Symonds Ryder (1792

Mormon History 1830-1844

Symonds Ryder (1792–1870)

Leader of Campbellite church in Nelson–Mentor, Ohio. Joins Mormons briefly, then, according to Joseph Smith, leads the 1832 mob that tars and feathers him and Sidney Rigdon.
Born		November 20, 1792 in Hartford, Windsor Co., Vermont	Hayden history, 245.
Died		August 1, 1870 in Hiram, Ohio
Father		Joshua Ryder
Mother		Marilla
		His father, who had moved from Cape Cod to Vermont, was a man of considerable influence and property. The decay of his father's fortune threw young Symonds wholly upon his own resources. At the age of fifteen he entered the service of Elijah Mason, the father of Carnot and John Mason, long citizens of this town; the father, also, of Mrs. Charles Raymond and Mrs. Zeb Rudolph, who are present with us to-day. So soon as he had attained his majority, having served Mason six years, Ryder started for the West. …	Hayden history, 246.
1813		he passed through the village of Buffalo on the 28th of December, 1813, the evening bfore it was burned by the British. The next day the fleeing population overtook him, while yet in sight of their burning homes.	Hayden history, 246.
Vermont to Ohio		January 6, 1814 arrives in Hiram, Ohio, purchases 115 acres, builds a home, finds himself "surrounded by old acquaintances; for Hiram was a Vermont colony." Returns to Vermont for his family the following winter.	Hayden history, 246.
Land	¶	In 1816 Symonds and Jason Ryder, with their father, mother and sisters arrived and settled on land previously located by Symonds. … In the winter following Elijah Mason, fulfilling his intention of thirteen years before, brought his family and settled on the west half of Lot 43.	Portage history, 470.
Reformed Baptist in Hiram		June 1828 hears Marcus Bosworth, a reforming Baptist, preach in Hiram, and is favorably impressed.	Hayden history, 247.
Converted by Thomas Campbell		May 25, 1828 converted by sermon of Thomas Campbell in Mantua. Baptized in the Cuyahoga River by Reuben Ferguson of Windham. In the annual fall meeting of the Baptist Association, he is listed as one of the "younger preachers" at the Mahoning Baptist Association meeting in September.	Hayden history, 238, 163.
Hiram church		The accession to the cause of a man of Symonds Ryder's age, influence, and force of character was the signal for a more systematic organization; and before one year had elapsed, the hitherto floating band of worshipers was divided into two churches. One of these was the Mantua church, at Mantua; the other the Hiram-Nelson, at Hiram. Of the Hiram church, Bro. Ryder was chosen and ordained the first overseer. This church continued to maintain its joint character till 1835, when the Nelson element withdrew and formed a separate organization at Garrettsville. So far as I have been able to ascertain, the Mantua and Hiram-Nelson churches were the first which were established in this part of the Western Reserve distinctly and avowedly on the basis of the Bible alone.	Hayden history, 249.
Laying on of hands, gift of spirit		From the moment Bro. Ryder obeyed the Gospel, he expressed himself satisfied with the views taught by the Disciples on all points save one. He read in the New Testament of the gift of the Holy Spirit; and, in his mind, it was in some way associated with the laying on of hands, and with some special spiritual illumination. The words, “These signs shall follow them that believe,” seemed to him not yet to have been comprehended or realized. For years, this mystery of the Word was the subject of frequent thought and conversation.	Hayden history, 249.
Mantua church divides		April 18, 1829 the Mantua Center church divides. Symonds Ryder is ordained "first overseer" of the new Hiram-Nelson congregation, consisting of thirty-seven members.	Buckeye disciples, 56; Hayden history, 249. Later the members in Nelson withdraw to form their own congregation in Garrettsville.
Visits Kirtland		A deep impression was made upon the minds of many who heard him. Elder Ryder was himself staggered; and "lest haply he should be found even to fight against God," he sat in silence, neither approving nor disapproving. Determined, however, to know the truth and follow it wherever it might lead, he made a journey to Kirtland, and heard for himself.
June: prophecy fulfilled		On his return, he seemed for a short time to have rejected the claims of Mormonism; but in the month of June, he read in a newspaper an account of the destruction of Pekin, in China, and he remembered that six weeks before, a young Mormon girl had predicted the destruction of that city.
Baptized Allied with Ezra		Shortly after this, he openly professed his adhesion to the Mormon faith; but he and Ezra Booth, who were most intimate friends, promised that they would faithfully aid each other in discerning the truth or the falsity of the new doctrine.
1830 census		Enumerated as head of a household of
Elder		June 6, 1831 ordained an elder by Joseph Smith Jr.	¶ Minutes of June 6, 1831
Assignment		June 8, 1831 called to fill Heman Basset's assignment (D&C 52:37).	Heman Basset

