouse. Unemployed flock here in the winter because they know that they will be at least partially cared for without cost. The county jail is full to overflowing, and so is the city jail. A municipal lodging house, requiring labor for admission, would care for the worthy ones and would drive away the undeserving. I believe I could secure part of the equipment cheaply or as a donation, but the cost of tearing out the old, out-of-date cells and establishing a work yard would have to be met."
- "Omaha Memories: Recollections of Events, Men and Affairs in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1879 to 1917" by Edward Francis Morearty. Published by Swartz printing co., 1917:
One of the most daring and brazen holdups that ever took place in Omaha was that at a place of residence of Hazel McVey, a resort of ill-repute at Fifteenth and Chicago Streets. Three bandits entered the house about 11 o'clock at night and cut the 'phone wires; one locked the landlady in the kitchen, robbed her of her diamonds, while the other two commanded all the inmates to throw up their hands and submit to a frisk. A young man named Nichols, failing to comply with orders, was shot and instantly killed. The bandits were all apprehended, having been located in different states, were brought back, tried and given sentences of imprisonment for life. In this place were some of Omaha's most prominent citizens who, by one pretense after another, managed not to have their identity known. As a result of the McVey robbery, John Ryder, who was in charge of the police department, offered his resignation, but a compromise was reached, whereby Commissioner Kugel was given the police department and Ryder that of street repairs.
17 Jan 1914, Omaha World Herald
Confronted by a fatal tragedy in a house of commercialized vice - a thing which Police Superintendent Ryder only recently declared to be non-existent in Omaha - heads of the police department refused to accept the evidence of the existence of disorderly houses and parried all questions as to what action they would take as a result of the affair. Police Commissioner Ryder was exceedingly loath to talk of the matter. He said so several times in reply to questions as to what activities might be expected of the police as a result of the events of last night.
"Will Hazel McVey's resort be closed?" was the direct question put to him yesterday.
"I don't care to discuss the matter," he said.
"But it is easy to say whether or not the police will allow the place to run tonight, or in the future," was suggested.
"You'll have to investigate and find out," Mr. Ryder answered. "The newspapers have just as full opportunities for investigation as I have."
"Do you still think, in the light of Thursday night's developments, that commercialized vice does not exist in Omaha?"
"Why, I don't know any more about it than you do. This affair proves nothing. Why ask me? The newspapers can find out conditions just as well as I can."
"Will the police act any more energetically than they have in the past to stamp out the disorderly houses?" was a question to which Mr. Ryder replied: "As I have stated before my idea of this (unintelligible) and the police have been (unintelligible) it as they have found it. They have the same orders they have always had."
"The orders are, of course, to enforce the law?"
"Of course. but I won't talk of this further."...
17 Jan 1914, Omaha World Herald
A persistent rumor that city commissioners are considering a change in the headship of the police department, following recent evidence of criminal activity without effective interference, is current about the city hall. Despite denials of city commissioners, when talking to newspaper reporters, persons close to the administration profess to place some credence in the report. It is said that strong pressure is being brought to bear on Commissioner Ryder to retire from the police superintendency gracefully, accepting the headship of another department...According to the story generally current, Ryder has been told plainly that he has lost the confidence of the public, no matter whether through his own fault or his misfortune, and that his further incombency of the police superintendency is a source of trouble to the entire commission..."
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17 Jan 1914, Omaha World Herald, editorial
INCOMPETENT OR UNFIT
The statements made by the police authorities, from Superintendent Ryder on down the list, regarding the tragedy in the notorious Hazel McVey bawdy house, insult the intelligence of the people of Omaha. they deny everything. "the affair proves nothing." They insolently invite the newspapers to do the work that they themselves are paid to do and sworn to do. "The less said about it the better."
"I'll have you understand," says Commissioner and Police superintendent Ryder, "that neither Tom Dennison, the city council, nor anyone else will tell me how to run this department. That is my business."
The defiance of Tom Dennison, should there be any substance to it, Mr. Dennison will doubtless deal with himself. He has proved abundantly able, heretofore, to protect his own rights. But the defiance of the city council, of which Mr. Ryder is only one member, is another matter. And the defiance of the people of Omaha is likewise another matter.
Ryder has a right to defy Tom Dennison - if he wants to. If this defiance were in absolute good faith it would be unnecessary, we trust, for him to defy also, and in the same breath, the city government of Omaha and the people who are back of that government. "that is my business," says Ryder, insolently. So it is. Why does he not, then, attend to it?
If he is telling the truth when he declares that he knew nothing of this and other similar places running wide open in defiance of law, then he is clearly incompetent to be head of the police department. These places have been notorious. They have made no effort at concealment. There has been no necessity for it. If Superintendent Ryder and his police did not know of them they are the only people in the city who did not - and they are the very people who are paid to know of them, to close them, and to keep them closed.
If Ryder is not telling the truth then he is even more clearly unfit to be head of the police department. With a man either incompetent or unfit as superintendent of police the reponsibility shifts. It becomes, first, a responsibility of the city council. And it becomes, finally, a responsibility of the people of Omaha.
It is not alone "my business", though Ryder says it is. It is the council's business - for the council has assigned him to his station. And it is the people's business - for they have elected him, and have the power to recall him if he is either incompetent or unfaithful.
The scandal, the shame of it all, smells to heaven. There is the shame of the dead. There is the shame of those in charge of the police department. There is the shame of other officers of the law, including the sheriff, with power to enforce the law, sworn to enforce it, whose zeal has cooled off and whose fidelity has lagged. There is the shame of an entire city that tolerates conditions under which protected vice flourishes and protected crime defies the law even as Ryder defies the people.
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18 Jan 1914, Omaha World Herald
Developments came thick and fast last night in the investigation of the murder of Henry E. Nickell in a protected house of vice, and culminated when John J. Ryder, police commissioner, had to be restrained from a personal attack on a newspaper man during a tiade against outsiders who butted into department affairs. shouting at the top of his voice that he didn't care a continental tinker's damn about anybody in Omaha, and that he wasn't afraid of the biggest man that walks in shoe leather, the commissioner shook his fist in the reporter's face and yelled that he was a liar if he even intimated that the murder inquisition was a star chamber affair...
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19 Jan 1914, Omaha World Herald editorial
BY THE COUNCIL -- OR BY THE PEOPLE?
Commissioner Ryder acting, we have no doubt, on the advice of very clever and deeply interested friends, has passed the buck. He has declared, in a statement appearing in his newspaper organ, the Omaha Bee, that he is willing to turn over the police department to any other commissioner the council will select. It is in a letter weakly belligerent and loudly sobful, reeking with maudlin eloquence and fake piety, that he transfers to the shoulders of his fellow commissioners the full responsibility for his own incompetence and unfitness and the full burden of opprobrium that must attach to his further continuance in his present position.
Ryder has stepped from under. The question of what to do is now squarely up to the other six commissioners. "I never wanted this job anyhow," cries Ryder. "You forced it on me. You deliberately made me the official kicking post of this administration. If you're not satisfied with the way I'm running things I'm ready to quit. If you have some one you think can do better, put him in. I shan't stand in the way. I wash my hands of the whole trouble. You should worry!"
