THE EDWARD RYAN FAMILY, Our Yesterdays, Jefferson Co., MT USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. "List transcribed and organized by Ellen Rae Thiel, thieljl@aol.com All rights reserved." Copyright, 1998 by Ellen Rae Thiel. This file may be freely copied for non-profit purposes. All other rights reserved. THE EDWARD RYAN FAMILY Edward Ryan, one of the best known pioneers of Montana was born in Caladonia, Ontario, Canada, on April 1, 1839, and was educated in the public schools learning the carpenter trade. He came to the States and, after spending some time at his trade in Illinois and Tennessee, he migrated to Denver, Colorado. It was here that he met Helen Lacey who later became his bride. In the spring of 1864, Mr. Ryan and Miss Lacey left Denver for Alder Gulch traveling by wagon train with the Norton family. One the way, many gruesome evidences of the depradations of the Indians were encountered. The buffalo were so thick that at times it was difficult to keep them from stampeding the work oxen. The wagon train arrived in Alder Gulch in July 1864. Mr. Ryan worked as a carpenter for some time and thereafter preempted 160 acres of land in the beautiful little valley of the North Boulder. The 160 acres grew into a 2500 acre ranch known as the Ryan Home. On November 5, 1864, he left his ranch in the Valley for Virginia City where he was to meet Helen Lacey and get married. Enroute he stopped to rest overnight in a cabin where the owners gave him food and drink and a place to sleep on the floor in a corner of the room. During the night, four villains came to visit the owner. After two or three hours of drinking and shooting they left. Mr. Ryan did not take part but kept his 6-shooter in readiness for use should they come in his direction. After breakfast the next morning, Mr. Ryan left to resume his journey and met a Vigilante Committee. They were looking for the four men who belonged to a gang of highway robbers. On the 10th day of November, 1864, at Alder Gulch, Edward Ryan married Helen Lacey. Miss Lacey was born August 31, 1842, in Rexford, Ireland. She came to the States with her parents when she was three years old. They settled in Savannah, Georgia, Helen s mother and father died of yellow fever and, at 14 years of age, she was left to take care of her two brothers. In 1858, she and her brothers moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and worked in the home of Colonel Everetts. While working there she prepared a dinner on one occasion for Abraham Lincoln who was at that time campaigning against Stephen Douglas. In 1863, Helen left Iowa and came to Denver, Colorado, with Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wickham in a covered wagon pulled by an ox team. She came from Denver to Alder gulch with the Norton party. After her marriage to Edward Ryan they lived for a time at the home ranch in the Boulder Valley and then went to Last Chance Gulch in Helena where Mr. Ryan secured a mining claim. They lived in a shack with a raw hide roof and dirt floor. Although food was expensive - $125.00 for a sack of flour - $10.00 a pound for coffee and $60.00 for a hundred pounds of sugar - no one ever left their place hungry. Gold was being taken out of Last Chance Gulch in large quantities and the Ryans returned to the Valley with a big "stake" investing it in cattle, horses and more land. They engaged in the livestock business from then on. During their marriage eight children were born to them. Mrs. Will (Mary) Carpenter, Mrs. Thos (Catherine) Smith, James Ryan, Mrs. Ned (Uretta) Paradis, Mrs. John (Ada) McCauley, Francis H. Ryan, and Nellie and Edward L. Ryan. Nellie and Eddie were drowned in the Jefferson River in 1894 while trying to cross a ford in a spring wagon. Mr. Ryan was for many years, vice president and one of the chief stockholders, of the Bank of Boulder. He was a staunch Democrat, for many years a school trustee, and a member of the State Livestock Commission. He served for six years as county commission when Radersburg was the county seat of Jefferson County. He also served as an officer of the Montana Society of Pioneers and was an active member. Mr. Ryan lived on the home ranch for 65 years till his death in 1930. "Grandma" Ryan was not only beloved by her family but was a universal favorite in the country. She was known far and near for her Christian charity, self denial and kindly regard for other s feelings. She never spoke ill of anyone. With her death in 1912, Montana lost one of her best-loved pioneer women who had helped blaze the trail for the present generation. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan were among the first arrived in this state and in the Boulder Valley and lived to see Montana transformed from a wilderness into an empire. SUBMITTED BY MRS. MARIE SWARTZ A SAD CATASTROPHE The Age May 2, 1894 The distressing news reached Boulder last week that Edward Ryan, Jr. and his sister Nellie Ryan, had been drowned in the Jefferson River. The two were on their way to the Madison Valley to visit at the home of their sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Will Carpenter. They were accompanied by a man by the name of Robinson. Because a bridge was unsafe, they attempted to ford the slough. The water was high and the wagon and team were washed away and the brother and sister drowned. Robinson was able to save himself, and the horses and wagon were found lodged on a bar a few hundred yards downstream. On receipt of the news, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan and a number of friends went to the scene of the accident and a large number of men have since been endeavoring to find the bodies of the two young people, but so far without success. The Age May 23, 1894 The body of Ed Ryan, Jr. was found floating down the river last Thursday morning about three miles below where he was drowned two weeks ago. The discovery was made near the campsite that was established by his father in the search. The Age June 6, 1894 The body of Miss Nellie Ryan who drowned in the Jefferson River five weeks ago was found in a slough about twelve miles below Great Falls one day last week. The body was brought home and was interred in the Boulder Valley cemetery next to her brother who drowned in the same accident. Both the young people were well known in Boulder and the Valley and had many friends. They were born in the valley at Mr. Ryan's well-known home. Miss Nellie was about twenty-five years of age while Ed had just reached man s estate. That they should be so suddenly and violently taken away seems cruel. SUBMITTED BY MRS . MARIE PARADIS SWARTZ The Helena Dailey Independent September 3, 1912 A Tribute To A Courageous Spirit Mrs. Edward Ryan, who passed away at the ranch home in the Boulder Valley, August 27, 1912, was one of those self-made women who contributed in large measure to the establishment of law and order in Montana. She was possessed of indomitable courage and none among the pioneer women of this state left a stronger impression. She was unselfish and charitable. No hungry person every left her door. While the vicissitudes of fortune required her husband to be frequently absent from home at long intervals, she cared for her small children and watched them with tender solicitude. She was self-sacrificing, loyal and filled with the mother love. And yet, with all of her domestic labors, she found time to keep well versed on matters of public interest and could hold up her end of a debate on matters historical. Her memory was remarkable and she could recall vividly incidents of a half a century ago. The death of Mrs. Ryan marks the passing of one of Montana s most admirable pioneer women. The impression she made will last and her memory will live long among those who knew her sterling character, her love of family, home and friends. SUBMITTED BY MRS. MARIE PARADIS SWARTZ