Ryan Ancestral Photos

Ryan Ancestral Photographs

By now most of you have seen the wallpaper associated with this website, which is also prevalent on this page. The wallpaper shows the Batt Ryan family which was taken around the turn of the 20th century. The following are photographs of other "Ryan" family members.

Please CLICK on Each Picture to Enlarge

Frank and Adelaide Ryan. Mom (Ruth) told us that she once was a door-to-door saleswoman. Frank Ryan loved learning and used to tell us "to study hard". Mom's favorite story: Frank wrote Adelaide during their courtship, "Why don't you write?" Adelaide immediately wrote back on another postcard, "Why don't you write?" For a trip down memory lane, read The Grandparents.

Batt and Liza Ryan. Batt Ryan's parents were James and Ann, and he had many brothers and sisters who came to America with him. The following are church records in Waukon:

1863 - James Ryans came to America (always heard Boston). Later we learned it was Quebec, and family made their way to Allamakee via New Orleans. Family lore is they arrived in New Orleans around the time of Lincoln's assassination. That was "the buzz" when they arrived.

1867 - James Sr. and James Jr. applied for citizenship in Allamakee County

1872 - Dennis, James Sr, James Jr. and Pat Ryan's lands are side-by-side. See MAPS of Waukon

1873 - James Sr., James Jr. and Patrick Ryan became US citizens

1873 - Catherine Bony born to Mary and John, Batt sponsor

1875 - Elizabeth Bony born to Mary and John

1875 - Johanna, parents Daniel and Margaret, B Ryan sponsor & S. Ryan (this is an interesting combo. Sarah was sister to Margaret, but which of these two was Batt related to? Margaret's (nee Ryan) family was from Hollyford. Daniel Ryan was from Thurles (his cemetery plot shows "Thurles" but years later a genealogist showed his place of birth was Newport Parish. Newport Parish is where our Ryan family originated, so it is likely that our family links directly with Daniel. Learn more about Daniel at DANIEL RYAN

1877 - Batt and Liza get married. They are the second couple married in the new Catholic Church

1877 - Ellen Ryan baptized, Batt Ryan sponsor

1878 - John Ryan born

1879 - John born, sponsors were Edward Ryan and Mrs. Boney

Mary Rita writes:

Have also enclosed a picture of Frank McGonigle with the gentleman, Fred Schultz, who room and boarded at the house on Gilman Street. According to the Census Fred came from Germany. Note they are sitting in front of the grape arbor. They used to have a big garden in back of the house. Fred is on the left, Frank McGonigle on the right. It's hard to figure out why the German is living in the Irish patch - maybe it was the chef- I understand Kate was a good cook. Catherine (Tripp) Centeno, daughter of Ann McGonigle said that she would go over to the grandparents for meals when she didn't like what was being served at home - which was just around the corner.

The Ryans were very aware of the spiritual world, and while many of us can relate a story around this, Mary Rita wrote an interesting story about Frank and Adelaide. To read, click on Mary Rita's Letter regarding the McGonigles.

Catherine (Murrin) McGonigle, wife of Frank McGonigle. Mary Rita writes, "The picture of Kate shows her reading the paper - she is wearing her apron." Picture taken in Rockford, Illinois. Want to learn more about the McGonigles, go to McGonigles in Donegal.

This is a picture of Frank Ryan when he was about 70 years old. For many of the grandchildren, this is how we remember our grandfather. He owned an implement dealership with one of his cousins, and later became the postmaster in Kimball. We remember him talking to the TV, especially at westerns. In one episode they were going to hang a father for killing a cow. He told us that this would not have happened - especially if the family were starving. What made the cattlemen angry was just shooting cows for fun. He should know...he was a ranger. One of our favorite stories is found in Camping and Other Stories.

This is what the McGonigle home looks like today in Rockford's "Irish Patch".

Mary Rita writes:

"Ruth in front yard - Kimball. Probably July 1942. Notice difference in appearance of the house then and now. I think the dog's name was Bow-Wow"

Ruth loved to write. She would write children stories and share them with us. She was her "own person" and never worried about doing something because it was what others were doing. One story we enjoyed was hearing about how she reacted to the rules imposed on women at the University of South Dakota - women could not wear jeans or slacks, they were not to drink alcoholic beverages, they should not smoke, and so on. Because she wasn't supposed to do any of these things, she decided to wear jeans, begin smoking and tipped a few brews time and again.

Tim wrote:

Old picture. Jack, Frank, Adelaide, Mary Rita, Billy, Jim and Neal. Of course, Ruthie is in front.

Frank motivated his children to learn, and he constantly reminded his grandchildren to study. Especially math and literature. What makes this family unusual is the number of Ryan children that received college degrees. I'm certain Frank and Adelaide had a lot of influence in achieving this goal.

Mary Rita wrote on the back, "I used to make mud pies between these two bushes."

She also wrote:

"Upon viewing the shots of our (from the Smith reunion) house in Kimball, thought perhaps there should be something of what appeared when the Frank Ryan family resided there. When Blanche Smith lived across the street from us she was upset about the stuff which the new owners put in the front yard and complained to the city officials."

As a footnote, the grandchildren loved that house. The house was old, but still well maintained, even into the 60s.

East side of the Ryan home. I think there was a garden on this side at one time, as well.

Inside the home of Frank and Adelaide Ryan. This picture was taken in the early 1960s, and included here is Frank Ryan, his son Jack, Jack's wife Irene, Wendy Smith and in the front Adelaide Ryan. Uncle Jack would take us down to the paper and we'd play around with the lead type. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and if any of the kids ever fell, he'd say, "down went McGinty to the bottom of the sea."