Ryder-Rearick family photographs

Hallie Belle Benedict (1875–1952) was born in Hillsdale County, Michigan, to Herman and Ortency (Gay) Benedict. She married Alvin Christian Rearick (1873–1920) in 1899. Alvin was employed by Consumers Power and died tragically in a workplace accident. Hallie's brother, Harry Gay Benedict (1877–1949), worked in construction, primarily as a bridge builder. Hallie and Alvin had four children, two of whom survived infancy: Olive A. (1901-1918) and Clyde Marcus Rearick (1907-1970).

Clyde married Jeanne F. Ryder in June 1953 at Scribner Avenue Baptist Church in Grand Rapids. Clyde worked for Haskelite Manufacturing for more than forty years and, like his father, was killed in a workplace accident in 1970. Jeanne F. (Ryder) Rearick (1921–1996) was the daughter of Edward W. and Hessa Ryder. Clyde and Jeanne had two children, Michael Rearick and Joanne VanderLaan, who loaned the materials for this collection.

Jeanne’s father, Edward W. Ryder (1876-1952), was a native of Reed City, Michigan, and a veteran of the Spanish-American War. After his military service, he served as justice of the peace and township health inspector in Grand Rapids and was active in local baseball leagues. Edward married Hessa O. Winks (1879-1955) in December 1905. In addition to Jeanne, Edward and Hessa had a son, Edward Irwin (1911–1975). Edward earned a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Michigan and went on to work for the Civil Aeronautics Administration and serve as a professor of aeronautical engineering at the University of Michigan.