		Misspelled name
Name misspelled		Ryder was informed, that by special [252] revelation he had been appointed and commissioned an elder of the Mormon church. His commission came, and he found his name misspelled. Was the Holy Spirit so falible as to fail even in orthography? Beginning with this challenge, his strong, incisive mind and honest heart were brought to the task of re-examining the ground on which he stood.	Hayden history, 251–152. The misspelling of his name is often the only reason cited as the cause of his leaving the church. B. H. Roberts in HC 1:260–61; No man knows, 118; First Mormon, 143; Cannon and Cook in [fwr], 286; Jessee in Papers, 511. This may account for his not going to Missouri, but he did not leave the church until Ezra's return in September. In the meantime, Symonds reportedly saw evidence that "a plot was laid to take their property from them and place it under the control of Joseph Smith the prophet" (see below)—a more plausible explanation than the misspelling of his name. Ezra's summer experience must have also influenced Symonds.
Ezra Booth returns		His friend had been passing through a similar experience, on his pilgrimage to Missouri, and, when they met about the 1st of September, 1831, the first question which sprang from the lips of each was—"How is your faith?" and the first look into each other's faces, gave answer that the spell of enchantment was broken, and the delusion was ended. …
Wins back converts		A large number of the citizens of Hiram had given in their adhesion to the doctrines of Smith and Rigdon, but the efforts of Ryder and Booth went far to stay the tide, and lead back those who had been swept away on its current.

		Returns to Campbellite congregation
Returns to Hiram/Mantua congegation		His former congregation received him back and he resumed his position as its elder until 1852.	D. Atwater to A. S. Hayden, Apr. 26, 1873, in Hayden history , 253.
		Bro. Ryder returned and exposed Mormonism in its true light. The Mormon character soon exposed itself.
	¶	Marcus Bosworth continued to preach for us. Symonds Ryder soon resumed his public labors with us, and regained the confidence of the community.

		Writes to Campbellite A. S. Hayden	Conflict at Kirtland, 91.
Consecration a plot		When they went to Missouri to lay the foundation of the splendid city of Zion, and also of the temple, they left their papers behind. This gave their new converts an opportunity to become acquainted with the internal arrangement of their church, which revealed to them the horrid fact that a plot was laid to take their property from them and place it under the control of Joseph Smith the prophet.	Joseph and company left Kirtland for Missouri on June 19, 1832.

