Alfred James (A.J.) Rider

Alfred James Rider was born on Nov 27, 1838, in Bethlehem Twp, Stark County, Ohio. He is the eldest child of Jacob & Elizabeth (Rickard) Rider of Shenandoah County, Virginia who were married Feb 5, 1835. One of 4 boys (and 3 girls) and a saddle & harness maker like his father and brothers, AJ married Mary Ann Wiseman on Dec 20, 1857, and they had a total of 9 children, their first child William was born in May of 1860 and their second son Harry was born in Feb 1862, just 6 months before AJ enlisted for a 3-year term in the war.

According to an article in the Massillon Evening Independent, when “...the Civil War broke out, there were stirring and exciting scenes in the Village (of Navarre). At that time, Navarre had a drum corp consisting of Alfred J Rider, tenor drummer, Henry R Bennett, bass drummer, & Daniel W Rider (AJ's brother), fifer, and as soon as news reached here, they turned out with their fife and drums, gathered about 50 young men together, formed a procession with the stars and stripes at the head, and marched through the streets of the village (of Navarre), taking into the parade all who would join, to arouse enthusiasm for the U.S. Flag and induce enlistments for the cause of the Union. After completing the circuit of the village, the drum corp and as many as could get into the wagons provided went to Massillon (about 5 miles due north) the same evening and paraded the streets there, displaying the American flag there and keeping the demonstration up during most of the night for the same purpose, after which they again returned to Navarre and continued the parade until morning.”

On Aug 22, 1862, at age 23, AJ Rider enlisted in Navarre, Ohio into Company A of the 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a musician. On Sept 8, 1862, AJ mustered in at Camp Cleveland, in Cleveland, Ohio. He is described as being 5’ 7” with dark complexion and black eyes and hair; his occupation listed as “saddler.”

He served the entirety of the Civil War, and his unit would end up participating in not only Gettysburg and Chancellorsville, but also in the pursuit of Lee and in battles of the Southern Theater. As a member of the 107th Regimental Band, they were documented as being the first Union Band to play in Charleston, SC after its fall to Union forces.

Unfortunately, his Compiled Service Record lists AJ as having deserted from Gettysburg on July 5th and then shows him returning from desertion back to his Regiment on Jan 5th, 1864, at Cole's Island, SC. The reason he is reported as deserted is not clear, but 2nd Lt. Miller, 107th Co. A commander, wrote:

Charge of Specification preferred against

Musician Alfred J. Rider of Company A

107th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Charge Desertion Specification

In this that he Musician Alfred J Rider of Company A 107th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry being duly sworn enlisted into the Service of the United States did stay at Gettysburg Pa. when the Regiment was ordered to march from said place on or about the 5th day of July 1863, returned this day and remained absent to from his Comp. and Regiment until January 5th, 1864.

S. Miller 2nd Lt.

Com’d’g Co. A 107 OVI

Coles Island S.C.

January 5th, 1864

In a “Descriptive List of Deserters” for the 107th dated Dec 3, 1863, under “Remarks” for A.J., it says “Acting mail agent without orders.”

The charges of desertion are not pursued, but they do show up in his CSR. They show papers filed recommending trial for desertion. It is followed up with an explanation of his whereabouts written by his regimental commanding officer which reads:

“Respectfully forwarded. But as Musician Rider has satisfactory vouchers with him, showing that by the Hospital Department at Gettysburg, he was ordered to remain to do duty in interring the dead and waiting out the wounded, and by order detained in the service there until in December 1863, when by order of Maj. Genl. Couch, commanding Department of the Susquehanna, he received a furlough, and before the duration of that furlough, he arrived at New York on his way to rejoin the Regt. and remained there no longer than it was necessary to obtain transportation to this department. I respectfully recommend that he be restored to duty without trial.

S. Meyers, Col. Commanding”

His file says:

“Restored to duty as per S.O. No. 36 dated Hdqrs. (Gordon's) Div. Jacksonville, Fla Apr 15, ‘64

Among his Company Muster Roll cards in his Compiled Service Records are several that say “Hospital Muster Roll, USA Hospital, Gettysburg, PA” for July, Aug, Sept, and Oct, saying he was attached to the Hospital on July 2nd on fatigue duty.

When the 107th marched out of Gettysburg on July 5th in pursuit of Lee, Alfred Rider stayed at the 11th Corp Hospital located on the George Spangler Farm, on orders of a Dr. there. His service at this hospital would continue for all of its existence (almost a month), until the hospital was closed down in late July, at which time AJ moved to the newly formed Camp Letterman, the Union Army's new “compiled” field hospital, located to the N.E. of town, to which he was charged to be the camps Post Master until it too was finally dissolved at the end of November, 1863.

