William James "Billy" Ryder (1862 - 1914)
Just eleven days after his tenth birthday January 22, 1872 William James Ryder, eldest son of James and his first wife Priscilla Swackhamer lost his mother.
He would be raised by his father and his father’s second wife Frances Sophia Martin, who married just six months after the death of his mother. Frances was also his cousin, daughter of his mother’s older sister, Hannah Elize (Swackhamer) Martin.
The family moved to Petrolia, in 1879 after James had lost his business and home in a fire in Acton. By 1881 when James had restarted his blacksmith business in Petrolia, William had left home to make his way in the world. Where he was in 1881 is unknown to me as he seems to be absent from the 1881 census.
“Billy” as he was known, began his career shortly after he left his family and 1891 he appears as a clerk at a Hotel in Sarnia. The hotel at the time was the St. Clair, and was owned by a thirty-seven year old Irishman by the name of Charles A. Hand. Mr. Hand lived at the hotel with his wife Laura thirty-one, and two young boys George nine and Charles seven.
At that time the establishment employed ten people consisting of two waitresses, a cook, a chambermaid, a laundress, "Billy" the clerk, one other clerk, a hotel porter, a handyman and a headwaiter. There was also a customs officer shown to be living at the hotel. Mr. Hand had grander ideas and decided to build a much bigger hotel on land that he owned at the corner of Front and Cromwell Streets. The building began and was completed in 1892 on what would become known as "The Vendome Hotel."
Mr. Hand died in December of 1894. By 1901 Billy had bought a large share of the establishment. He is listed in the 1901 census as the owner of the Vendome Hotel along with Charles Hand’s widow, Laura as partner. Laura’s sons; George 18, and Chas. 16 remain there with her at that time.
The Vendome had grown substantially since Billy had started his career there and now employed at least double what it had in 1892. Added personnel were; a bartender, a third waitress, a porter, several chambermaids, a second and third cook, a second laundress and two pantry girls.
There also was a Gents Fournisher Frank Mitchell and a female milner who were listed as lodgers at the hotel. It is quite possible they conducted business at the hotel for its clientele. A room at that time cost between $1.50 and $2.00 per night.
An interesting note is that in 1901 the salaries paid out to employees was approximately $6000. This did not include what Billy or his partner took for themselves.
By 1911 Billy was still the proprietor of the Vendome and Laura was still listed as a partner. Her son Charles was employed there as well, but George her eldest son was married and was working as a conductor.
In 1911 Billy took salary as $3000 per year and Laura as $1500 per year.
The Vendome hotel at 122 Front Street in Sarnia was considered a very prestigious hotel and the salary that Billy made would have been a good one for the time.
Billy died in 1914 just short of his fifty-second year. The obituary appeared in the Sarnia Observe,r Friday, December 18 1914 page 17 and was quite a procession. It read as follows:
FUNERAL OF THE LATE W. RYDER
——--
WAS HELD SUNDAY AFTERNOON TO LAKEVIEW
——--
BURIAL TOOK PLACE UNDER MASONIC AUSPICES
“One of the largest and most representative funerals seen in Sarnia in recent years was that of Sunday afternoon when the mortal remains of the late J. William Ryder, of the Hotel Vendome, were conveyed to their last resting place at Lakeview cemetery. In addition to the many Sarnia citizens who attended the funeral as a last mark of respect to the deceased there were many representative citizens present from outside places. A delegation of entrees came from Forest by automobiles while a special train over the Grand Trunk railway brought some seventy-five citizens of that place to attend the last sad rights.
The funeral was held at 3 o’clock pm. from the Vendome. It was under Masonic auspices, and was attended by about one hundred and fifty members of the craft. Prior to the Masonic service Rev. Canon Davis, of St. George church conducted service at the residence and at the grave. At 2 o’clock pm. the Masons assembled in their hall. The meeting being called by Tuscan lodge. No. 137, A.F. & A. M. of which deceased was a member. W. Bro. W. A. Sanrwein, W.M. of Tuscan lodge presided. After the lodge had been opened, the brethren were formed in procession by Wov. Bro. Col. Ellis who officiated as marshall. The members of the craft marched in procession to the residence of deceased at the Vendome where the service was conducted by Wol. Bro. Saurwein. After the body had been carried through a double line, members of the Masonic craft the funeral cortege, proceeded en route to the cemetery. The members of the craft were conveyed to the cemetery by electric street cars. The pallbearers were Masonic brethren of deceased viz: R.W. Bro. Alex K. Wanless, Wor. Bro. Col. Mackenzie, Wor. Bro. Andrew H. Johnston, and Bros. Albert J. Johnston, Harry Proctor and Sam Pollard of Petrolia.
