John was born in Northumberland, UK in 1843 and died in Western Australia in 1923 aged 80 years. He arrived in Australia in 1851 with his parents and a brother William Edward Dryden
(1839 - 1914). They settled in the Mt Macedon area where his Uncle was a prominent landowner and orginal settler of the area known as "Drydens Run". John died 8th Nov 1923 in Perth Western Australia, aged 78 years.
His wife Mary McLeod was born on the Isle of Skye in Scotland in 1843 and migrated to Australia. Mary died in Western Australia in 1931, aged 85 years.
John and Mary had 14 children and spent part of their life in Australia in Newham, Victoria and the remainder in Western Australia. They are both buried at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Western Australia.