James R. Ryan, the popular and efficient Postmaster of Sault Sainte Marie, is a man whose ambition, energy and industry have been lavishly
given toward insuring the growth and development of this, his native piace, and whose desire is to see tbe city become the commercial metropolis of the Upper Peninsula. He was born within sight of Saint Mary’s Falls on the 25th day of May, 1858. His education was obtained here and in Sandwich College of the Basilian fathers, in Canada, at which institution he graduated in 1876. He has been associated with his father in many lines of business, among which may be mentioned merchandiaing, real-estate dealing and the building of the Sault Sainte Marie street railway line. Of the company building and operating this line, which ia an improvement of great importance, our subject is secretary and tresaurer, his father being its president.
Mr. Ryan was elected to the City Council in 1889, from the First ward, and was chosen President of that body—a position which he resigned to become Postmaster. In his fraternal relations- he is prominently
identified with the Ancient Order of Hibernisns, in which he served for six years as county delegate, and brought about the local organizations of this order at Sault Sainte Marie, Saint Ignace and Cheboygan. He is Deputy High Chief Ranger of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He is also President of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association of the “Soo.”
Our subject is the son of Hon. Thomas Ryan, one of the best-known men in upper Michigan, and one who figures as a pioneer of Ssult Sainte Marie. His birth occurred in county Tipperary, Irelsnd, sixty-six years ago, his natal day having been December 2 i, 1829. He emigrated to the United States in 1852, and visited various sections of the Union before finally locating at Sault Ssinte Marie. He stopped for brief perioda in Buffalo, Saint Louis and Chicago, reaching the “Son” in the month of July, 1854, since which time he has retained his residence here.
He was a blacksmith by trade, and in this line of work was given employment by the contractors on the Government canal. Later on he became clerk in the St. Mary’s Hotel, of which popular hostelry he practically had the entire management. On leaving the hotel he engaged in general merchandising, in which line of enterprise he continued succeasfully until 1880, when he was compelled to retire by reason of rheumatic disorders, which rendered it impossible for him to give the necessary attention to the details of the business. He thereafter gave his attention principally to his real-estate interests, having acquired many thousand dollars’ worth of property in this section of the State. He disposed of much of this prior to 1890, realizing a large amount by reason of the rise in valuations,
but he still owns lots, subdivisions and suburban property, on which a fair-sized city could be built.
Thomas Ryan has been an active worker in politics in Chippewa connty ever since the time when he was enabled to cast his first vote. He is a stalwart Democrat, and his leadership has been most remarkable and successful. He has filled almost if not quite every office in the county, having served as Sheriff, County Clerk, Register of Deeds and Supervisor. On one occasion, as a practical joke, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the county, but for this office he never qualified. He served as Justice of the Peace for a long term of years, was a member of the City Council several terms, and as School Director aided materially in giving the county an effective school system and in maintaining the high standard of the same. He has been identified with many movements calculated to prove of material benefit to the city, and has ever manifested a public-spirited interest in its affaira. He was Postmaster of Sault Saints Marie dnring Preaident Cleveland’s first administration.
The marriage of Thomas Ryan and Elizabeth A. Warrington was celebrated in 1856 at Sault Ste. Marie. Michigan, and they became the parents of three children, namely: Jamea R., the immediate subject of this review; Mary E., the wife of Lawrence E. O’Mara, of this city; and Maggie M., wife of W. S. Royce, of Chicago. The cherished wife and mother entered into the life eternal in 1890, shortly after her return from Ireland, whither she had been taken by her devoted husband in the hope of securing to her relief from a complication of disorders which were the sequelae of a severe attack of la grippe.
The marriage of our subject, James R. Ryan. was solemuized in this city January 16, 1882, when he was united to Miss Elizabeth A. Cody, a daughter of John A Cody, of Toronto, Canada. Their children are: Tom J., John C. and Annie E.
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