On arrival at the cemetery the remains of the deceased brother were again borne through the Masonic lines and the services continued by Rev. Canon Davis and Wov. Bro. Saurwein. The grand honours were given under the direction of Wor. Bro. W. J. Barrie, and the mortal remains of the late Bro Ryder consigned to their las resting place. Many floral tributes nevered the casket, conspicuous amend them bearing emblems from Tuscan lodge A.F. & A. M. and other societies of which deceased was a member.
The funeral was largely attended and evidenced the high esteem the deceased was held in by the community.”
The Halton newspaper where Billy had spent his younger years also reported the death.
Acton Free Press December 17, 1914 page 2 column 1
James William Ryder
“Reference was made last week to the fact that Mr. Ryder, Sarnia, had received a stroke and was in a critical condition. He died on Friday and the funeral, which was conducted on Sunday afternoon by the members of Tuscan Lodge, A.F. & A.LM., was very largely attended. Mr. Ryder was the eldest son of the late James Ryder, and was born in Acton fifty-two years ago. When his father removed to Petrolia about 1880 he accompanied him. Later he went to Sarnia and finally became one of the proprietors of the Vendome Hotel, which he conducted for many years with much satisfaction to the travelling public. He was held in high esteem. Deceased was never married.
He is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Charles Long and Mrs. Fred Morrison, Toronto, and Mrs. Edward Pollard, Petrolia. His stepmother Mrs. James Ryder, Toronto, and the following half brothers and sisters are also living: Fred of Brockville, Edward of Acton, Nelson of Grimsby, Mrs William Cheyne Hillsburg, Mrs. a Vance Georgetown, Mrs. Robert Elgie Toronto and Mrs. J. Bell Toronto.
As a boy in Action Billy Ryder was a general favorite. His pleasant smile and friendly disposition always surrounded him with chums who esteemed him.”
William James Ryder January 11th 1862--December 17th 1914
* Visit "Billy Ryder and the Vendome Hotel" for more and "More on Billy"
He would be raised by his father and his father’s second wife Frances Sophia Martin, who married just six months after the death of his mother. Frances was also his cousin, daughter of his mother’s older sister, Hannah Elize (Swackhamer) Martin.
The family moved to Petrolia, in 1879 after James had lost his business and home in a fire in Acton. By 1881 when James had restarted his blacksmith business in Petrolia, William had left home to make his way in the world. Where he was in 1881 is unknown to me as he seems to be absent from the 1881 census.
“Billy” as he was known, began his career shortly after he left his family and 1891 he appears as a clerk at a Hotel in Sarnia. The hotel at the time was the St. Clair, and was owned by a thirty-seven year old Irishman by the name of Charles A. Hand. Mr. Hand lived at the hotel with his wife Laura thirty-one, and two young boys George nine and Charles seven.
At that time the establishment employed ten people consisting of two waitresses, a cook, a chambermaid, a laundress, "Billy" the clerk, one other clerk, a hotel porter, a handyman and a headwaiter. There was also a customs officer shown to be living at the hotel. Mr. Hand had grander ideas and decided to build a much bigger hotel on land that he owned at the corner of Front and Cromwell Streets. The building began and was completed in 1892 on what would become known as "The Vendome Hotel."
Mr. Hand died in December of 1894. By 1901 Billy had bought a large share of the establishment. He is listed in the 1901 census as the owner of the Vendome Hotel along with Charles Hand’s widow, Laura as partner. Laura’s sons; George 18, and Chas. 16 remain there with her at that time.
The Vendome had grown substantially since Billy had started his career there and now employed at least double what it had in 1892. Added personnel were; a bartender, a third waitress, a porter, several chambermaids, a second and third cook, a second laundress and two pantry girls.
There also was a Gents Fournisher Frank Mitchell and a female milner who were listed as lodgers at the hotel. It is quite possible they conducted business at the hotel for its clientele. A room at that time cost between $1.50 and $2.00 per night.
An interesting note is that in 1901 the salaries paid out to employees was approximately $6000. This did not include what Billy or his partner took for themselves.
