Second Generation

5. Mary Jane W. RYDER (2nd) was born on 4 July 1853 in Marysville, Yuba County, CA.^1,2,6,9,12

Notes on the life of Mary Jane: "Mary Jane was born in Marysville, California, July 4, 1853, on a wagon train headed for the gold strike at Sutter's Creek. Her parents were Charles Willette and Sarah Ann (Moon) Ryder. Her parents lived in Waukesha county in 1844, according to the census.

She had a brother, Peter Samuel, who died in Waukesha County at an early age, and a sister, Mary Jane, who died in infancy and for whom she was named. She also had two brothers, Frances Peter and Charles Blackwell Ryder. Charles died when a very young man. While traveling to California, Frances Peter strayed from the wagon train and was missing for five days on the prairie. Fortunately, he was found and returned to the wagon train by fur traders.

Mary Jane was a true pioneer woman. While yet a baby, she traveled with her mother and brother, Frances Peter, from California to New York by ship around Cape Horn. Traveling close to shore because of violent storms and rough seas, it took them six months to reach New York. From there they returned overland to Waukesha County.

Mary Jane came to Monroe County with her family in 1871 at the age of 18. They settled at Warrens Mills and Mary Jane taught in the country schools in that area. Her mother, Sarah Ann, resided in Monroe County until her death, December 26, 1904. She is buried in the LaGrange Cemetery.

Mary Jane's father, Charles Willette Ryder, was born October 12, 1820. He spent much his life in the gold fields driving a wagon in the gold trains between California and South Dakota. He fell victim to an ambush on one of these trips and is buried in Deadwood City, South Dakota. The exact date cannot be confirmed, but it would have been about 1874-76.

While teaching at the Benjaminville school, Mary Jane met and married Charles Alvero Hanchett in 1878. They raised four children. Three children preceded her in death, leaving one son, Charles Harry.

Mary Jane and Charles Alvero lived on a farm in LaGrange township until Charles suffered a slight stroke. They then moved to Tomah and lived with their son, Charles Harry and Mary (Symonds) Hanchett. Mary Jane died January 15, 1926 and is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery."

(The 1880 Census says she was born in Ohio.) She lived at her family home in Oconomowoc Township, Waukesha County, WI in June 1860.¹² She appeared in the census in 1870 in Big Flats Township, Adams County, WI.⁵ Her occupation was listed as "School Teacher." Mary lived in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI about 1878.^9,21 She appeared in the census in 1880 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹ She appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴ Mary died on 15 January 1926 at the age of 72 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,2,6 She was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,22 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Mary Jane W. RYDER (2nd) and Charles Alvero "Charley" HANCHETT were married on 9 December 1878 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,6,23,24 Charles Alvero "Charley" HANCHETT, son of Loren DeWitt HANCHETT and Sarah Mae BENJAMIN, was born on 29 April 1856 in Warrensville, Cuyahoga County, OH.^9,25 He lived in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI about 1878.²¹ About 1880 he was a farmer in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.^9,25 During his lifetime, he was also a schoolmaster, photographer and carpenter at the railroad shops in Tomah. Charley appeared in the census in 1880 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹ He appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴ He appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³ Charley died on 11 July 1936 at the age of 80.² He was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^22,26 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Mary Jane W. RYDER (2nd) and Charles Alvero "Charley" HANCHETT had the following children: