White G. Ryan1

b. 14 July 1815, d. 31 May 1897
White G. Ryan (cropped)
photo courtesy Sandra Law
FatherWilliam Ryan2 b. 1800
Birth14 Jul 1815 White G. Ryan was born on 14 Jul 1815 in Virginia.3 
Marriage24 Nov 1841 He married Mary Jane Barnett on 24 Nov 1841 in Montgomery County, Virginia.4 
Public Serv1848 White served as the county constable in 1848, 1849 and 1851.5 
Occupation  He was also a merchant in the small Montgomery County town of Lafayette. 
Cens-1850Nov 1850  The 1850 federal census enumeration for Lafayette listed White and Mary Jane with 4 of the 6 sons who would evenutally be born to them. The youngest son, who was 5 months old as of the official census date (June 1st) was not yet named. According to family members he was eventually called Doctor. Perhaps this somewhat unusual name was somehow related to the fact that a Dr. McConkey was residing with the Ryan family in 1850.6 
Widowed  Mary Jane died following the birth of son Charles in April 1856 (her exact date of death is not known to me). 
Marriage6 Oct 1856 White married second Ellen A. (Lancaster) Campbell on 6 Oct 1856 in Montgomery County, Virginia.7,8,9 
Migration  Following the marriage White moved his family to Mercer County, Virginia (now West Virginia).5 
Cens-186011 Sep 1860  There he and Ellen were recorded farming in 1860. The 6 surviving children from White's first marriage were also present.10 
Military  On May 23, 1861 Virginia voted to secede from the Union. That summer, at the age of 45 or 46, White joined the newly organized 60th Virginia Infantry and was elected captain of Company I. Service records for the winter of 1862 reveal White performing the typical administrative duties of his rank, including ordering straw for his men, and ink and paper to file his reports. The regiment was positioned at Camp Corley near Pocotaligo Station, S. Carolina during this time.

White also spent time recruiting back in Mercer County. In March 1862 he enlisted his two eldest sons, Joseph and Edward, in Company I.

However, White's health appears to have failed and on November 20, 1862 he wrote a letter of resignation to his commanding officer. The regimental surgeon supported the application, stating White labored under "disease of the kidneys" and other lung related ailments.11 
  White probably returned to his farm in Mercer County to recuperate. However the western counties of Virginia had not supported Virginia's secession from the Union. On June 20th, 1863 they withdrew to form the state of West Virginia. Mercer County sat on the eastern edge of the newly formed state. This meant White's farm was in a Union state while his sons fought for the Confederate Army. No doubt finding this situation untenable White moved back across the border to Montgomery County, Virginia. 
Military9 May 1864  There he served in the home guard, forming a unit known as Capt. White G. Ryans Company of the Botetourt Reserves of Virginia (later Co. A of the 4th/5th Virginia Reserves). White was wounded while leading his troops during the Battle of Cloyd's Farm on May 9th, 1864. Fighting to his left that day were members of his old regiment, the 60th Virginia Infantry.12,13,14 
  Three of White's sons still served in the regiment, including Edward who was killed during the fighting at Cloyd's farm. 
Migrationbefore 1880 Following the war White returned to West Virginia. 
Cens-188016 Jun 1880  There he and Ellen were enumerated on the 1880 census with White's sons Boman and Joseph, and their wives. In addition there were two boys listed as grandsons, Bertie E., age 5 and Jame P., age 3. Bertie was the child of Joseph Ryan and his first wife, Fannie Wilson. "Jame P." may have been Joseph's son with his second wife, Minerva, although the child's name and age do not match other records.15 
Residence  Though the 1880 census enumerated the family living in the vicinity of Jumping Branch district in Summers County, West Virginia, they were most likely not far from where they had lived prior to the Civil War. The 1870 census listed Jumping Branch district in Mercer County. Summers County was created from several counties, including Mercer, in 1871. 
Death31 May 1897 White died on 31 May 1897 at age 81.3 
Burial He was buried at Deeds Cemetery in Jumping Branch, West Virginia. A Civil War marker was placed by his great grandchildren.16 

