William Ryan 1807-1888

RYAN DIGNAN FOWLER STAFFORD

Posted By: Jim Fowler (email)
Date: 12/12/2008 at 19:42:37

ALLAMAKEE JOURNAL
WED FEB 22, 1888
PAGE 4

William Ryan was born in Johnstown, county Kilkenby [sic Kilkenny], Ireland, in 1807, and came to the United States at the age of 16 years. He was married in Lewistown, Pa, Oct 3, 1829, to Mary Dignan, and moved from there to Cumberland, MD, where he carried on an extensive business. Being a heavy loser by the failure of the Cheaspeake and Ohio Canal Company he decided to come west and settled in Dubuque in 1845. In 1850 Rev Thos Hore of Wexford, Ireland, founded the Catholic settlement of New Wexford, Allamakee County in this state. Mr. Ryan who at that time had a large family bought a tract of land there and proved a great acquisition to the new settlement, where he lived until the death of his wife, which occurred about ten years ago. For the past five years he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Stafford, in this city.

Mr. Ryan was remarkable for his sterling integrity; his work was as good as his bond. He was an ardent advocate of temperance and took the total abstinence pledge in 1840, a pledge which he scrupulously kept not using liquor of any kind even as medicine. He was the father of eight children, four of whom survive him John of Kimball, and Mat of White Lake, Dak; Mrs. M.V. Fowler of Terrell, Texas, and Mrs. Stafford of this city.