ThomasRyan
THOMAS RYAN, Supervisorof Buena Vista township, resides on section 20, Schuyler county, Illinois.He was born October 20, 1845, and raised in this county. His parents wereCharles and Margaret (Strong) Ryan. His father was born in Ohio, but removedwith his parents to Frederick, Illinois, where he married, and settledin Buena Vista township in 1833. He was a brickmaker, and burnt the firstbrick ever made in Rushville. He also worked at the shoemaker’s trade.He finally located on land in section 21, where he improved this farm of120 acres, besides which he owned 320 acres more. He erected good substantialbuildings on this place and otherwise improved and cultivated the land.Here he resided until the time of his death, which occurred January 9,1891. His wife, mother of our subject, died December 16, 1879. They hadeight children, five sons and three daughters: John, deceased; George,now residing in Texas (Grapevine); Catharine, wife of Thomas Armstrong;Louisa, wife of Alexander Young; Charles, deceased; Thomas, the subjectof our sketch; William; and Margaret E., wife of Thomas Stoughel.The subject of our sketchwas reared on the home farm, and received his education at the countryschools of that district, residing at home until he was twenty-three yearsof age. In 1868, he was married to Ellen Shields, daughter of Joshua andJulia (Futler) Shields. She was born in Ohio, June 16, 1847. Her parentswere natives of Pennsylvania and New York, who came to Illinois in 1857,locating in Rushville. Mr. Shields served in the late civil war, beinga member of the One Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment, and died while inthe army. His wife, mother of Mrs. Ryan, is still living, in Canton, Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have hadtwelve children, eight of whom are living, the latter being Martin, Josie,Homer, Minnie, Herman, Clarence, Lula and Lena, the last two being twins.
Mr. Ryan is one of the mostsuccessful farmers of the county, owning 160 acres of highly improved andcultivated land, devoted to mixed husbandry. He has a comfortable homeand large barns for his grain and stock, besides other modern improvements.
Politically, he affiliateswith the Democratic party, and has been honored by his constituents bybeing elected to the office of Supervisor of his township.
He is a respected memberof the community on account of his many admirable traits of character,and has the good will of a large circle of acquaintances.
Biographical Review ofCass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review PublishingCo., Chicago, 1892, pages 249-250.
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