1896.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 223 



estates were confiscated. A grandson of William Kelso, above 

 referred to, came to America. 



[t will be thus seen that Dr. Ryder was twice removed from an- 

 cestors who combined English, Scotch, German and Swiss traits. 



Dr, Ryder's father was by training a farmer. He became inter- 

 ested in horticulture and at one time conducted a large nursery. 

 His talents for invention are of an exceptional order; he has im- 

 proved mechanical devices for preserving and curing fruits, vege- 

 table and animal products, and has become widely known in con- 

 nection with their manufacture and introduction. 



Dr. Ryder's inventive ability can be traced in great measure to 

 his father and remotely to the Longenecker branch of the family. 

 His mother, however, possesses inventive skill in no mean degree. 

 Ryder had no taste for music ; in this respect he resembled his 

 mother, since the taste was well developed in the father. He had a 

 natural facility for drawing, although he never cultivated it beyond 

 what was necessary for the illustration of his papers and for the 

 class room. This talent, also, is traceable to his fiither. His taste 

 for natural history is a direct inheritance from his mother. While 

 Dr. Ryder never became much interested in medicine, many phases 

 of his researches are so closely allied to this science that he may be 

 said to have inherited the taste from his father, who, although never 

 having studied medicine systematically, had that turn of mind 

 which is constantly tending to contemplate the nature of disease. A 

 paternal aunt of Dr. Ryder studied medicine. She was never grad- 

 uated. Her medical opinion was frequently sought for and valued 

 in the community where she lived. She was also of an inventive 

 turn of mind. 



Dr. Ryder early exhibited a taste for natural history. When 

 three years old he was constantly bringing into the house brightly col- 

 ored stones, insects and other natural objects. At eight years he 

 knew the botanical names of all the plants in his father's nursery. 

 While very young he was noted for a habit which distinguished 

 him throughout life, namely, of always having his mind occupied 

 with something apart from the duties in hand ; thus, while helping 

 his father at pruning or grafting, he would recite aloud passages 

 from a favorite author, a copy of which would be found in his pocket. 

 On one occasion his father hearing hearty laughter asked him the 

 cause of his mirth. The boy replied he wondered how Diogenes 

 felt living in such a small place as a tub, and what fun he must 

 have had searching for the honest man. 