It is possible that Ryder takes this audacious position believing, with his advisers, that the commission will not dare call his bluff. It is possible he does it believing that his six fellow commissioners will consent to take on their own shoulders the burden of his unfitness, unpopularity, and carry it in addition to their own burdens of various sorts.
But this newspaper cannot see how the commissioners can dare do anything else than call that bluff -- if it be a bluff. they are already tainted with their full share of the odium that attaches to Ryder's administration of the police department. They put him where he is. They have the power to take him away. And he is pleading with them to do it! They know his glaring lack of qualification for the place. They know the sentiment of the city toward him. They know his habits, his associations, his natural bent. They know what his continued administration of the affairs of the department -- especially with the absurd agreement that all other commissioners must keep "hands off" -- is certain to mean during the next year. If, knowing all this, they continue him in his place, after he has invited them to relieve him, the consequences will be on their heads rather than on his...
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20 Jan 1914, Omaha World Herald
The city commission determined yesterday to make Commissioner A.C. Kugel superintendent of the department of police, health and sanitation. Commissioner John J. Ryder, present head of the police department, will succeed Kugel as superintendent of street cleaning and maintenance, continuing also in charge of the public library. The transfer -- the direct outcome of the breakdown of Commissioner Ryder's administration, culminating in the Nickell-McVey tragedy Thursday night -- was determined by a vote of 4 to 2 in an executive session of the 7 commissioners, Ryder not voting...Commissioner Kugel protested vigorously against being given the herculean task of a police reorganization...Commissioner Ryder did not resign from the police superintendency. He stood pat upon his statement of Saturday, that "If anyone else wants my place, he can have it." He told the other commissioners that he was perfectly willing to be transferred if they deemed it best..."
20 Jan 1914, Omaha World Herald
When, under the commission form, the superintendency of the police department passed into the hands of John J. Ryder, this newspaper was not without hope that some measure of reform would result. Mr. Ryder was a man of education, of intelligence, of newspaper training, and his standing as a man and a citizen was not unpromising. The World-Herald pleaded for "a square deal" for him, and stood ready not only to accord him a square deal but vigorously to uphold his hands to the full extent that he deserved it. He did not long deserve it. It developed that he had not the civic ideals, the will power, the strong character, the courageous independence, to enable him to cope with the public enemies who soon had his administration of police affairs enmeshed. His undoing has followed in the natural course of events.
20 Jan 1914, Omaha World Herald, excerpt from a letter to the editor
I have been reading the accounts, both actual and imaginary, that have appeared in the different newspapers in regard to the murder of young Nickell and the robbery of the women and visitors in the dive run by one Hazel McVey...wherein every newspaper, even his personal organ, the Bee, attempts to hold Mr. Ryder alone responsible for this wave of crime and the non-enforcement of the 8 o'clock closing and the Albert laws, which every school boy and girl knows is being violated every day and night in Omaha and Douglas county. Why make Ryder the goat? Are there not six other commissioners who, in their campaign along with Ryder styled and branded themselves "The Square Seven"?...I am not trying to shift the blame from Ryder, who I do not think has from the day of taking office made the least attempt at law enforcement. He says himself he is not in sympathy with it. But our county officials, both sheriff and attorney, took the oath to enforce not one but all the laws on the statute books. How well they have carried out their pledges and oaths I leave the voters to decide...
24 Jan 1914, The Logan Republican, Logan, Utah
Omaha, Neb., Jan. 20 -- The commissioners of the city in executive session today voted to remove John J. Ryder from the position of superintendent of police and sanitation and to place in that position Commissioner A.L. Kugel who has been in charge of street improvements. Commissioner Ryder will be given the commission heretofore held by Kugel. The change follows charges of protected vice and the murder last Thursday night of a bank teller in a resort.
29 Jan 1914, Omaha World Herald, excerpt from a letter to the editor
...If Commissioner Kugel fails to make good, we shall set our moral police upon him and denounce him, as we have denounced John Ryder, as corrupt, abominable, the protector of vice for a consideration, for graft, whether we have proof of our charges or not...
29 Jan 1914, Lincoln Daily News
A Change in Ideas
Commissioner Jack Ryder relinquished the job of being the real chief of police of Omaha without any regret. Under his administration, if we are to accept the testimony of the Commercial club and other civic bodies, vice was given a fairly free rein. Whenever the newspapers or individuals protested public announcement was made that the police knew of no such reports as had been asserted existed. The truth was that Ryder belongs to the passing era in municipal government, more especially that which has to do with vicious conditions. The resolutions passed by the Commercial club indicate the change in sentiment. It has not been so many years ago that the business interests of Omaha were to be found lined up with the liberal element. The theory frankly advanced was that the interests of trade demanded that visitors to the city be given ample opportunity to enjoy themselves in the way that city men think men from the country desire to disport themselves when they come to a big town. Apparently it has been discovered that the presence of opportunities for visitors to kick off the bedclothes of conventionality has been embraced by the younger generation of city residents to their moral and financial disadvantage, and that some of the female recruits of the disorderly places have been taken from Omaha homes to the sorrow and shame of good people. Furnishing the supply and most of the demand does not aid in building up a city.
1 Feb 1914, Omaha World Herald
John J. Ryder, whose time as police commissioner expired at midnight last night, wound up his connection with the department by sending officdrs into every place in the city where it was even suspected that any sort of law violation was being tolerated...The movements of the policemen were kept mighty secret...As a result of the police activity half a hundred women who frequent the streets and certain tenderloin resorts in the Third ward, have left the city. Others remain, but the officers are of the opinion they will leave before any further arrests are made. The Henshaw hotel, the Rome hotel, Wrothe's cafe, the Mandarin cafe and a dozen other places were visited. All of the lower Douglas street chop suey restaurants were inspected and some of them were raided. At the Rome hotel the officers found anumber of men and women in the vineyard. There were heavy frosted glasses on tables before them. The contents of the glasses didn't look good to the officers, and so the head waiter was put under arrest and sent to the station...
2 Feb 1914, Lincoln Daily News
(Unfortunately, much of this article is illegible)
Ryder Terminates Job by Clamping Lid Tight in Omaha
Omaha, Neb., Feb 2 -- With an order to arrest the keeper of every place in Omaha where liquor is sold illegally, and to rid the town of all known immoral women, Commissioner John J. Ryder terminated his administration of the police department Saturday. Within half an hour after the drastic order had been issued and (???) frequented by women of soiled (???) and where drinks are sold (???) exercise extreme caution in conducting their business.
(???????????????????????????????????) color. When the Henshaw was visited, Thomas J. O'Brien, the proprietor, was taken. Three men drinking beer served in teacups were not molested, except to lose their drink, which was brought to the station for evidence. At the Rome hotel, "Scotty," the headwaiter, was arrested when the sergeants were unable to find anyone else in authority there. Later, W.B. Miller came to headquarters to get "Scotty" out, and was himself arrested.
The Chinese managers of the Mandarin cafe at 1416 Douglas street were arrested early in the evening and the "Canton" across the street was raided twice, the proprietor being caught selling liquor both times.