AJ returned to service with his Regiment at Coles & Foley Island, SC in January of 1864. On August 28, 1864, he is marked as “absent on det. ser. as musician in Regimental Band at Jacksonville, FL” and he continues this assignment through June of 1865. One of these specifies him as “Drummer in Regtl Band.” AJ mustered out of service in Charleston, SC on July 10, 1865. He was the Regimental Postmaster, Secretary, and historian for the 107th OVI (1865-1906) and was a member, adjutant (1883), & commander (1886) of the G.A.R.'s Miller's Post (#270) in Navarre, always being the main contact man for the 107th reunions every year until his death in 1906.

An 1870 map of Navarre at the northwest corner of what were Market St and Third St (now Market St NE & Wooster St NE) shows the property of AJ Rider, lot 46, showing 2 structures on the lot at that time. This same map also shows his younger brother Daniel W. Rider (on Canal St. west of Market St. and east of the Public Square, right along the Ohio Canal, about 3 blocks almost due south of AJ’s location). Both Daniel and AJ were in business as harness makers in Navarre.

In April of 1872, the first municipal elections of the incorporated village of Navarre were held and AJ Rider was elected City Clerk, holding that position from 1872 to 1875.

In an article in the Stark County Democrat dated April 15, 1875, AJ Rider is announced as the newly elected Justice of the Peace for Navarre. In a later edition of the same paper dated Dec 2, 1875, it refers to a case that is “… before Alfred J. Rider, J.P., of Bethlehem township, Stark County, Ohio.”

In the 1880 Federal Census for Bethlehem Twp, Stark Co, Ohio (page 1, supervisor’s dist. 8, enumeration dist. 134) dated June 1, 1880, AJ Rider is not only found on the first line of page one, but he is also found in the upper right-hand corner as the official enumerator on the census form as well. He has seven children living of the nine that had been born by this time. His occupation is listed as Harness Maker.

A mention in a Jan 1883 edition of the Stark County Democrat states that,

“Alfred J Rider, the affable, genial, Adjutant of Miller Post GAR, is also secretary of the National Temperance Union of Ohio, and a devoted friend of the great apostle of Temperance, Francis Murphy.”

On Sept 6, 1883, at age 44, AJ participates in a reunion of the 107th OVI in Navarre, Ohio. He is photographed in the streets of Navarre that morning with his son Edward S Rider (age 13) sitting on the horse AJ says he rode in the war, named “Old Chub.”

In 1885 (a minimum of 3 times; once in Aug and twice in Oct), AJ Rider corresponded with renowned Gettysburg Battle Historian John Bachelder (1825-1894), who fervently collected information about the battle of Gettysburg by interviewing soldiers & officers from every Union regiment that fought at Gettysburg. The letters he collected, including these three from “Comrade” AJ Rider, aided him in accurately documenting the battle. These three letters were later published in the second book of a 3-volume set of books called "The Bachelder Papers, Gettysburg in Their Own Words" in “Vol. 2, Sep. 6, 1880 - Apr. 12, 1886” published by Morningside Press, 1994. Revealed in these 3 short letters are several interesting stories and facts, including this paragraph found in the middle of the second letter that reads:

“I was Regimental Post Master, and detailed by Dr. James A. Armstrong of Philadelphia, Surgeon in charge of the 11th Corps Hospital on the George Spangler farm near the Taneytown Road, to bury the dead and take their effects turn the same over to him and record their names in a book. I was frequently back and forth to my regiment during the 2d and third days fighting. I buried Gen. Armstead and his body was afterwards disinterred and embalmed by Dr. Chamberlain of Philadelphia.”

“Dr. Chamberlain told me that he thought Armstead's friends would pay a good price for his body hence after it had lain in the rough box in the Confederate part of the 11th Corps cemetery on the Spangler farm four weeks he embalmed it.”

He also reveals in the next paragraph that he stayed on after the battle at the 11th Corp Hospital until it was broken up (towards the end of July), then moved to the newly established General Hospital (known as Camp Letterman) for over 4 months and was Post Master there (Camp Letterman being dismantled the day after Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address). During this time in Gettysburg, AJ was furloughed home for a short period. The birth date of his daughter Jennie Calista Rider suggests he went home on furlough around the end of July 1863, as she was born 30 Apr 1864.

The other two letters talk of various things, including the 107th's various positions on East Cemetery Hill, eventually falling back to the stone fence in front of Weidrich's battery during the attack of Hayes Louisiana Tigers and the subsequent capture of the Tiger's flag there. He also recounts a story of a wounded soldier at the Spangler farm, saying.

“A color-bearer of the 107th Ohio was shot in the wrist and the ball passing up his arm, stopped near the elbow. He walked around at the 11th Corps Hospital several days, and wouldn't let the Dr's cut out the ball. I pleaded with him one evening while he was frying potatoes and onions to have the ball extracted. He swore he wouldn't and the next morning he was dead. We buried him.”

These three letters still reside in the collection of Bachelder Papers that is located in the New Hampshire Historical Society Archives.

AJ is listed as representing Navarre as an Aide-De-Camp at the twentieth encampment of the Ohio GAR in Cleveland, April 28-30, 1886.

