Representative John Ryder View All Years

HONORABLE JOHN RYDER

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public services of the late Honorable John Ryder, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

John Ryder, the son of Patrick and Estelle Ryder, two of Dubuque’s earliest pioneers, was born in 1862 in the city of Dubuque, Dubuque county, Iowa, where he died on March 9, 1940.

He was educated in the parochial schools of Dubuque and attended Bayless Business College. For twenty-five years he was associated with his brother, the late Philip Ryder, in the Ryder Brothers Wholesale Grocery Co. In 1919 the brothers organized the Ryder Realty Co., in which they were both associated until their respective deaths.

Mr. Ryder, a life-long member of the Democratic party, was elected one of Dubuque county’s two representatives in the lower House and served during the Forty-first, Forty-second, Forty-second Extra, Forty-third, Forty-fourth, Forty-fifth, Forty-fifth Extra, Forty-sixth, Forty-sixth Extra and Forty-seventh General Assemblies.

It was during the Forty-seventh General Assembly that Mr. Ryder received wide publicity throughout Iowa, when he was brought into the House in a wheel chair to cast his Democratic vote which broke a tie in the race for Speaker of the House. Mr. Ryder had been ill for several months before the opening of the session. When it became obvious that his vote was needed to insure the election of LaMar Foster, a Democrat, Mr. Ryder made the trip and cast the vote that elected Mr. Foster.

Mr. Ryder was widely known throughout the state through his connection with the state organization of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He was a member of St. Columbkille’s Court of that Order in Dubuque for many years. He represented his Court at many state conventions and was elected to many state offices, eventually being made head of the Order in the state, holding the office of Chief Ranger for many years.

Mr. Ryder was married to Miss Anna L. Killeen in St. Raphael’s Cathedral in Dubuque in 1917. She died in 1923. He was a life-long member of the Catholic faith and of St. Raphael’s Parish. He was a member of the Holy Name Society of St. Raphael’s Parish and of the Dubuque Council of Knights of Columbus and the Fourth Degree Assembly of that Council.

Mr. Ryder served his community and state and served them well. The city of Dubuque and the state of Iowa have lost a valuable citizen.

Mr. Ryder is survived by his sister, Miss Esther Ryder, and two nieces, Miss Marian Ryder and Miss Isabel Ryder.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by House of Representatives of the Forty-ninth General Assembly of the State of Iowa in Regular Session, That in the death of John Ryder, the people of Dubuque county and the state of Iowa have sustained a great loss.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be directed to send an enrolled copy to the sister and nieces of Mr. Ryder.

ROBERT C. REILLY,

J. W. MANLEY,

ARCH W. MCFARLANE,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted, April 3, 1941.