Michael CRIDER[16]^34,35, was born on 25 Jul 1742 in Lancaster Co, PA. He died in May 1816 in Springfield Township, Ross Co, OH. He was buried in Cryder Cemetery, Ross Co, OH. Michael Cryder, Sr. was born on his father's farm, located on the west bank of the Conestoga River, about two miles south of the town of Lancaster. His father, John Jacob Cryder (Greiter) inherited this farm from his immigrant father, Michael Greiter, who lived on a farm located at the present site of the Hershey Heritage Village in Lancaster (1998). Michael Cryder lived on this farm all his adult life, until 1771, when he moved to Huntingdon Co, PA.³⁶

Michael became an orphan at the age of three, with the death of his father in 1745. At that time the court appointed Jacob Mummah and Elizabeth Myer guardians for him and his sister, Barbara. When Michael became above the age of fourteen, he requested the court name John Miller (his stepfather and second husband of his mother) to act as his legal guardian.

The Cryder farm was most productive and was still under cultivation in 1986. It had an excellent mill on the Conestoga River. Here, Cryder prospered as a miller and farmer and developed his boat-building and navigation skills.

Michael married Susannah Carpenter around 1764. She was the daughter of Col. Daniel Carpenter of Lampeter Square, about four miles down the Conestoga Trail from the Cryder farm. The Cryder's had six children before her death in 1776. (One child is undocumented and may have died young.) Michael then married Susannah's sister, Sarah Salome Carpenter and had five more sons.

Michael and Susannah Cryder moved to Huntingdon, PA around 1771, establishing the first mill in the area, located along the Juniata River. Prior to his arriving, the town had been called Standing Stone, and was in the county of Cumberland until it was laid out and established by William Smith.

Cryder bought two lots in town from Smith. Lot number 36 was 100 feet square, with frontage on the west side of Smith Street and extending back 100 feet on the North side of Second Street. Lot 37 was along side of Lot 36, with frontage on the west side of Smith Street. The deeds to these lots required houses to be built within a nine month period. The house on Lot 36 was to be twenty-five by thirty-five feet with a stone or brick chimney. The house on Lot 37 was to be eighteen by twenty feet with a stone or brick chimney. They were located about one block from the present Standing Stone Monument. In 1793, Cryder was granted a license to operate a business and lodging establishment at the two houses.

Michael Cryder was a miller as well as a farmer, boat builder and businessman. His mill was located upstream two miles from Standing Stone, on the Juniata, at the big spring just below Warrior Ridge and a short distance above Cypress Island. There was enough land to establish a farm and expand the milling operation to include a sawmill and a plant to manufacture hempen goods. This location became another home for the family, but for safety from the Tories and Indian uprisings, the family worked the mill by day, and stayed at the Huntingdon house at night. Israel Cryder is quoted in the "History of the Early Settlement of the Juniata Valley", by Jones³⁷: "I have resided in the county since 1773 at which time my father moved here with his family and built the first house in Huntingdon that was covered with shingles." Israel remembered frequently being forted at Huntingdon during the Indian War, living on wild meat, coarse bread and ash cake. The men exercised much at swimming, jumping, hunting and fighting with fists, and generally as soon as the battle was over, the parties made friends. His sons, like their father, stood over six feet tall and were equally powerful and fond of adventure. Together, they encouraged the early settlers in maintaining and defending their homes against the Tories and the treacherous Indians surrounding them, during the frequent incursions they made into the valley for plunder and massacre.

During this time of war, the Cryder mill continued to be successful, much to the displeasure of the Tories. The Cryder's were continually harassed because of their sentiments and marked by the Tories for special vengeance "when Howe would overrun Pennsylvania and subdue the rebellion".

One morning, when hope for independence had almost expired, Israel Cryder, on going to the mill to start the machinery found on the front door the inscription: "this mill belongs to General Howe.". This did not discourage the Cryder men from continuing their support for the success of the American cause.

In 1791, Cryder and his sons were the first to navigate the swirling waters of the Susquehanna River. While accounts differ as to which type of boat Cryder used, either a flatboat or an ark, there is such evidence from researchers that with their boat loaded with 104 barrel's of flour, the trio began their treacherous voyage to Baltimore, arriving in just five days. The flour was disposed of promptly to jubilant Baltimore traders, who paid a bonus for the excellent product and service. This daring feat was hailed with enthusiasm, for products could be floated direct to a tidewater market. Since the boat could not go upstream, it was sold at the arrival and the crew walked home.³⁸

When Michael Cryder came to the Juniata Valley, he possessed capital, and being an enterprising businessman with good judgement, took up land and soon was considered quite wealthy. He was appointed a deputy commissioner of the Continental Army.³⁹ At this time, Continental money was practically worthless, and there was little to pay the soldiers and provide supplies. Bent upon doing his duty, Cryder pledged his personal credit to obtain the much needed provision, and when the war ended, found himself heavily indebted and the near bankrupt treasury offered him no relief.