On Sept 14, 1887, Capt. AJ Rider gave the memorial address of the 107th OVI monument at Barlow's Knoll on the Gettysburg National Battlefield. His rather lengthy speech was given front-page coverage in the Gettysburg Star & Sentinel on Nov. 1, 1887, even prompting an additional statement saying that they “… gladly give space on our outside to Comrade AJ Rider…” who “… fought here, was detained for some time… and has a warm attachment to Gettysburg and her people.” He was instrumental in getting the monument erected and was one of three unit members selected to make up the 107th memorial committee. The title Capt. is used in every written reference to AJ Rider regarding the monument committee and the dedication ceremonies. This title is either an honorary title used for this ceremony, or it is a promotion awarded after the war, as his service records show he mustered out as a private.

On Feb 4, 1889, in Stark County, Ohio, AJ Rider applies for a marriage license for his son Edward S Rider and a Miss Laura D Baker, adding in an additional handwritten statement stating that he is the father of Ed S. Rider and giving his consent to said marriage. Five months later, on July 24, 1889, his grandson, Collis S Rider is born.

The 1890 & 1891 Washington, DC City Directories confirms AJ Rider as “assistant superintendent” (inspector of mail bags, US Post Office) and living in that city. In March of 1891 a Civil War pension was initially filed in Washington DC with Mary A Rider listed as dependent 1.

An article in the Massillon Independent April 20, 1893, stated:

“A.J. Rider, of Navarre, who served as government inspector of mail bags during the Harrison administration, returned home yesterday. Mr. Rider is a Republican and in regard to his resignation he laughingly remarked that "to the victors belong the spoils." “

I believe “the victors” he is referring to are the Democrats who had just won the White House in the election. Knowing his political preferences, a change in administration to the Democratic Party meant it was time to resign and go back home, letting “the spoils” of his position go to a democrat.

The 1900 US Census lists AJ, Mary A (his wife), and Mary N (his youngest child Nettie) living in Navarre, Ohio but it lists his occupation as “Mail Pouch Dept -Washington DC” which raises questions as to where he actually lived during this time.

1898 – 1901 Washington DC City Directories list an AJ Rider residing there, but these directories list a different address than that in the 1890-91 directory entries (see above). AJ’s obit states that he served the government in the Post Office Dept. in Washington DC for 11 years under Presidents Harrison and McKinley.

A note about AJ’s service in the US Postal Office, Washington DC:

Benjamin Harrison started his term March 4,1889 and ended it on March 4, 1893. Then Grover Cleveland served as President from 1893 until March 4, 1897, when William McKinley began his term in office, which ended with his assassination in September of 1901.

Based on the records of AJ in the previous paragraphs and given the dates which each President listed above served, a few conclusions can be reached. It would seem that AJ Rider, known and documented Republican, was called to serve the Republican Harrison Administration as government inspector of mailbags in Washington, DC from 1889 until the Democratic President Grover Cleveland was elected and took office in March of 1893 (hence the article above about AJ coming home dated April 1893). It appears that AJ then returns to Washington DC when the new Republican President William McKinley took office in 1897, leaving again after his assassination in 1901. This would explain the absence of AJ Rider in DC city directories from 1893 (there was no 1892 DC directory records to search) until he reappears again at the different address in 1898. Also known is the fact that AJ was a Justice of the Peace at the same time William McKinley was practicing law around and including Bethlehem Twp. and personally knew AJ, explaining his appointment to his position the second time. Why he would be appointed the first time as part of the Harrison administration is less clear, other than just his obvious past qualifications of course. There is one other thing about his employment in DC that is still unclear. AJ’s obit (and several other sources) state that he worked “… for eleven years under the Harrison and McKinley administrations.” If you add up the times in the service of the two administrations mentioned it adds up to just less than 8 years. Where are the missing three plus years, and where was AJ between 1893-97 during the Cleveland administration. Adding in the Cleveland years, then it would add up to the eleven years stated if he indeed had actually stayed there somehow, but there is no record of this. If not, then where is he the other almost four years that it says he worked in DC, and what years were those, and what was he doing exactly?

No more records have been found to confirm the whereabouts of AJ after 1901, but it is probably safe to assume that he is back home and living in Navarre, Ohio.

On July 7, 1906, AJ Rider died in Navarre, Stark County, Ohio, at the age of 67. He is buried in Unionlawn Cemetery, in which he was a trustee for many years, in his hometown of Navarre, in Stark County Ohio. His headstone is one of the largest in the cemetery (Unionlawn Cemetery – Lot-31, Section-1, Grave-5), with his Civil War unit clearly marked on it and a Grand Army of the Republic emblem next to it. It is reported in several sources that his funeral was one of the largest attended funerals ever in the history of Navarre, Ohio.

Information compiled by

Bryan S. Baker

Berryville, Arkansas

Great great grandson of Alfred J Rider

Great grandson of Edward S Rider

Latest update on April 21, 2024