By 1911 Billy was still the proprietor of the Vendome and Laura was still listed as a partner. Her son Charles was employed there as well, but George her eldest son was married and was working as a conductor.
In 1911 Billy took salary as $3000 per year and Laura as $1500 per year.
The Vendome hotel at 122 Front Street in Sarnia was considered a very prestigious hotel and the salary that Billy made would have been a good one for the time.
Billy died in 1914 just short of his fifty-second year. The obituary appeared in the Sarnia Observe,r Friday, December 18 1914 page 17 and was quite a procession. It read as follows:
FUNERAL OF THE LATE W. RYDER
——--
WAS HELD SUNDAY AFTERNOON TO LAKEVIEW
——--
BURIAL TOOK PLACE UNDER MASONIC AUSPICES
“One of the largest and most representative funerals seen in Sarnia in recent years was that of Sunday afternoon when the mortal remains of the late J. William Ryder, of the Hotel Vendome, were conveyed to their last resting place at Lakeview cemetery. In addition to the many Sarnia citizens who attended the funeral as a last mark of respect to the deceased there were many representative citizens present from outside places. A delegation of entrees came from Forest by automobiles while a special train over the Grand Trunk railway brought some seventy-five citizens of that place to attend the last sad rights.
The funeral was held at 3 o’clock pm. from the Vendome. It was under Masonic auspices, and was attended by about one hundred and fifty members of the craft. Prior to the Masonic service Rev. Canon Davis, of St. George church conducted service at the residence and at the grave. At 2 o’clock pm. the Masons assembled in their hall. The meeting being called by Tuscan lodge. No. 137, A.F. & A. M. of which deceased was a member. W. Bro. W. A. Sanrwein, W.M. of Tuscan lodge presided. After the lodge had been opened, the brethren were formed in procession by Wov. Bro. Col. Ellis who officiated as marshall. The members of the craft marched in procession to the residence of deceased at the Vendome where the service was conducted by Wol. Bro. Saurwein. After the body had been carried through a double line, members of the Masonic craft the funeral cortege, proceeded en route to the cemetery. The members of the craft were conveyed to the cemetery by electric street cars. The pallbearers were Masonic brethren of deceased viz: R.W. Bro. Alex K. Wanless, Wor. Bro. Col. Mackenzie, Wor. Bro. Andrew H. Johnston, and Bros. Albert J. Johnston, Harry Proctor and Sam Pollard of Petrolia.
On arrival at the cemetery the remains of the deceased brother were again borne through the Masonic lines and the services continued by Rev. Canon Davis and Wov. Bro. Saurwein. The grand honours were given under the direction of Wor. Bro. W. J. Barrie, and the mortal remains of the late Bro Ryder consigned to their las resting place. Many floral tributes nevered the casket, conspicuous amend them bearing emblems from Tuscan lodge A.F. & A. M. and other societies of which deceased was a member.
The funeral was largely attended and evidenced the high esteem the deceased was held in by the community.”
The Halton newspaper where Billy had spent his younger years also reported the death.
Acton Free Press December 17, 1914 page 2 column 1
James William Ryder
“Reference was made last week to the fact that Mr. Ryder, Sarnia, had received a stroke and was in a critical condition. He died on Friday and the funeral, which was conducted on Sunday afternoon by the members of Tuscan Lodge, A.F. & A.LM., was very largely attended. Mr. Ryder was the eldest son of the late James Ryder, and was born in Acton fifty-two years ago. When his father removed to Petrolia about 1880 he accompanied him. Later he went to Sarnia and finally became one of the proprietors of the Vendome Hotel, which he conducted for many years with much satisfaction to the travelling public. He was held in high esteem. Deceased was never married.
He is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Charles Long and Mrs. Fred Morrison, Toronto, and Mrs. Edward Pollard, Petrolia. His stepmother Mrs. James Ryder, Toronto, and the following half brothers and sisters are also living: Fred of Brockville, Edward of Acton, Nelson of Grimsby, Mrs William Cheyne Hillsburg, Mrs. a Vance Georgetown, Mrs. Robert Elgie Toronto and Mrs. J. Bell Toronto.
As a boy in Action Billy Ryder was a general favorite. His pleasant smile and friendly disposition always surrounded him with chums who esteemed him.”
William James Ryder January 11th 1862--December 17th 1914
* Visit "Billy Ryder and the Vendome Hotel" for more and "More on Billy"