		Sidney's challenge
Sidney challenges Symonds		Sidney Rigdon issues a notice to the public that he will discuss Ezra Booth's letters at a school in Ravenna and invites Ezra to be present. He also challenges Symonds Ryder to debate the Book of Mormon in Hiram.	Original: Simonds Rider "To the Public," Ohio Star, Dec. 15, 1831. Link to source at UDR.
Symonds responds		December 29, 1831 Symonds replies in the Ohio Star:
Sidney lives 60 rods from Symonds	¶	[Symonds responds to Sidney's invitation:] That Mormonism is a base imposition, I most certainly believe, … and that it is Sidney Rigdon's privilege to know as much about it as I do, is undoubtedly a truth. Now if he really is anxious that I should teach him the truth, and correct his errors, it does appear to me that a private interview would be much more convenient and much more to his profit, as our dwellings are but about sixty rods apart; and if he is honestly disposed to please himself under my tuition, he shall be tenderly used, and such care taken of him as his peculiar constitution would seem to justify. But to undertake to correct him of his errors before the public, would be a most arduous task for me. His irascible temper, loquacious extravagance, impaired state of mind, and want of due respect to his superiors, I fear would render him in such a place, unmanageable, and I therefore fail of accomplishing the desired object.	Symonds Ryder to the editor, Ohio Star (Ravenna), Dec. 29, 1831. Link to source at UDR. 60 rods = 330 yards
Sidney's state of mind	¶	As it respects the public anxiety in Hiram and its vicinity, … it has long since been relieved, except a few cases of succeeding Mormons, and they appear to be fast recovering from their mental derangement, and bid fair again to become useful members of society. Therefore, an investigation of this subject, before the public, for their benefit, would be in a great measure if not altogether, void of utility. Furthermore, Sidney Rigdon and his colleagues have labored both in public and in private, to their utmost, in and about Hiram, since their return from Missouri, to save, if possible, a sinking cause, but without much success, for the people generally have left their meetings, except a few of their remaining brotherhood, which to me makes Sidney Rigdon's challenge appear more like one of the last throes of expiring Mormonism, to cause, if possible, "public anxiety" in this place, than the spontaneous production of an honest heart.
Mormonism declining in Hiram	¶	As it respects the public anxiety in Hiram, and its vicinity, relative to Mormonism, it has long since been relieved, except a few cases of succeeding Mormons, and they appear to be fast recovering from their mental derangement, and bid fair again to become useful members of society. Therefore, an investigation of this subject, before the public, for their benefit, would be in a great measure if not altogether, void of utility.
A sinking cause		Furthermore, Sidney Rigdon and his colleagues have labored both in public and in private, to their utmost, in and about Hiram, since their return from Missouri, to save, if possible, a sinking cause, but without much success, for the people generally have left their meetings, except a few of their remaining brotherhood, which to me makes Sidney Rigdon's challenge appear more like one of the last throes of expiring Mormonism, to cause, if possible, "public anxiety" in this place, than the spontaneous production of an honest heart.
Sidney taunts		January 12, 1832 Sidney's rejoinder accuses "Simons Rider" of hiding "behind a battery of reproach, and abuse, and low insinuations."	"To the Public," Ohio Star, Jan. 12, 1832. Link to source to source at UDR.

Leads mob to tar Joseph and Sidney		March 25, 1832 Joseph and Sidney are dragged from John Johnson's home in Hiram, and are tarred and feathered. Joseph later reports that Symonds Ryder was the ringleader.	1832 Tarring
Sidney compliments Symonds		January 1836 Sidney pays Symonds a left-handed compliment, comparing him favorably to other Campbellites:	MA 2, no. 4 (Jan. 1836): 243.
		Symonds Rider … could blow like a porpoise when there was no person to oppose him; but when called upon to be as bold in the presence of those whom he envied, as in their absence, he had recourse to the same means of slander and abuse: but to the credit of Symonds, we will say that since that time [when a challenge to debate was issued] he has been silent on the subject, in this he has displayed more honesty than some others of his brethren.	If Symonds led the 1832 mob, why does Sydney does not mention his role and instead go out of his way to praise him?
		[December 1844–early 1845] arrives with O. E. Brown as preachers for the Disciples church in Ravenna.	Portage history, 534.
Institute with Hayden		1849 becomes first treasurer the Eclectic Institute at Hiram, serves eleven years. 1850 begins seven years' service as co-elder of the Institute with A. S. Hayden.	Hayden history, 259; Buckeye disciples. 161, 208.

		Family
Wife		Mahitable Loomis (b. 1799; md. November 1818; d. after Symonds)	Hayden history, 246.
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