Mary Dignan Ryan 1801-1878

RYAN DIGNAN KIVELAGHEN

Posted By: Jim Fowler (email)
Date: 12/12/2008 at 19:45:03

NORTH IOWA JOURNAL
WED FEB 13, 1878
PAGE 4

DIED---Of general debility, at Harper's Ferry, Allamakee Co., Iowa, Feb 8th 1878, Mrs. Mary Ryan, consort of Mr. Wm. Ryan, in her 77th year.
The deceased was born in Castle Tennyson, Rose Common [sic Roscommon] County, Ireland, June 1801, where she was married in her sixteenth year to Mr. John Ryan. In 1824 she emigrated with her husband to New York, and moved from there to Lewiston, Penn, where her husband died, leaving her with two children, one Mr. J. Ryan, ex-County treasurer of this county, and the other Mrs. Kivelaghen of Taylor Township. On the 3d of October 1829 she was married to Mr. Wm. Ryan, and removed to Cumberland, Md., where she resided until 18-- when she came to Dubuque, Iowa. In 1852 the family landed at Wexford, in this county, and settled upon a piece of wild land, which was their home for a number of years, when they removed to Harper's Ferry.
Mrs. Ryan was the mother of eleven children, seven of whom survive her, and by whom her memory is fondly cherished. She leaves forty-one grand children and five great grand children. In religion the deceased was a devout Catholic and died full of faith in a glorious hereafter. In accordance with her wish, six of her grand sons performed the sad duties of pallbearers, for whom they had grown up to honor and love. As a friend and neighbor she was held in the highest esteem; and all who came in contact with her realized that she was a woman of more than ordinary intelligence and force of character. In disposition she was mild, charitable, and always ready to assist the needy and ameliorate the condition of the suffering.
The funeral services were held at Wexford church, on Sunday the 11th inst., Rev Father Kernan officiating, and were attended by a very large number of friends from the surrounding country who assembled to pay the last sad tribute of respect to one honored and cherished by all. Her aged companion is bowed by the blow which has bereft him of her to whom the lapse of time had united him only closer. He and the family have the sympathy of the entire community.