Somebody "tipped off" Wroth's cafe on Farnam street the officers say, because when they arrived, grape juice, water and coffee were the popular drinks, and the proprietor's face was adorned with a smile that stretche from ear to ear. "We never sell anything after hours," he purred to the sergeant in charge of the searching party. "No, I know you don't sell anything," emphasized the officer. "You don't sell carbolic acid or lawn mowers, do you now?"
By the time the sergeants had been out for half an hour, they found themselves followed by several hundred persons eager to see some excitement. When the officers went into the King Joy cafe on Farnam, near Fifteenth, and left through a rear door upon not finding any cause for a raid, an immense and ever augmenting crowd was left standing gaping on Farnam street, wondering what was keeping the officers in the cafe so long.
2 Feb 1914, Omaha World Herald
Commissioners Ryder and Kugel were busy this morning arranging the details of their personal office work. Commissioner Ryder's first official act as superintendent of the department of street cleaning and maintenance was the summoning of Purchasing Agent Richard Grotte for instructions as to new office furniture...
3 Feb 1914, Omaha World Herald
Despite his assumption of the prosaic duties of street cleaning and maintenance superintendent, City Commissioner Ryder continues to excite the admiration of his colleagues by his taste in office furniture. Commissioner Kugel, whom Mr. Ryder succeeded Monday morning, had been conducting the affairs of the department over a flat-top desk of uncertain age and worn appearance. No carpet or matting graced the ugly floor and even the chair used by the commissioner was squeaky and worn. Mr. Ryder ordered a carpet, new desks, bookcases, chairs and curtains immediately and when they were installed this morning they aroused the admiration of all comers. The principal piece, a handsome quarter-sawed oak double desk, for the joing use of Mr. Ryder and his stenographer, was installed in the private office, Mr. Kugel's desk being moved out for the use of the outer office clerks.
4 Feb 1914, Omaha World Herald
Mr. Ryder said yesterday that he hoped to get a new automobile, a light roadster, for his use as head of the street department. The machine used by Mr. Kugel makes too much noise and is too heavy a machine, he said. If possible it will be used elsewhere, or sold.
26 Feb 1914, Omaha World Herald
A new automobile, an additional private telephone and new clerks are conveniences which will shortly be added to the office of the superintendent of street cleaning and maintenance, Commissioner Ryder having obtained the assent of the council to the necessary resolutions this morning. Resolution No. 1 authorizes Purchasing Agent Grotte and Mr. Ryder to trade the Locomobile touring car, used by Commissioner Kugel prior to his exchange of offices with Mr. Ryder, for a new or second-hand runabout "on the best terms obtainable". The car purchased by Mr. Kugel a year and a half ago, is too noisy and too much of a rattle-trap for the personal use of Commissioner Ryder. Resolution No. 2 instructs the installation of a private telephone in Commissioner Ryder's office, with direct connection with the city central, the only telephone now in the office being connected with the city hall exchange...
27 Feb 1914, The Day Book, Chicago
Outside news from wire and cable
St. Paul -- Michael Ryder, 45, hack driver, brother of Commissioner of Public Safety John Ryder, Omaha, found dead in lodging house. Gas turned on.
27 Feb 1914, Omaha World Herald
City Commissioner Ryder left last night for St. Paul, Minn., called there by a telegram announcing the sudden death of his only brother. Mr. Ryder will remain in Minnesota until after the funeral.
28 Feb 1914, Evening Times
John J. Ryder, city commissioner of Omaha, Neb., and formerly a resident of East Grand Forks, is in St. Paul arranging for the funeral of his brother, Michael Ryder, who was suffocated by illuminating gas Wednesday night in a St. Paul rooming house.
John J. Ryder formerly was engaged in the newspaper business in this city, and is well known to local residents. After leaving East Grand Forks he engaged in newspaper work in St. Paul and a short time later entered the same field in Omaha.
Michael Ryder was 46 years old. He had been a tailor, but up to a short time ago was engaged in the livery business. He was a resident of St. Paul for about thirty years. In addition to the brothers, he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. William Daggett, widow of former Deputy United States Marshal Daggett, and Mrs. John DeWitt of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
22 Mar 1914, Omaha World Herald
If other city commissioners assent to a proposal by City Commissioner Ryder, the ambition of both Mr. Ryder and the city dog catcher to ride about town in new automobiles may be realized. Commissioner Ryder doesn't like the automobile allotted to his use, as head of the street cleaning department. It is a machine formerly used by Commissioner Kugel, prior to the transfer of the two officials. Mr. Ryder wants in its place a small runabout, which will make less noise and which will have better springs. Likewise, the city dog catcher wants an automobile. Mr. Ryder suggested to Commissioner Kugel today that the street cleaning car be built over and given to the dog catcher. Then Ryder can have a new automobile and the city won't be out the price of two machines.
25 Mar 1914, Omaha World Herald
Only one bid was received by the city council Tuesday for an automobile to be used by the city dog catcher. It was for a runabout to cost $524. Commissioner Kugel, head of the public safety department, may arrange to use an old machine of the public works department and avoid the purchase of a new machine. The machine is not now in use, but may do for the dog catcher. Commissioner Kugel will not take Commissioner Ryder's automobile of $140 as Ryder wants. The car is so heavy that the upkeep would be excessive for dog catching purposes, Kugel says. Ryder wants to get rid of the old car so that he can buy a new one for his personal use.
7 Apr 1914, Omaha World Herald
City commissioners are about to divert their attention from automobile purchases and buy dictionaries instead. It all started with Commissioner Ryder's elaborate resolutions and speeches. With perfect ease he enunciated words that had the rest of the commissioners stricken dumb with awe and lack of understanding. Commissioner Hummel stepped into the breach to save the dignity of his colleagues. He uncovered a Webster unabridged and began at the beginning, keeping the book locked in the vault between study hours, for fear that Butler, who also has ambitions, would swipe it. So far, he has only gone part way through the "As," but he was moved this morning to these remarks:
"The abracadabra of this man Ryder gives me acroparalysis. Now, my own vocabulary is accrescent and, with some few further additaments, I know I can meat this abacist, Butler, at this talking business and in time I hope to accroach to myself some of the points of dignity of Ryder."
14 Apr 1914, Omaha World Herald
A baby girl was born yesterday to Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Erhard, and everybody concerned is reported as doing finely. Mrs. Erhard is a daughter of Commissioner Jack Ryder, which makes the head of the street department a real grandfather.
30 Apr 1914, Omaha World Herald
Omaha citizens may think that they are enjoying the commission form of municipal government, but they ar sadly mistaken, according to City commissioner John J. Ryder. In an address before the Vinton Street Boosters's club, Mr. Ryder cited his own transfer from the police superintendency to the street commissionership as evidence of the fact that Omaha's pretended commission government is nothing of the sort. Such a government includes individual responsibility by each commissioner and friendly teamwork among all, Mr. Ryder asserted, neither of which exists, he said, in the Omaha city commission.
Mr. Ryder told the boosters' club that he was elected a city commissioner upon a "liberal platform." He presumed that the triumph of the liberal ticket meant that Omaha wanted to be run in a metropolitan manner, after the fashion of Denver, Kansas City, Des Moines and other cities. Being elected on such a platform, he took pride in the fact that he was "man enough to stick by his platform and run things as he had said he would do, if elected."
