New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-01
A VETERAN OFFICE-HOLDER.
JOHN I. RIDERS THTRTY-FOUR YEARS
AS A SUPERVISOR.
HE HAS REPRESENTED Fr.ATI.ANDS IN THE KINGS
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR MORE
THAN A THIRD OF CENTrRY-CHANGEs
THAT HE HAS WITNESSED


with the annexation OF the town of Tlatbush TO
brooklyn at the beginning OF rex year the county
OF Kings separate from the city of Brooklyn will
be wiped out. and a number of offices will
exist. Among these is the Office Of Supervisor. and
the duties OF the Board NJ Supervisors Will be de-
volved upon the Board Of Aldermen. So long az the
city and county were not one. and the same n
Board Of Supervisors was a necessity containing
representatives Of all the city wards and county
towns
il is nearly ten years since the town Of New-IOts
was annexed 10 BROOKLYN AMI after that the county
government was maintained until recently for the
dement, or four towns In the spring of 1894 Flat
push and Gravesend were added to the city, and at
the beginning OF July in that year New Utrecht
came In, while provision made by the Legis
lature OF 1894 for the annexation of Flatlands on
January !. 1896. It deemed wise not to hasten
the complete union OF the county with the city too
rapidly on account OF the complications that would
ensue As IT is the legislation annexng the wards
taken in last year not well considered in all
respects, and In consequence number OF vexing
problems have arisen, which might have been avoid
ed IL more pains and time had been taken In arrang-
ing the details
KNOWN AS UNCLE JOHN
When FIatlands ls wiped out as a town Of the
county and transformed into L ward OF the city
there Will pass from the stage OF public affairs
unique figure in the political life OF Kings County
For man to hold office even ten or dozen
years continuously in any Of our cities is an ex-
ceptional thing nowadays but John l.. Ryder has
represented the town OF Flatlands in the Kings
County Board OF Supervisors for thirty-four years
and his service in that capacity for thlrtytwo
yeas continuous. Supervisor Ryder Is now about
seventy years old. and is Familiarity known among
his associates In the Board as Uncle John" He
has always been Republican. He was first elected
a Supervisor in the spring OF lSj5 and was steadily
had
TO him, novel experience OF being a private citizen;
but TWO years ago he again sent back to the
Board. and so will be 'in at the DEATH
Speaking OF the break in his long term OF office
holding the other day. Mr. Ryder said that he did
not feel all bad because he not reelected
after being Supervisor for thirty-two years; 1t
didn't surprise him in least that people got tired
of voting for man. and for his part he felt that
he should have got tired long before. However, he
accepted another election willingly two years ago
The Supervisor has not always lived in the town
which he has represented so long in the county
Legislature. He born in the town OF Graves
end but when he was four five years Old his
father purchased a farm in Flatlands and moved
his family thither. This in 1929. The house in
which Supervisor Ryder lives stands on the Kings
Highway only short distance west OF Flatbush-
ave. and the farm adjoining it comprises about
fifty OF rich land.
Farming, however. the Supervisor rather sorrow
thinks that in all probability the time viii
come when he Will sell his farm and let the new
IL up into building lots. That seems to
be the manifest destiny OF the whole region which
Is TO become part OF Brooklyn. Land in that
neighborhood has recently sold for 81 500 acre.
and Mr.. Ryder thinks filling land worth much as
that is not very profitable, especially when, as is
the case this season. potatoes bring only 50 cents
barrel while It costs 81 % 81 . 20 raise them.
OF course Supervisor Ryder has the keenest recol-
lection OF the great changes which have taken place
in Brooklyn in his lifetime. and especially in the
time he has been in public life. Sitting in a com
Portable chair in the meetng-room Of the Board OF
Supervisors he chatted in the most genial way re-
gardng things past and present. When he first went
into the Board its meetings were held In the old
brick jail In Raymond-st. There were then about
twenty or twenty-one Supervisors. Williamsburg
had Just been made part Of Bro2kyn ana b tne
been divided into wards. the Seventeenth and
the old Eighteenth, the latter including what are
now the Twentyseventh and Twenty-eghth Wards:
At that time the Ninth Ward comprised the present
Twenty-fourth Wards and in that whole region,
much OF which IS now thckly populated there were
not more than 400 or 800 voters
TRANSPORTATION LINE
Horse cars had been introduced into Brooklyn only
two or three years before. but the only OF
communication with Flatbush by stage. The
old road 10 FIatbush followed the present line OF
Flatbush-ave In part. but over the hill where
now the Mount Prospect Reservoir stands and then
trended westward and passed through what Is now
known az Battle Pass in Prospect Park. From that
point It followed the line OF the present drive for
some distance when It again swung TO the east and
became Identified with the existing Flatbush-ave.,
near the Wilink entrance OF the Park. Through the
village c. Flatbush there has been little change In
the line OF old road but just south OF the bound
airy line between Flatbush and Flatlands the avenue
has been carried through straight line. leaving
the old FlatanGs road some distance TO the west
Along this extension car tracks were laid three or
four years ago. and now supervisor Ryder can axe
car within glnshot OF ms mouse ato ne d, ore
than half an hour. In the old days ne had 70 drlVe
either al the way or part or a case s nJ 'oS Se
had missed the stage when the BOARD helu Il Iois
In those days he knew every person iivg Deiwvg even
Flatlands and the city Hall Mr. Ryder can cIeary
civ Hal was farm lands and ne spoke in a IA
m!Iiar way Of the Wioughby Farm. the Dufeld
Farm and others Where the Court House now
stands there hotel then.
FIatlands became a town in 17sS. and during the
ten Supervisors one OF MIR Ryders predecessors
held this ofice for nine years another tor zen
present Supervisor is therefore the last of notable
line The highest honor which ne achieved IN ms
pro tenn OF the Board in 1917 The resolutions ADOPT
ed at thu close Of hat year IN praise OF 5 SS5pSS
order OF the Board and hang IN conspicuous place
in the paror Of his house An qeS OF tMe c IN r
Ryder's lifetime Is suggested by the fact that his
farm was bought by his father for $50 an acre,
and Is now worth at least $500 an acre: -
The Ryder house fronts on the King hlghWay,
which in the old times was the main road between
New-York and Fort Hamilton one Of the old mile
stones stands only stones throw from the mouse,
but the inscription II Is completely enaced. Mr..
Ryder says that the distance marked py X Is "a
miles from Fulton Ferry.
GROUND FOR A NEW PARK BOUGHT
THE OLD {, oPER ESTATE. ON THE EDGE OF THE
EASTERN DISTRICT. PURCHASED BY
COMMISSIONER SQUGER
Park Commissioner Frank Squer has purchased
from Charles W. Cooper for $4,000 a plot OF ground