Individual Details
MARY JANE (JENNY) RYDER
(7 Jul 1887 - 18 Dec 1956)
Mary Jane Ryder was born at 339 Stella Street, Winnipeg, the home of her grandmother, Emma Jane Knight. Although her name was Mary Jane, she was never called anything but Jenny.
At the age of 19, Jenny married Alexander Simpson, and lived in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Calgary in a marriage that lasted 50 years, ending with her death in 1956. Jenny is recalled as a happy woman, always smiling and humming while doing her housework. She took special care to see that her children were well educated and that their talents were fostered. For instance, while Alex was overseas in World War One, she purchased a brand new piano for Irene, and took pains to ensure that only the best teachers were employed.
Alexander Augustus Simpson was born in Pilot Mound MB, the son of Charles Simpson and Adeline Denig, daughter of Edwin Denig, noted American ethnologist. Alex was a great grandson of Sir George Simpson (1787-1860), Governor of Rupert's Land and the Hudson's Bay Company. Dale Lahey relates, as February 12th is also his birthday, Alex was fond of saying, "Me and Dale and Abraham Lincoln", putting himself first and the Great Emancipator last.
At a young age, Alexander moved from Pilot Mound to Winnipeg and by 1907 was a telephone linesman for Manitoba Telephone. At the beginning of World War One he joined the Canadian Army. Eager to go overseas, he was detained by the expected arrival of twins. But in 1916 he made it to the front, serving as a Sergeant in the Royal Canadian Corp of Signals, fighting throughout the rest of the war in the front lines in some of the great battles of the war, including Vimy Ridge. He received the Victory Medal, "For the Great War for Civilization", the 1914-1918 War Medal, and later the 1939-1945 War Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Medal.
After demobilization in 1919, Alexander returned to his Winnipeg work as telephone linesman for Bell Telephone and Manitoba Telephone. In 1923 the family moved to Saskatoon SK, and in 1927 to Calgary. Alexander and Jenny then lived at a single address for the rest of their lives together. This was at 321 11th Ave SE, Calgary, Alberta.
Alex served as a sergeant during World War Two, training recruits and escorting them from Calgary to Halifax, a return trip he took many times during the war years.
In nature Alexander was a convivial spirit. As a young man he loved to play the fiddle at parties for the dancers, and enjoyed talking and joking with everyone. He is recalled as a man at peace with himself and the world around him.
Jenny is buried in Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary AB. Alexander is buried on a pleasant hillside in the Field of Honour in the same cemetery, not far from his wife, Jenny. There are headstones for both.
[Picture of Jenny Ryder]
All branches of this family are continued in DT Lahey The Descendants of Sir George Simpson. Only the descent for Irene is given here.
References: D.T. Lahey, The Simpson and Lahey Families: The Allied Family of Rider/Ryder, with Two Mayflower Lines Guelph 1989; D.T. Lahey, The Laheys of March Ontario.
At the age of 19, Jenny married Alexander Simpson, and lived in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Calgary in a marriage that lasted 50 years, ending with her death in 1956. Jenny is recalled as a happy woman, always smiling and humming while doing her housework. She took special care to see that her children were well educated and that their talents were fostered. For instance, while Alex was overseas in World War One, she purchased a brand new piano for Irene, and took pains to ensure that only the best teachers were employed.
Alexander Augustus Simpson was born in Pilot Mound MB, the son of Charles Simpson and Adeline Denig, daughter of Edwin Denig, noted American ethnologist. Alex was a great grandson of Sir George Simpson (1787-1860), Governor of Rupert's Land and the Hudson's Bay Company. Dale Lahey relates, as February 12th is also his birthday, Alex was fond of saying, "Me and Dale and Abraham Lincoln", putting himself first and the Great Emancipator last.
At a young age, Alexander moved from Pilot Mound to Winnipeg and by 1907 was a telephone linesman for Manitoba Telephone. At the beginning of World War One he joined the Canadian Army. Eager to go overseas, he was detained by the expected arrival of twins. But in 1916 he made it to the front, serving as a Sergeant in the Royal Canadian Corp of Signals, fighting throughout the rest of the war in the front lines in some of the great battles of the war, including Vimy Ridge. He received the Victory Medal, "For the Great War for Civilization", the 1914-1918 War Medal, and later the 1939-1945 War Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Medal.
After demobilization in 1919, Alexander returned to his Winnipeg work as telephone linesman for Bell Telephone and Manitoba Telephone. In 1923 the family moved to Saskatoon SK, and in 1927 to Calgary. Alexander and Jenny then lived at a single address for the rest of their lives together. This was at 321 11th Ave SE, Calgary, Alberta.
Alex served as a sergeant during World War Two, training recruits and escorting them from Calgary to Halifax, a return trip he took many times during the war years.
In nature Alexander was a convivial spirit. As a young man he loved to play the fiddle at parties for the dancers, and enjoyed talking and joking with everyone. He is recalled as a man at peace with himself and the world around him.
Jenny is buried in Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary AB. Alexander is buried on a pleasant hillside in the Field of Honour in the same cemetery, not far from his wife, Jenny. There are headstones for both.
[Picture of Jenny Ryder]
All branches of this family are continued in DT Lahey The Descendants of Sir George Simpson. Only the descent for Irene is given here.
References: D.T. Lahey, The Simpson and Lahey Families: The Allied Family of Rider/Ryder, with Two Mayflower Lines Guelph 1989; D.T. Lahey, The Laheys of March Ontario.
Events
| Birth | 7 Jul 1887 | Winnipeg, Manitoba |  | ||
| Marriage | 15 Nov 1906 | Winnipeg, Manitoba - ALEXANDER AUGUSTUS SIMPSON | | ||
| Death | 18 Dec 1956 | Calgary, Alberta | | ||
| Burial | Queens Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta | |
Families
| Spouse | ALEXANDER AUGUSTUS SIMPSON (1883 - 1970) |
| Child | IRENE EVELYN SIMPSON (1907 - ) |
| Child | LESLIE ALEXANDER SIMPSON (1908 - ) |
| Child | ERNEST RYDER SIMPSON (1910 - ) |
| Child | CLARENCE MERLE SIMPSON (1912 - ) |
| Child | GLADYS LORRAINE SIMPSON (1914 - ) |
| Child | GORDON SIMPSON (1914 - 1917) |
| Child | ELMER MATTHEWSON SIMPSON (1916 - ) |
| Father | MARK MATHEWSON RYDER (1858 - 1905) |
| Mother | MARY ANN CANN (1868 - 1918) |
| Sibling | ANN MABEL RYDER (1891 - 1918) |
| Sibling | LILLIAN RYDER (1892 - 1924) |
| Sibling | CATHERINE RYDER (1895 - 1952) |
| Sibling | ALFRED ERNEST RYDER (1899 - ) |
| Sibling | THOMAS H. RYDER (1899 - 1905) |
| Sibling | MARK VICTOR RYDER (1901 - ) |
Endnotes
1. RYDER GENEALOGICAL FILES.
2. RYDER GENEALOGICAL FILES.
3. RYDER GENEALOGICAL FILES.
4. RYDER GENEALOGICAL FILES.