The Ryder administration of the police department got along all right, Mr. Ryder said, until certain city commissioners began to criticise it, covertly and openly. This exhibition of poor fellowship was diametrically opposed to the spirit of the commission form of government, Mr. Ryder told the club, since each commissioner should be left to run his own department in his own way. The climax came when Mr. Ryder was removed from the police superintendency and assigned to the street commissionership, this act proving beyond all doubt that the commission form of government in Omaha is a mere delusion and a snare, he said. Mr. Ryder criticised the Albert law and objected to enforcement of the law against social vice, when no reformatory exists as a refuge for the women concerned.
12 May 1914, Omaha World Herald
City Commissioner John J. Ryder is a grandpa now. A boy was born Sunday to his daughter, Mrs. Robert Erhard.
- 27 May 1914, Omaha World Herald
...Behrens is suing the city for $25,000 damages for injuries he received over a year ago when struck by an automobile used by Police Commissioner Ryder. Behrens alleges he is permanently injured. The case went to the jury late yesterday. The point was raised by the attorneys for the city, they claiming that inasmuch as Commissioner Ryder was not acting at the time in direct performance of a duty of the police department, the city was exempt from claim for damages. Attorneys for Behrens, however, cited various cases where an opposite view had been held...Ryder, at the time of the accident, was following up a complaint made to his department relative to sidewalk obstructions in the market district. He testified he was simply familiarizing himself with the situation in order to more efficiently judge the merit of the complaint.
29 May 1914, Omaha World Herald
After being out twenty-four hours, a jury in Judge Estelle's district court late yesterday returned a verdict for $1,500 damages against the city of Omaha in the case of H.C. Behrens, struck by a city automobile over a year ago. The automobile was occupied by City Commissioner Ryder at the time of the accident. Behrens sued for $25,000, alleging he was permanently injured.
31 May 1914, Omaha World Herald
Baby Mary Clare Erhard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Erhard, 913 Forest avenue, died at 8 o'clock last night. The child had been ill but a short time. Baby Mary was a granddaughter of John J. Ryder, city commissioner, and Mrs. Ryder. Funeral services are to be held at the family home at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon, the Rev. James W. Stemson officiating. Burial will be in the Holy Sepulcher cemetery.
1914 Proceedings of the annual convention, League of American Municipalities
President John J. Ryder, Commissioner, Department of Police, Sanitation and Public Safety, Omaha, Neb., is a clean cut straightforward, tried and true public servant whose public duties are administered with the sole view of giving the people a square deal. He possesses executive ability of a high order, is a forceful speaker and a logical reasoner who by his bearing and manner immediately impresses his hearers with the conviction that he knows what he is talking about and means what he says. During the terrible affliction that befell his community during the great and devastating flood last spring, his people were fortunate indeed in having him at the head of such an important branch of their public service. The manner in which his duties were discharged fully justified the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. Not only was his work during those trying times commended by the citizens of this city, but it was the subject of favorable comment throughout the middle west. President Ryder belongs to that class of public men who do things.
5 July 1914, Omaha World Herald
Jack Ryder, commissioner of streets, wandered downtown about 6 o'clock yesterday morning, figuring on catching the Northwestern's special caravan to Sioux City to attend the auto races. He got as far as Sixteenth and Farnam streets when he observed a wilderness of rubbish that appalled him. the celebrators of the Glorious Fourth had arisen early and accomplished their design of racket-making and the husks of several million firecrackers and torpedoes were strewn over the streets. Although he had promised his street gangs a full day off, he was constrained to call the members thereof back to arms, as he deemed the streets disgraceful. So the entire force proceeded to sweep out and polish up the thoroughfares until they shone like burnished gold...
7 Jul 1914, Omaha World Herald
Taxpayers of Omaha are out $1,175 because of the failure of some city official to notify the National Fidelity & Casualty Co. of an automobile accident last September. Henry Behrens was injured in a smashup in which Commissioner Hummel's automobile figured, it being used temporarily by Commissioner Ryder. He sued in district court and recovered $1,900. The machine was insured against damages by the casualty company, but the policy required immediate notification to the company of any accident. No notification was given until three months after the accident, when Behrens sued. The company refuused to stand the loss and the city legal department advised that the company's proposed compromise of $725 had better be accepted.
7 Jul 1914, Omaha World Herald
Commissioner Ryder is planning to have his street cleaning brigade arrayed in spick and span uniforms before Ak-Sar-Ben time. His plan is to have them in white trousers and tunic and with either white or blue vizor caps. The material of the suits must be of something to withstand the rain and yet be washable and the caps must be washable too.
21 Jul 1914, Omaha World Herald
A feminist movement has been started against Street Commissioner Ryder. The movement includes feminists residing on Ohio street, between Twenty-eighth and Thirtieth streets. They have sent a signed protest to the city commission against a plan Commissioner Ryder has for fixing up their street. He planned to grade Ohio street, between the two blocks, and ... to level the street so as to make it more convenient for traffic meanwhile...But when he and his men appeared yesterday...the women poured out of their houses and protested so vigorously that the commissioner backed down and took his men away. The women declared that they liked the street the way it is, that they have planted grass seed in it and that they don't want it to be graded. Ryder explained that they were not starting the grading, but were just leveling the street for their benefit. But his remarks had no effect...Ryder says that this is the first case he has had of people kicking against improvements that it is usually the other way.
25 Aug 1914, Omaha World Herald
Commissioner Ryder has been made a member of the National Star Spangled Banner centennial, which will be held at Baltimore, September 6 to 13. Heads of national associations have been invited to attend the 100th anniversary of the writing of the national anthem by Francis Scott Key.
23 Sep 1914, Omaha World Herald
Over the protesting vote of Commissioner Ryder, the city commission Tuesday adopted a resolution approving the international peace movement advocated by William R. Hearst and his newspapers. The resolution was proposed by the mayor in response to a letter from a Chicago newspaper. Commissioner Ryder pronounced the movement "mere Hearst advertising buncombe."
2 Oct 1914, Omaha World Herald
Word reached Commissioner John J. Ryder's office yesterday, that Mr. Ryder was elected president of the American League of Municipalities, in session at Milwaukee, for the third consecutive time. The convention will meet at New Orleans next year.
5 Oct 1914, Omaha World Herald
City Commissioner McGovern was the target of a vigorous verbal attack by Commissioner Ryder at this morning's council meeting because of the failure of the city sidewalk contractor...to lay a walk along Harney street, near Twentieth, orderred by the council nineteen weeks ago. Commissioner Ryder complained that McGovern had failed to heed the orders of the commission and had acted generally in a dictatorial manner...
6 Oct 1914, Omaha World Herald
City Commissioner Ryder is sporting a fine diamond ring, the gift of New Orleans delegates to the League of American Municipalities, of which Ryder was elected president for the third time last week. New Orleans secured the 1915 convention.
21 Oct 1914, Omaha World Herald
Omaha's downtown streets appeared unusually quiet today in contrast with the turmoil yesterday, when thousands of people were attracted by a series of street fights in which John J. Ryder, city commissioner, in charge of streets and president of the League of American Municipalities, engaged. Friends tried in vain to corral Ryder dring his period of pugnacity, but were unable to keep him under lock and key. He was not in evidence today, however. As a result of his escapades there was considerable talk of recall on the streets today.
