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James J. Ryan, the present efficient treasurer of Webster County, belongs to one
of the early families of Cooper Township. His father, John Ryan, was a native of
County Kilkenny, Ireland, were he grew to manhood and married Mary Phelan, a native
of the same county. In 1847, they sailed for America from Liverpool, in the old
passage ship, DeWitt Clinton, and after a tedious voyage of three months landed
in New York. They first located at Rondout, a small town on the Hudson River, where
Mr. Ryan was employed about a year. They then moved to McHenry County, Illinois,
where they lived until 1856, when they moved to Webster County and bought 160 acres
of land on section 9, Cooper Township, and thenceforth the father's time was spent
in farming and stock-raising. His death occurred June 15, 1872, after a lingering
illness of several years, the result of a sunstroke. The children were all too young
to assume any responsibility and the care of her family and the estate devolved
on Mrs. Ryan. Since the death of the father they have added 160 acres to the homestead,
which now contains 320 acres, about half being under cultivation. Mr. Ryan was a
representative man of his township. He was well educated, excelling in mathematics
of which he was very fond. He began life a poor boy and by industry and good management
secured for his family a fine farm. Fie was affable and genial in his disposition,
and made friends wherever he was known. He was ever a strong opponent of the liquor
traffic and a warm advocate of the temperance cause, and it might here be remarked
that all his sons have inherited this virtue of their father, not one of them ever
touched liquor. There was a family of eleven children, three of whom are deceased.
Those living are Margaret, Anna, Mary, Catherine, James J., Elizabeth, Michael arid
Edward. Mary is the wife of Morris Welch of Badger Township; Catherine is the wife
of Thomas B. of Fort Dodge. The rest with the exception of James, are on the homestead
with the mother. The famiLy are all members of the Catholic church. James J. Ryan
born in Cooper Township, June 8, 1861. He was educated in the public school at Fort
Dodge, and for many years was engaged in buying stock. In politics he is a Democrat,
and in 1887 was elected by his party county treasurer, succeeding D.A. Weller who
was his opponent and had been an acceptable official. Mr. Ryan's election was due
to his energy, ability, and popularity with the young men, and his administration
of the affairs of the office fully confirms the confidence imposed in him, and has
won for him the respect of the opposing party.
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