Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Ryan, Stephen E 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 7:57 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Ryan, Stephen E. - The modern farmer needs to know how to work his land, what 
crops to plant, how to cultivate them, and where to market what he grows.  No 
longer does he conduct his business in a hit or miss way, but according to 
methods he has learned by experience are the best.  One of the men of Grundy 
County who is engaged in maintaining its high agricultural standard is Stephen 
Ryan, of Vienna Township. He was born in Vienna Township, January 1, 1851, a 
son of William and Elizabeth (Golden) Ryan, the former a native of Tipperary, 
Ireland, and the latter of County Roscommon, Ireland.  The father came to the 
United States and located at Utica, Ill., in 1848, his wife having come in 
1847.  She was the widow of Christopher Weldon, and had a son, James Weldon, 
who is now a resident of Vienna Township. After marriage, William Ryan and 
wife settled on a farm in Vienna Township, Grundy County that the wife owned, 
and here he died, July 24, 1885, and she died November 6, 1908. They had the 
following children: Mary, who is Mrs. Mary Renne; Stephen E.; Eliza, who is 
Mrs. Hugh Newman, of Vienna Township; John, who died in infancy; William, who 
lives at Highmore, S. D., and Catherine, who died in infancy.

When he was twenty-one years old, Stephen E. Ryan, who had attended the local 
schools, began farming in Good Farm Township with his half-brother, James 
Weldon, remaining with him for three years. Later they dissolved partnership, 
and Mr. Ryan rented a Brookfield Township farm for a year, when he moved to 
Highland Township and rented a farm for five years. He then returned to the 
home place, and lived with his mother and sister, and at the death of the 
former, he inherited the land in partnership with his sisters. He has operated 
this property ever since, and also works forty acres more. He boards with his 
sister, Mrs. Mary Renne. Mr. Ryan belongs to the Catholic Church. Politically 
he is a Republican and has served as postmaster. He is a respected man in his 
community.

page 895

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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