The sale of the greater part of his land, and careful business management, allowed Cryder to pay off his debts. In 1796, with the exception of his son Israel, the family journeyed by way of the Ohio River on their flatboat, up to the Scioto, then on a keel boat they traveled as far as Chillicothe, Ohio. Leaving Sarah and the small children behind, father and sons erected a cabin on the banks of the river near Hopetown, OH, where Cryder entered some fourteen hundred acres of land where the parents were to live out their days.

Cryder bought all the land he could. On 11 May 1801, he filed for the purchase of 640 acres of land in what was soon to be known as Springfield Township, in the county of Ross. Records show that he bought Range 21, Township 8, Section 6. It is also recorded that his residence at the time was Jackson County, which is now located in that part of Ross County.

Cryder's skill as a miller brought him success in Ross County. He constructed a sawmill on Spring Branch in 1799, and his son Daniel built a grist mill on the same location in 1817.

Marilyn Cryder, a researcher for the Delaware County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, has done extensive research on the Cryder family history. Her husband descends from Michael Cryder through his oldest son, Israel. She writes that: "Michael Cryder came to Ross County, Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1796/1797. He was born in 1742 and died in 1816 and is buried in an unmarked grave in Ross County. Michael was married twice and had eleven children. All of his children, but his oldest son, came to Ohio with him. Some of the children lived in Delaware County, Ohio before moving to Illinois."

'The History of Highland and Ross Counties'⁴⁰ had the following information about the Cryder family history in the 1881 edition:

"Michael Cryder Sr., was one of the first settlers of Springfield Township, Ross County, Ohio. With his wife and sons, Daniel, John, Michael, Henry, Emmanuel, Jacob and David, he emigrated from Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1796. He came down the Ohio River on a flat-boat to the mouth of the Scioto, thence on a keel-boat, pushed up the Scioto to Chillicothe. Here he remained a few months, during which he put up a cabin on the east bank of the river, west of Hopetown, into which, when completed, he moved. He entered all of section six and the land west of it to the river, comprising some 1400 acres. He lived in the cabin on the river a few years, then erected a two-story, hewed log house, which has since been weather boarded. There he died in 1816."

"He was a native of Pennsylvania, and served as a comissary in the Revolutionary War. His wife, Sarah, died in 1817. They raised a family of eight sons and one daughter, Elizabeth, who was the first wife of the pioneer Henry Mussleman. The oldest son, Israel, never emigrated west."

"The sons were remarkable for their size and physical strength, which they inherited from their mother, who was a stalwart woman. It is said that the son Michael, in a trial of strength in Chillicothe, with one Martin Boots, also a powerful man, set a cannon, weighing 1100 pounds, and which lay upon the ground, upon the muzzle, and then putting his arms under the trunions of the gun, lifted it from the ground."

"He remained a resident of the county until his death, dying in Green Township. John, Jacob, Emmanuel and David lived and died in Springfield Township."

Michael married Susannah CARPENTER 18 Aug 1763. Susannah was born about 1744 in Lancaster Co, PA and died about 1776 in Huntingdon Co, PA. He then married Sarah CARPENTER about 1776 in Huntingdon Co, PA. Michael CRIDER and Susannah CARPENTER had the following children:

i. Israel CRYDER was born 21 May 1764 in Lancaster Co, PA. He died 8 June 1845 in Huntingdon Co, PA.

ii. John CRYDER was born about 1766 in Lancaster Co, PA. He died about 1846 in Springfield Township, Ross Co, OH.

iii. Mary CRYDER was born about 1768 in Lancaster Co, PA.

iv. Sarah Elizabeth CRYDER was born about 1769 in Lancaster Co, PA. She married Henry MUSSLEMAN in Ross Co, OH.

v. Daniel CRYDER was born about 1771 in Lancaster Co, PA. He died about 1842.

vi. Susan CRYDER was born about 1773 in Lancaster Co, PA. She died about 1799 in Springfield Township, Ross Co, OH. Susan married John Michael IMMELL about 1788/89 in Lancaster Co, PA.

Sarah CARPENTER[17] was born about 1753 in Lancaster Co, PA. She died between 1817 and 1820 in Springfield Township, Ross Co, OH.⁴¹ She was also known as Salome. Michael CRIDER and Sarah CARPENTER had the following children:

vii. Emmanuel CRYDER was born about 1777 in Lancaster Co, PA. He died about 1847 in Springfield Township, Ross Co, OH.

viii. Henry Elisha CRYDER was born about 1780 in Lancaster Co, PA. He died about 1847 in Illinois.

ix. Michael CRYDER Jr. was born about 1782 in Lancaster Co, PA. He died about 1830 in Green Township, Ross Co, OH.

x. Jacob CRYDER⁴² was born on 29 Sep 1784 in Lancaster Co, PA. He died on 14 Feb 1845 in Springfield Township, Ross Co, OH. He was buried in Hopetown Cemetery, Springfield, Ross Co, OH. Jacob married Rebecca DOWNS on 4 Sep 1806 in Ross Co, OH.

xi. David CRYDER, Sr.