As a result of his pugnacious disposition he had a perfectly good suit of clothes torn into shreds and suffered the humiliation of being stretched flat in the gutter several times by Jap Tamisen, Creighton's star football player. His last appearance was in an attempt to carve Jack Wolf, a taxi driver with a pocket knife.
The trouble started early in the afternoon because his limited vision was unable to see the plainly displayed license numbers on E.R. Needham's automobile. He was unloading a long stretch of profanity on Needham when Tamisen interfered. He transferred his abuse to Tamisen and the other knocked him down several times, after having at first ignored the commissioner's language.
Later Ryder met Needham again and renewed the attack. At the request of detectives Needham took him to the station in his machine. More profanity followed there and another fight in which Ryder's clothes were ruined before detectives subdued him.
Early in the evening Ryder was again at Fifteenth and Farnam streets, when he mistook Jack Wolf for Tamisen. He made for Wolf with an open pocket knife. Jules Althaus interfered and was cut in the arm and thigh.
Following these experiences the commissioner visited several saloons and created more trouble when bar keepers refused to sell him liquor. At 11 o'clock last night he was still looking for trouble on the downtown streets.
21 Oct 1914, Omaha World Herald
About 1:30 yesterday afternoon, Commissioner J.J. Ryder engaged in an altercation with E.R. Needham and "Jap" Tamasen, Creighton football star, at Fifteenth and Farnam streets, which resulted in the commissioner being knocked into the gutter and being taken with Needham to the police station.
According to the statements of eye witnesses, Needham drove his automobile up in front of the Barker block and alighted. Ryder, who was standing there, began upbraiding him, saying that he had narrowly missed running down a pedestrian. Needham paid no attention to him, and went on into the building. Ryder then declared that Needham's car showed no license number, and when Tamasea showed him the number on the car, Ryder violently abused him. Tamasea responded by knocking the commissioner into the street.
Ryder arose, using strong language, it is said, and when Needham came down from his office at this moment, two police detectives who were passing took them both to the station. In the absence of Chief Dunn and the inability to locate Commissioner Kugel, no one would take the responsibility of arresting Ryder, and both were released.
It is said that at 5 o'clock Ryder was again at Fifteenth and Farnam streets, and threatened with a knife a man whom he mistook for Tamasea. A number of his friends who were present interfered, and took the commissioner away to quiet him.
22 Oct 1914, Lincoln Daily Star
J.J. Ryder Jumps Reservation and Takes War Path
(Special to The Star)
Omaha, Neb., Oct. 22 -- City Commissioner John J. Ryder was on the war path yesterday. The particular reason for his gigantic "peeve" has not been made public, but the city commissioner went stalking trouble and found it in large generous quantities.
Ryder's first difficulty was encountered shortly after noon when he stopped the motor car driven by Dr. Needham. The commissioner asserted that the physician was exceeding the speed limit and that in addition to this offense he was driving without a license. Since the license number was plainly in evidence, a crowd that had assembled jeered. This accentuated the commissioner's "peeve." "Jap" Tamasea was the particular victim of Ryder's wrath. He informed "Jap" that he must not laugh at the city officials. Tamasea, who is a Creighton athlete, did not bandy words with the commissiioner. He knocked him down. Ryder was worsted in the battled that followed.
His next trouble was found with Detectives Lahey and Sullivan in front of the Carlton hotel. The detectives almost successfully disrobed the commissioner in an attempt to quiet him.
Toward evening Ryder stopped Jack Wolf and Jule Althous, taxi drivers, and attacked Wolf with a knife, declaring that he was going to "get" the man who knocked him down. Wolf may have resembled Tamasea, but the commissioner was no respecter of persons, and the fight was on. Both men were slightly wounded from the city official's knife, but succeeded in holding him until Friends arrived and took him home in a motor car.
27 Oct 1914, Omaha World Herald
City Commissioner J.J. Ryder, who recently engaged in a series of fights on the street, went on the rampage, at his home last night, and began to break windows in his home. The police station was notified, and five officers went to his home. He was put in a straight-jacket, and was taken to the Keeley Institute. This morning he was still at the institute, but it was said that he refused to take the treatment.
28 Oct 1914, Lincoln Daily Star
Strait-Jacket For Jack Ryder
(Special to The Star)
Omaha, Neb., Oct. 28 -- City Commissioner J.J. Ryder has been on another rampage. This time he attacked the windows of his own home and had done considerable damage to the glass before officers arrived and placed him in a strait-jacket. Ryder was taken to the Keeley Institute.
16 Nov 1914, Omaha World Herald
...Commissioner Ryder suggested that the code might well be amended to include other provisions. Referring to his trouble at Fifteenth and Farnam two weeks ago, which wound up in his forcible removal from the scene by policemen, Commissioner Ryder said: "I got into trouble the other day because, after a man had nearly run down a woman, he skipped out and sent another man to drive off his car. That ought to be prohibited. I tried to handle the situation but two bone-headed policemen wouldn't act."
30 Nov 1914, Omaha World Herald
When City Commissioner Kugel drafted an ordinance prohibiting the keeping of pigs or hogs save in certain outlying districts of the city, he thoughtlessly left Commissioner Ryder's residence in the district where hogpens were permitted. Mr. Ryder called attention to the oversight at this morning's city commission meeting and the ordinance was laid aside for amendment, so that the limit in the northwestern part of the city will be further extended. Other residents of that neighborhood also protested.
29 Dec 1914, The Lincoln Daily Star
Offers Ranch at McCook to Help the Unemployed
(Special to The Star)
Omaha, Neb., Dec. 29 -- Lynn B. Hoyt of McCook, wealthy rancher, has offered Commissioner Ryder the services of his ranch to help solve the problem of the unemployed. He will give the unemployed single and married men a home for the winter.
Hoyt said he had read how the men wept when Commissioner Ryder discharged them after the snow was cleared from the streets.
"We have a big ranch," he wrote the commissioner, "on which we can take care of a large number of married and single men. We can even take some men and their families."
Commissioner Ryder is personally acquainted with Mr. Hoyt and his ranch and said that there was room for hundreds of families on it.
29 Dec 1914, Omaha World Herald
At Commissioner Ryder's suggestion, bids for an automobile, an adding machine, a stone mixer and other equipment were referred to his department for tabulation today, the normal course. Mr. Ryder wishes to rush consideration of the bids so that he can spend before January 1 several thousand dollars left in his fund. If the money is still there January 1, it goes by law into the sinking fund to reduce the city debt. Finance Commissioner butler is opposed to the eleventh-hour purchases, desiring to see the sinking fund benefited.
30 Dec 1914, Omaha World Herald
City Commissioner John J. Ryder at last has an automobile for his use in superintending the work of cleaning the streets. The city commission, by a vote of 4 to 1, yesterday afternoon authorized the purchase of the following equipment for Mr. Ryder's department: One automobile, $170; one comptometer, $150; two street flushers, $1,000; one mixer, $2,825.
Commissioner Butler voted against the appropriation because the bids, at Mr. Ryder's suggestion, had been referred to his department for tabulation instead of following the ordinary course to Mr. Butler's finance department. Butler opposed the proposals as an eleventh-hour purchase, designed to prevent the departmental balance from lapsing into the sinking fund, where moneys unexpended January 1 go under the law.
