Boman Green Ryan1

b. 14 February 1846, d. 28 June 1880
FatherWhite G. Ryan2,3 b. 14 Jul 1815, d. 31 May 1897
MotherMary Jane Barnett2 b. abt 1820, d. bet 17 Apr 1856 - Oct 1856
Birth14 Feb 1846 Boman Green Ryan was born on 14 Feb 1846 in Montgomery County, Virginia, (calculated from the information on his gravestone).4 
Moth-Death  Boman's mother died when he was about 10 years old. 
Childhood  Boman spent the early years of his childhood in Montgomery County Virginia. In the mid 1850s Boman's father moved the family to Mercer County, Virginia (later to become West Virginia).5,6 
Military1 Feb 1864  During the Civil War Boman served with Co. I of the 60th Virginia Infantry. This was a Confederate regiment organized August 13, 1861. Many of its men came from the mountains of what was then western Virginia. When the western counties withdrew to remain in the Union as the state of West Virginia in June 1863, many families found themselves with men already fighting in the Confederate Army. Boman's 2 older brothers were already members of Company I when Boman chose to join them.

Boman's Compiled Service Records are confusing as to the date and place of his enlistment. Some entries use Feb. 1, 1863 and some use Feb. 1, 1864. The latter date is most likely correct as he first appeared on a company muster roll for Jan. and Feb. 1864. Likewise, some records state that he enlisted at Princeton (Mercer Co., then W. VA) while others state that he enlisted across the border in Narrows, Virginia (Giles Co.).

The last muster roll on which Bowman appears was dated Nov. through Dec., 1864 by which time he had been promoted to corporal.7 
Marriage19 Apr 1870 He married Lavinia Martha Ann Ryburn, daughter of William McNeal Ryburn and Jane Beattie B. Fullen, on 19 Apr 1870 in Washington County, Virginia.2,8 
Cens-187029 Sep 1870 A few months after their marriage Boman and Lavinia were enumerated on the 1870 census living in Glade Spring township, Washington County, Virginia. Boman was employed as a station agent. An 18 year old male, identified as J. F. Ryan was also living with them (probably Boman's brother J.T. Ryan).9 
Migration Sometime after Boman wrote his will in Washington County on February 10th, 1879, Boman and Lavinia moved from Glade Spring to Summers County, West Virginia where his father, and brothers Joseph and Charles, were living. 
Cens-188016 Jun 1880  There they were recorded on the 1880 census in the home of Boman's father and stepmother less than two weeks before Boman died. Boman's occcupation was listed as a railroad clerk, and it was noted that he suffered from consumption.10,11 
Death28 Jun 1880 Boman died, probably from consumption, on 28 Jun 1880 at age 34.4 
Burial He was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.4 
Will10 Feb 1879 Boman's will left his personal property to his wife, Lavinia M, as well as his interest in a tract of land in Summers and Raleigh Counties, West Virginia. Boman also directed that the land was to be sold and one half of it was to pay the balance of board [bond?] "due D.C. Carmack after a settlement and putting tombstones at the graves of myself and children."12 
Will-Recd28 Feb 1881 Boman's will was recorded on 28 Feb 1881 in Washington County, Virginia, and proved by the oaths of John Ryan and W.B. White who stated they were well acquainted with the handwriting of Boman Ryan.12 

Related Links and Images:

Boman's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery
Last Edited21 Nov 2011

Citations

  1. [S861] Sandra Law, "Ryans," e-mail to D. Powell, 14 Apr. 2004. Mrs. Law's husband is the grandnephew of Boman Green Ryan.
  2. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 317. B.G. Ryan, 24y, sgl, b. Montgomery Co. VA, resid Washington Co. VA, tel. operator, s/o W.G. & M.J. Ryan AND M.L.M. Ryburn, 23y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o William M. & J. Ryburn; 19 Apr 1870.
  3. [S861] Sandra Law, "Ryans," e-mail to D. Powell, 14 Apr. 2004.
  4. [S364] Photographed May 2002 by Carolyn Ryburn. Stone reads: Boman G. Ryan died June 28, 1880 34ys 4ms 14d, Masonic Emblem headstone, Glade Spring Cemetery, Washington County, Virginia.
  5. [S1358] White G. Ryan household, 1850 U.S. census, Montgomery Co., Virginia, pop. sched., LaFayette, p. 148 (added script), dwelling 1014, family 1014, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2006, image 3 of 3. Enumeration includes: White G. Ryan, 35, merchant, owns real estate of $1,000; Mary J. 30; Joseph W., 8; Edward, 6; Bowman, 4; Not named male 4/12; Samuel A. McConkey, 27, physician; all b. VA.
  6. [S1347] White G. Ryan household, 1860 U.S. census, Mercer Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Princeton Post Office, p. 479 (added script), dwelling 991, family 929, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2005, image 143 of 169. Enumeration includes: White G. Ryan, 45, farmer, owns real estate: $4,000, pers. prop: $340; Ellen A., 31, wife; Joseph W., 18, S__g; Edward M., 16; Boman G., 14; Mary W., 8; John T., 6; Charles S., 4; all b. VA.
  7. [S2425] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : accessed Jun 2010); Boman G. Ryan, corporal, Co. I, 60th VA Infantry.
  8. [S831] William Mc Ryburn Bible. "Lavinia M. A. Ryburn & Boman G. Ryan were married April 19th 1870."
  9. [S635] B. G. Ryan household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring Township, p. 75 (stamped), dwelling 299, family 303, viewed online at Ancestry.com, April 2004, image 43 of 49. Data includes: B.G. Ryan, 24, depot agent, owns real estate valued at $1,000, personal property valued at $100; M. L. (f), 22; J. F., 18; all b. VA.
  10. [S649] White G. Ryan household, 1880 U.S. cens., Summers Co., W. Virginia, pop sched., Jumping Branch District, ED 136, page 17 (192A stamped), dwelling 131, family 133, viewed online at Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 19 of 37. White G. Ryan, 64, farmer; Ellen E., 51, wife, b. VA; Bertie E., grandson, 5. b. W VA, parents b. VA; Boman G., 34, b. VA, son, railroad clerk, suffering from consumption; Louisa M., 32, dau-in-law, b. VA; Joseph, 36, son, farmer, b. VA; Minerva, 38, dau-in-law, b. WVA; Jame P. , 3, grandson, b. W VA; Wm B. Fink, 28, hired, blacksmith, b. W VA.
  11. [S16] It is possible Boman's father was living in the same general area where the family had resided prior to returning to Montgomery County during the Civil War. Jumping Branch District, Summers County had been part of Mercer County prior to 1871, and was recorded as such on the 1870 census (see 1870 census entry for Joseph William Ryan).
  12. [S267] Boman Ryan will (1881), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 20: 373.