The Press., 1922-04-27
WELLINGTON

Cladius w. Rider, 78, who was born in Wilmington, August IA, 1843, the son of Joseph G. and Lovine Merrick Rider, died at his home in HOlyOke Saturday afternoon. When he was IF years old the family moved to Or well, N. Y., and at 19 he enlisted in Go. c. filth, New York volunteers and remained in the army until the end of the civil war. On his return from service he entered the Hunger ford Collegiate institute at Adams, N. Y, taking a special course in math- ematics and bookkeeping in prepara- tiOn for a position with the Merrick Thread company of Mansfield, Ct., of which his uncle, the late Timothy Merrick was the head, which he as sumed in 1866 Soon after the Mer- rick Thread mill was built ill South HOlyOke, and in 1867 with the re- mOval of the business, he became a citizen of HOlyOke, having charge of the clerical department and being paymaster of the Merrick mill, later becoming secretary of the company He retained that position, often act ing as general manager during the latter years of Mr. Merrick's life and at the death of MT. Merrick, he was general manager of the company. He retained that position for time after the Merrick Thread company had become the Merrick department of the American Thread company, retir- ing in 1910. He was married June 12, 1872 to Miss Josephine A. Lee, daugh- ter of Roswell T. Lee and DellaEssel- styn Lee of Cape Vincent, N. Y, their marriage teing the continuation of a romance of their school days. Their married life of nearly 42 years, her death occurring in 1914, was a par ticularly happy one, though not llessed with children, this lack be- ing supplied hy a nephew and nieces who at times became members of their family. Soon after going to FIol- yoke he became a member of the Sec ond Baptist church and was treasurer of the society for 12 years, for a num- per of years chairman of the pruden- %ial committee and till his death, a member of the board of the deacOns, chairman of the standing committee, music committee and till his recent resignation, of the building committee.
 
 the HOlyOke Young Mems Christian association. He had Teen treasurer of the HolyOke Public library since 1905. For number of years he had been vice-preSident of the Farr Alpaca company and a director of the City
 anE. He was vice-president and 8 member of the tOard of trustees of the HolyOke City Hospital association and was on the advisory toard of the HOlyoke Home for Aged People. He is survived 1,y his sister, Mrs. J. R. Potter, and her family, MT. and Mrs. Potter having come year ago to share his home and care for him. Their son, Paul Potter, now of At lanta, Ga, was like 8 son to MT. Rider, and their elder daughter, Miss Claudia Potter, presided over his home after the death of his wife for l few years, The younger daughter, Miss Madeline Potter, has also been much at the home. Miss Ellen Lee, niece of Mrs. Rider, spent several Jears with them, while member of the high school, and it has also teen a second home to her. He is also survived by cousins, residents of Holyoke. Mrs. Joseph Merrick and her son, J. l.. Merrick, of the Merrick Lumber company; A, J. Merrick and son, Frank Merrick of the Merrick Lumber company; Attorney Clifford Lyon. Out-of-town relatives include Mrs. Justin Merrick Hollister and family of Grand Rapids, Mich, Mrs. Susan Merrick Haywood and Charles Merrick of Arden, N C., and Mrs, Fred Lathrop, now in California, who was formerly Miss Dodicea Merrick. The funeral was held Monday afternoon at at the home, 596 South street. Rev. Dr. J. c. Sycamore offciated and bu- rial was in FQrestdale cemetery,