Mr. Ryder expressed a wish for an automobile soon after he became head of the department, that used by his predecessor making too much noise. Later he secured bids, but did not buy. Recently he has been using colonel C.E. Fanning's car, by courtesy of its owner.
10 Jan 1915, Omaha World Herald
(excerpt from an article titled "One Minute Interviews with Omahans Who Swore Off, or On, Something"
...Commissioner John J. Ryder -- "With a heart melted by compassion and full of regret for past misdeeds, I swear to never again offer communications to the city council which are so full of big words as to keep Tom Flynn up until midnight studying his dictionary."
18 Jan 1915, Omaha World Herald
Commissioner J.J. Ryder of the street cleaning department was one of the busiest men in the city yesterday. With a force of about 300 men and 100 teams, he was making heroic efforts to get the streets into condition to permit of vehicle and foot traffic. Huge piles of snow were shoveled off the sidewalks - at the suggestion of police officers, occasionally - and in many places the streets were nearly blocked with the accumulation. But plenty of willing workers were available, and the work went steadily on, until at nightfall traffic was possible in practically every part of the downtown section, and in most of the outlying districts. But the work of hauling away the vast amount of snow will furnish work for many needy men for quite a while yet...
22 Jan 1915, Omaha World Herald
The city commission has been petitioned to order a watchman employed at the railroad crossing at Fortieth and Leavenworth. A warning bell now in service there "goes batty" according to Commissioner Ryder, and is next to useless.
28 Jan 1915, Omaha World Herald
...There has been talk that Commissioner Ryder or Commissioner Kugel would be left out of the "administration" group, but there is less of it as election day draws nearer. Commissioner Ryder has at times been considered a political "drag" by other commissioners, but recently he has been tending strictly to business in the street department, and criticism of him by other commissioners is now practically an absent quantity...
1 Feb 1915, Omaha World Herald
WILL NOT CLEAN STREETS UNTIL THE STORM ABATES
Employees of the street cleaning department made no effort to clean the streets today save at intersections. As soon as the fall abates, the usual number of teams and men will be put to work. In the absence of Superintendent Ryder, who is confined to his apartment by a sprained knee, Dean Noyes is in charge.
7 Feb 1915, Omaha World Herald
...Commissioner Ryder is scheduled to talk "clean streets" and public welfare board. Incidentally, Mr. Ryder has the makings of one of the nicest little personal machines in the city hall. His street cleaning force numbers many men and they are men by whom jobs are appreciated. Mr. Ryder announced early that he would employ no one not registered as a voter, and as a result of his statement every snow storm witnesses a rush of would-be voters at the election commissioner's office...
10 Feb 1915
City Commissioner Ryder, who has been confined to his apartment at the Iler(?) Grand for several days, following an injury to his knee, suffered a relapse yesterday. He had been sitting up but is now again confined to his bed.
9 Mar 1915
AMATEUR BASEBALLISTS WILL ORGANIZE TONIGHT
A meeting of the new amateur baseball organization will be held this evening at the city hall. According to Bernard Hogeman, one of the leaders of this organization, they will form two or three leagues, playing both Saturday and Sunday ball. At tonight's meeting, which will be held in Commissioner Ryder's office, 418 city hall, officers will be elected and plans made for the coming season.
22 Mar 1915, Omaha World Herald
Commissioner Ryder declared that conditions in Omaha are normal, not abnormal. "Omaha today is as clean a city, among the larger cities of the world, as can be found anywhere. You ministers, to bring about the ideal you desire, willn ot only have to efface the possible weakness of this commission, but you will have to efface the eternal weakness of mankind. I don't care a snap of my finger for this drinking-after-hours hullabaloo. If a man wants a drink, let him get it. I might want one myself, occasionally, and if I did I certainly would get it. And another thing -- you must remember there are courtesans in pants as well as in skirts. Your report doesn't half cover the situation. I know. I have investigated. I can make a report that will be twice as bad as that one and still I wouldn't be fearful of the moral situation here."
- 7 April 1915, Lincoln Daily News
Dahlman Heads The List
The Seven Present City Commissioners of Omaha are Again in the Running
Omaha, Neb., April 7 -- All seven Omaha present city commissioners were re-nominated in yesterday's primary. Mayor Dahlman had a big lead of his fellow commissioners, with Harry B. Zinman seventh man and Commissioner Ryder eighth.
The successful candidates are: Mayor Dahlman, J.B. Hummel, A.C. Kugel, C.H. Withnell, Dan B. Butler, Thomas McGovern, J.J. Ryder, present commissioners, and H.B. Zinman, W.S. Jardine, Ed Simon, John C. Drexel, A.A. Lamoreaux, H.J. Hackett and J.W. Metcalfe.
9 Apr 1915, Omaha World Herald
Mayor Dahlman has gone to Excelsior Springs, Mo., to take a rest cure in preparation for a strenuous city campaign. The mayor will be gone about a week. In the meantime the relation of Commissioner Ryder to the "administration ticket" will not be determined. As soon as the mayor returns the proposed substitution of Edward Simon for Ryder will be up for settlement...
13 Apr 1915, Omaha World Herald
The anomalous situation of City Commissioner Jack Ryder in the city campaign was the principal topic of political gossip today. Here, in brief, is Mr. Ryder's present status: He is admittedly a subject of deep concern to his fellow commissioner candidates, who privately express doubt of their ability "to carry the load of his candidacy". He has been publicly thrown overboard by Victor Rosewater, who championed him so earnestly three years ago, but who now demands that he withdraw and "relieve all concerned from further embarrassment." He is threatened even with omission from the list of republicans to be indorsed at a republican mass convention.
And in the face of this situation, Mr. Ryder, with unusual cheerfulness - chipper as the proverbial lark, in fact - declined this morning to offer any comment. "We'll wait till the mayor comes back and then we'll thresh this thing out," he privately told other commissioners...
13 Apr 1915
Birth of granddaughter Mary Roberta Erhard
16 Apr 1915, Omaha World Herald
The return of Mayor Dahlman today, after a week's rest at Excelsior Springs, did not serve to clarify the relations of City Commissioner Ryder and his fellow commissioners, all candidates for re-elections. Commissioner Ryder has been stating, quite jauntily, that "the mayor will straighten this thing out as soon as he gets back,"referring to reports that Mr. Ryder is not to be included in the city hall slate. The mayor came back and "straightened the matter out" to the extent of indicating that he himself is not certain whether or not Mr. Ryder will be on the administration ticket. Beyond that he did not go...
19 Apr 1915, Omaha World Herald
...Mayor Dahlman said today that he was still not ready to express an opinion as to the attitude of himself and other city commissioners toward the candidacy of Commissioner Ryder for re-election.
20 Apr 1915, Omaha World Herald
...Commissioner Ryder requested a conference with Mayor Dahlman yesterday noon and at the meeting of the commissioners the mayor's attitude was the deciding factor which caused Ryder to be thrown through the transom. He is to be told of his divorce this morning, the mayor being the man to break the news, provided he does not first read of it in the newspapers...
