Let me see if I have this correct. There really was a Jim Ryder who was born in Vermont, and he was about 23 in 1863 when he was required to register for the draft in Chillicothe, Livingston County, his county of residence? And he resided in the state of Nevada as of the 1870 census. Did I read that right?

If I have that right, were there two Jim Ryders residing in Livington County in 1863? If that is so, perhaps the Vermont one registered correctly for the draft as required and the Confederate Jim Ryder did not register. Does that seem reasonable, and am I understanding that correctly and making a reasonable assumption?

Based on the Confederate Jim Ryder's involvement in guerrilla warfare beginning in 1862, I would assume it would be unreasonable for the Confederate Jim Ryder to go to Chillicothe and register for the draft during 1863, as he was "busy" already in his wartime role that year. This is also my assumption unless proven wrong.

John and Gay, straighten me out if any of the above is not correct according to the available records, rather than assumptions.

Bruce Nichols