John RYAN, farmer and stock-raiser, section 27, Union Township, was born in Troy, New York, March 5, 1846 (sic), a son of John and Mary (PURCELL) RYAN, natives of Ireland. In 1856 his parents moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where they lived four years, and from there went to Flint, Michigan, where they both died, in 1865.

When seventeen years of age our subject started out on his own account, and went to Logansport, Indiana and thence to different points in the South and Ohio, and finally, while at Dayton, enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio Infantry.

In August, 1862, he was transferred to the Twenty-first Army Corps, commanded by CRITTENDEN, and took part in the battle at Chickamauga, and then was transferred to the Fourth Corps, and participated in the battle of Mission Ridge, Blain's Cross-Roads, Rocky Face Ridge, Tunnel Hill, Dandridge, Resaca. He was wounded twice, once at Chickamauga, and again at Resaca, where he lost a middle finger.

He served a little over three years, and after his discharge returned to St. Mary's, Ohio, where he married Miss Ellen CHRISTY, a native of Auglaize County, Ohio. He lived at St. Mary's until the fall of 1875, when he moved to Ringgold County, Iowa, and settled on the line of Decatur County, where he lived until 1884 when he moved to his present farm on section 27, where he owns 120 acres of improved land. He has accumulated his property by thrift and enterprise, as when he started in life for himself he had no means and no one to assist him, but he has prospered and now has a good home, and can look back with pleasure over a well-spent life, and forward to days of peace and plenty.

He has had a family of thirteen children - William T., John H., Michael C., Edward A., Rachel M., Amos W., Mattie L., George F., Alfred L., Andrew H., Dennis Martin, died August 8, 1883; Gussie E., and Cora C. died July 15, 1886.

  NOTE: John RYAN was born March 5, 1840, and died May 26,
1932. Eleanor J. RYAN was born April 22, 1844, and died April 7, 1916. The epitaph on their gravestone reads, "At Rest." John and Eleanor were interred at Ellston Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 307-08, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

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