21 Apr 1915, Lincoln Daily News
Switch in Omaha Line-up
Simon Substituted for Ryder on City Hall Slate
Omaha, Neb., April 21 -- City Commissioners Butler, Kugel and Hummel and Mayor Dahlman have agreed to substitute Edward Simon for J.J. Ryder on the city hall slate for the city election on May 4.
This action was taken at an executive session. Commissioner McGovern says this is satisfactory to him and it is understood that Commissioner Withnell, who is out of the city, will likewise consent to the change.
"There is a general feeling that Ryder will not pull through at the election," explained the mayor.
Mr. Ryder conferred with the mayor on this subject.
There has been considerable speculation recently regarding what action the commissioners would take on this and it was not altogether a surprise that Simon was selected to fill in the administration slate.
21 Apr 1915, Omaha World Herald
...Commissioner Ryder, the one candidate not included in either organization, is perfecting plans for a campaign which is forecasted to be sensational. Mr. Ryder has smilingly declined to comment on his elimination from the city hall slate, but promises a statement in the near future. While his fellow commissioners scoff at his ability to do them any harm, they make no secret of intense interest in this announcement.
22 Apr 1915, Omaha World Herald
City Commissioner J.J. Ryder, instead of giving up hopes for his election, this morning said he was making plans he intended to bring before the new council immediately after he is re-elected. One of the plans is to surface all the cobblestone alleys in the business district with asphalt...
26 Apr 1915, Omaha World Herald
...Commissioner Ryder, dropped from the city hall slate in favor of Simon, was the only speaker other than the "square seven." He appeared first, and the automobile bearing Mayor Dahlman to the scene passed a horse and buggy taking Mr. Ryder away. It was Mr. Ryder's first public speech since he was dropped by his fellow commissioners, but he made no criticism of them. He revived his work as street commissioner and said: "I was a political orphan three years ago and I am one again. I do not say that I have not made mistakes. I would be wearing wings if I had not. No man is guiltless of error, however, and I claim to have done my share in making the record of the last three years commendable."...
12 Apr 1916, Lincoln Daily Star
(excerpt from long article about labor conditions)
John J. Ryder, secretary of the Nebraska child labor committee, commented upon the enforcement of our child labor law as follows. "Up to this time, the child labor law, complemented by the compulsory education and the juvenile delinquency acts, is doing its work fairly well, except it is the business of no one in particular to watch its daily enforcement."
26 Apr 1916, Omaha World Herald
(excerpt from a letter to the editor)
...I want to say a few words on behalf of John J. Ryder, who is a candidate for re-election on May 4. It goes without saying that Mr. Ryder has his faults, the same as every other man...I have known Ryder as a reporter, as clerk of the board of county commissioners, as state labor commissioner and as a member of the city council. And I believe you must agree with me that in all of these positions he has measured up to the standard of efficiency...He has the ability and the courage of his convictions to stand up and battle for what he believes to be right, and you always find him taking sides on all questions, either for or against. He never dodges a responsibility and the general public knows at all times where he stands...All this being so, the thought occurs to the average intelligent and independent voter -- why was Mr. Ryder ignored in the making up of the present administration "slate"?...In my opinion,...the ditching of Ryder for Simon was the most bone-headed political move that I have ever witnessed...
C.E. Fanning
===================================================
29 Apr 1915, Omaha World Herald
When John J. Ryder was elected a city commissioner three years ago, the promising future apparently before him was a matter of universal comment. Generally considered the ablest man intellectually of the seven commissioners, Mr. Ryder was blessed with experience as a public office-holder in both legislative and executive capacities. He was a pleasing and convincing speaker. He had been a country editor and a city newspaper reporter. He was particularly acquainted with Omaha municipal affairs as a result of his service in "covering" the city hall. He had a distinctive personality and he was generally believed to have an equally distinctive and forceful character.
But --
Mr. Ryder was assigned to what was admittedly the most embarrassing department in the city hall, that of superintendent of police and public health. With the change to the commission form of government, an improvement in police administration was expected by the public. there was a general demand for the elimination of houses of commercialized vice and for improvement of the morale of the police, particularly of the detective division.
Mr. Ryder did not meet the peculiarly trying requirements of the office. His own belief in the inadequacy of the laws against vice rendered it difficult for him to attempt their strict enforcement. Under the fire of criticism his temper proved unequal to the strain and finally personal frailties, long dormant, returned to embarrass him in the eyes of the public and to hamper the efficiency of his work.
When the climax was reached -- a murder in a house of commercialized vice, conducted with the knowledge of the police -- Mr. Ryder was transferred to the department of street cleaning and maintenance.
Mr. Ryder is a Kentuckian by birth, who lived most of his younger days in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He was a printer, a proofreader, a reporter, a city editor, telegraph editor and political writer on a St. Paul newspaper. Then he was a country editor and was elected a state senator of Minnesota twice.
In 1904 Mr. Ryder came to Omaha as a reporter. Later he was clerk to the board of county commissioners and, by appointment of Governor Sheldon, state labor commissioner. In this position he largely extended the scope of the statistical work and his bulletins received favorable mention here and in the east. He returned to newspaper work after Governor Sheldon's defeat for re-election and remained "in the harness" until elected a city commissioner.
Since 1912, he has been three times elected president of the League of American Municipalities, whose membership includes city officials from all over the United States and Canada. As a result of the comparative weakness of his primary vote, Mr. Ryder has been thrown overboard by the rest of the city commission. He si running for re-election as an independent, the one candidate of the fourteen who is not included on any slate.
===========================================================
4 May 1915, Omaha World Herald
...Simon was being cut very markedly throughout the city by voters who otherwise favored the "square seven" ticket. Many of these voted for Commissioner Ryder in place of Simon, but managers of both the administration and the allied antis insisted that Ryder, "the political orphan," could not possibly win, despite this slump. They based this belief on the fact that all other candidates would start out with a "slate vote" of several thousand apiece, while Ryder must depend entirely on individual favors...
12 May 1915, Omaha World Herald
Commissioner Hummel, who is to have supervision over the Auditorium when it becomes a municipal property, refused to comment today on the possibility of making former Commissioner Ryder manager of the property. Ryder's friends are bringing pressure to bear in his favor. The present manager, J.M. Gilian, is also an applicant for the place.
26 May 1915, Omaha World Herald
Bernhardt Swanson, a carpenter,...was last night arrested after trying to gain entrance to the home of Miss Clara Callahan, who lives with her widowed mother...He was captured after a chase by neighbors, who were aroused by the cries of the two women...Last night, Mrs. Callahan and her daughter noticed the man about their home and telephoned Jack ryder, former city commissioner, to come to their aid. Miss Callahan was Mr. Ryder's stenographer.
Mr. Ryder arrived at the place where Swanson was struggling with his captors about the same time the police patrol put in an appearance. It was with difficulty that Mr. Ryder could be restrained from using Swanson roughly. With a pocketknife clasped in his hand Mr. Ryder threatened to cut the man's throat, and made grave accusations against him in connection with a recent Omaha sensation...At the police station Mr. Ryder was bitter in his denunciation of the chief of detectives, saying that only last Monday he telephoned the chief to arrest Swanson. He claimed that his request met with no action.
