Rider Tavern in Painesville

Editors Willoughby Independent:

The old "Rider Tavern," now a private residence, located on Mentor street one mile west of the Court House, and just within the corporate limits of Painesville, is one of the very few monuments that remains to us of the early days of this section; and so far as I know has never received definite newspaper mention; and I hand you some items regarding the history of both the old Tavern and the family whose name it bears, believing they will be of interest to your many readers and of value to the local historian of future days.

Mr. Zerah Rider, now in his 76th year, relates that his father - Joseph Rider - in 1802 came from Tolland county, Conn., afoot, with his axe on his shoulder and a knapsack on his back. Arriving on the banks of Grand River, he built a log house not far from where the Fairport road was afterward located, on the right bank across from the present residence of Mr. H. Hine - who owns what was then known as Newmarket, and afterward called Skinner's Landing. In the fall or winter following he returned to his Now [sic] England home, and in the spring (1803) brought his family - wife and three little girls - westward as far as Erie with a horse team; here he exchanged his horses for a yoke of oxen. West of Erie there were then no roads, and like many others making their way towards a home in the then wooded wilderness of New Connecticut, he drove on the lake beach to the mouth of Grand River. He found no difficulty in passing the outlets of the numerous small streams over the bars which are usually formed, until he reached what is now Ashtabula harbor. The creek was too high to ford safely, and after waiting some time searching for a safe crossing place, an open boat was sighted coming up the lake, and he engaged it to ferry his household effects across; then taking the near ox by his bow swam the team across and resumed his travels. Reaching his destination he installed his family and "grew up with the country."

A curious incident took place soon after his arrival. The family dog, which had followed the fortunes of the journey, disappeared soon after the goods were transferred from the wagon to the new house. His mysterious absence from the domestic fireside remained unsolved until a letter from his former home announced his return, weak, weary, and gaunt. He had doubtless made the return trip in less than schedule time, and with little or nothing in the line of food.

About the year 1812, Mr. Rider removed to and occupied a double log house which stood not far from the place now owned by Mrs. Mathews, on State street, and opened a tavern, which he conducted for about two years, and again moved to another house - also built of logs - which was lcoated [sic] near the present residence of Dr. R. F. Dow on Mentor st. In 1817 he began the erection of the old landmark so long and widely known as "Rider's tavern" - as all hostelries were then called. This he occupied in 1818, and kept as a public house until his death, February 22, 1840. Here was born three generations, and three still occupy the old home, at the head of the same premises continuously from his birth and seen his tribe increase by two generations beside his own. In 1862 the old sign was taken down, and this well known resting place for weary travelers became a private home.