30 Jun 1915, Omaha World Herald
Omaha must pay $1,800 for an automobile J.J. Ryder, when police commissioner, ordered for the police garage. A district court jury brought in a verdict for W.H. Wallace, owner of the automobile, against the city. Wallace said he had demonstrated the car to the city and Ryder said they would buy it, although the city had no money at that time. Wallace left the automobile at the police garage. Roy Furstenburg, police chauffeur, took the car out one evening and in an accident, in which Isador Levin was killed, wrecked the car. City lawyers contended no purchase can be made by the city without the regular procedure of advertising for bonds. They will appeal the case.
19 Mar 1916, Omaha World Herald
...Former City Commissioner Ryder filed for the state senate as a republican...
18 Mar 1917, Omaha World Herald
...Kugel's colleages on the city commission realize that the police department is a source of much grief and, after the manner of colleagues, they are perfectly willing that Kugel have all the grief to himself. They do not think that the present disclosures of mismanagement have been sufficiently important to react over Kugel's head and to them. Only some further sensation -- such as the McVey-Nichols murder that forced Police Superintendent Ryder's retirement three years ago -- will cause them to "butt in" right away...
1917
Birth of granddaughter Dorothy Erhard
1920 Census, Findlay Ward 4, Hancock, Ohio
John J. Ryder, born about 1872 in Kentucky. Marital status: married. Relation to head of household: Roomer. Father born in Kentucky. Mother born in Maryland. Occupation: Printer at a newspaper.
1920 Census, Omaha Ward 9, Douglas, Nebraska
Household headed by Erhard M. Ryder, female, 28 years old, born in Minnesota. Father born in Kentucky. Mother born in Minnesota. Occupation: None. Daughter Mary Ryder, 4 years old, born in Nebraska, father born in Illinois, mother born in Minnesota. Daughter Dorothy Ryder, 2 years old, born in Nebraska. Mother-in-Law Minnie S. Ryder, born in Minnesota, father born in Germany, mother born in France. Occupation: Housekeeper.
7 Aug 1920, Omaha World Herald
By the way -- whatever became of Bill Bryan and Jack Ryder?
22 Apr 1921, Omaha World Herald
The Hazel McVey place was an unsavory resort running within a few blocks of the police station at a time when John J. Ryder was city commissioner in charge of the police department...January 15, 1914, the city was shocked by a tragedy. Bandits held up the McVey place, robbing the inmates and killing a young man of good family, holding a responsible position in an Omaha bank...On January 19, only four days after the shooting occurred, the city commission acted. Mr. Ryder was removed from control of the police department and transferred to the street cleaning and maintenance department...
excerpt from The Typographical journal, 1921:
...and John J. Ryder, formerly Sunday editor of the Omaha Bee and recently a proofreader on the Republican, has left for Kansas City, Mo.
4 Oct 1921, Omaha World Herald
It was the resort of Hazel McVey, operating within a few blocks of the police station, that in 1914 led to the political downfall of John J. Ryder as police commissioner. On January 15, bandits held up the place and robbed the inmates. During the hold up, a young man of a good Omaha family, was shot and killed. A wave of indignation that swept the city following the occurrence, moved the city commission to act four days later and Ryder was transferred to the street department. Miss McVey never operated a resort thereafter, police say. She went to Kansas City but returned to Omaha about three years ago.
1927 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder John J compositor Dispatch Ptg Co h 836 Grand av
1928 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder John J (Wilma T) proof reader Dispatch-Pioneer Press Co h(A)657 Grand av
1929 St Paul City Directory
Ryder John J (Wilhelmine) proofrdr Dispatch-Pioneer Press Co h657 Grand av apt A
1930 US Census, St. Paul, District 101, Ramsey County, Minnesota.
Household at 657 Grand Avenue, an address which included two other households, each an apartment renting for $65 per month. Household headed by John J. Ryder, 66 years old, born in Kentucky, both parents born in the "Irish Free State", 26 years old at first marriage, occupation proofreader at a newspaper, no radio in the household. Wife Wilhelmina, 61 years old, born in Minnesota, father born in Germany, mother born in France, occupation none. Daughter Mary Erhard, 37 years old, divorced, occupation none. Granddaughters Mary R. Erhard, 14 years old; and Della Dorothy Erhard, 12 years old, both born in Nebraska. The household also included roomer Anna A. Johnston, 50 years old, married, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ireland, occupation secretary. One of the other apartments at the same address had a single resident with a radio: Ambrose R. Erhard, 46 years old, born in Illinois, occupation Naprapath.
1933 St Paul City Directory
Ryder John J (Wilhelmina) proofreader Dispatch-Pioneer Press Co h657 Grand av apt A
1934 St. Paul City Directory
Ryder John J (Wilhelmina T) proof reader Dispatch-Pioneer Press h657 Grand av apt B
1940 US Census, St. Paul, Ward 7, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Household at 657 Grand Avenue, monthly rent $50. Household headed by John J. Ryder, 77 years old, born in Kentucky, completed 8th grade in school, not employed. Wife Wilhelmina Ryder, 72 years old, born in Minnesota, completed 8th grade in school, not employed. Daughter Mary R. Erhard, 48 years old, widowed, born in Minnesota, completed 12th grade in school, not employed. Granddaughter Mary Roberta Erhard, 24 years old, single, born in Nebraska, completed high school, works 40 hours/week as a secretary at a gas and oil co., annual income $1200. Granddaughter Dorothy Erhard, 21 years old, single, born in Nebraska, completed high school, works 40 hours/week as a columnist at a daily newspaper, annual income $960.
Snippet from 1942 Typographical Journal, International Typographical Union
One resident especially, John J. Ryder, 81, of St. Paul, Minn., is entitled to tribute because of his many years of usefulness and prominence in public activities. Mr. Ryder is a former state senator of Minnesota, was a candidate for governor of the state and filled the office of reading clerk of the House of Representatives of Minnesota. He was also president of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly.
-------------------------------------------
From "Preliminary Materials for a genealogy of the Rider (Ryder) Families in the United States", Vol. III, compiled by Fremont Rider, Middletown, Conn., The Godfrey Memorial Library, 1959
Ryder, John J., 1863
Journalist, b. Ky., Res. Grand Forks, Mn.
State sen. 1899-1902
(Minn. Hist. Soc:14:663)
Ryder, John J., 186?(?)
Political editor, "St. Paul Globe"
Moved from St. Paul, Mn. to Luverne, Mn. 1893
Ryder, John J., 186?(?)
Proofreader, Kansas City, Mo.
Ryder, John J., 186?(?)
Sec. Board of County Commissioners.
Reporter, "Omaha Bee", Omaha
per Louise Comfort Dewitt email in 2001, John J. Ryder was working for the St. Paul Pioneer Press at the time of his death. "Jack Ryder died in the Printers Home in Co. I am not sure where, but think Colorado Springs and I don't know the date of his death. I did correspond with his daughter Mary, who lived out on the west coast in Ca...She had two daughters, one of them was married to a Dr..She was in
her 80's when I found her.She was a widow for many years before her death.Her Husband was a Salesman and they were transferred to Ca, but I don't know when. I believe she and her husband may have lived in Mn at one time while she was helping to care for her parents."
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1861 - 1942 (81 years)
: Address
: Location
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: County/Shire
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