Related Links and Images:

White's headstone

Family

Mary Jane Barnett b. abt 1820, d. bet 17 Apr 1856 - Oct 1856
Children
Last Edited30 Jul 2013

Citations

  1. [S55] Carolyn C. Ryburn, "Whitley Fullen Ryburn-Mary White Ryan family group sheet."
  2. [S861] Sandra Law, "RamblingRoots.com," e-mail to D. Powell, 16 Aug. 2008. Sandra cites 1606-1888 Virginia and Virginians; Eminent Virginians, Dr. R.A. Brock, Secretary of the Virginia Historical Society as transcribed by Rhonda Fleming Smith for the US Genweb site for Montgomery Co., VA.
  3. [S870] Carolyn Ryburn, "Census Finds," e-mail to D. Powell, 22 June 2004. Carolyn cites S. Law as her source.
  4. [S55] Carolyn C. Ryburn, "White G. Ryan-Mary Jane Barnett family group sheet". Author cites Montgomery Co. VA Marriage Register, Males L-Z, p. 97.
  5. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 2 Jul 2001. Information in manuscript titled Families Related to the Ryburns of Glade Spring, VA; Summer 2001.
  6. [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.
  7. [S1359] "Index to Montgomery County, Virginia marriages, Jul 1850 - Apr 1860", USGenWeb: Virginia, Montgomery County (http://www.rootsweb.com/~vamontgo/montgomy.htm). Entry for White G. Ryan and Ellen Campbell: 6 Oct. 1856.
  8. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 13 Jul. 2001. Carolyn cites Pauline Haga, Summers Co. Deaths 1891-1900: Ellen A. Ryan, died 1 Nov. 1891 in Summers Co. WV, cause: dropsy, age: 63, parents: W. L. & M. Lancaster, born in VA, consort: W.G. Ryan; info reported by W. G. Ryan.
  9. [S16] It appears Ellen had been married previously as the marriage record lists her surname as Campbell but her parents' name on her death record is clearly Lancaster.
  10. [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.
  11. [S2425] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : accessed Jun 2010); White G. Ryan, captain, Co. I, 60th VA Infantry.
  12. [S2425] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : accessed Jun 2010); White G. Ryan, captain, Co. A, 4 Virginia Reserves (Preston's Regiment or 5 Reg't Virginia Reserves); formerly Capt. White G. Ryan's Company, Botetourt Reserves of Virginia.
  13. [S16] For additional information on this battle including a map showing troop positions see: Cloyd's Mountain Campaign.
  14. [S1360] Cloyd's Mtn, Virginia, data on Cloyd's Mountain participants viewed Jun 2010; web site hosted by Randy Forbus e-mail address.
  15. [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.
  16. [S861] Sandra Law, "White G. Ryan," e-mail to D. Powell, 2 Sept. 2008.
  17. [S55] Carolyn C. Ryburn, "White G. Ryan-Mary Jane Barnett family group sheet". Author cites Hays, Sally Mercer Co. WV Marriage Book 1, 1854-1901 which states: Joseph Ryan age 41, b. Montgomery Co. Va, living in Summers Co., s/o W.G. & M.J. Ryan to Sarah L. Pine age 34 b. Mercer Co., d/o Alex and R. Pine; married 27 Dec. 1883.
  18. [S861] Sandra Law, "Ryans," e-mail to D. Powell, 14 Apr. 2004. Mrs. Law's husband is the grandson of Joseph William Ryan.
  19. [S55] Carolyn C. Ryburn, "White G. Ryan-Mary Jane Barnet family group sheet". Author cites census records and also Birth and Death Records of Montgomery Co. VA.
  20. [S861] Sandra Law, "Ryans," e-mail to D. Powell, 14 Apr. 2004.
  21. [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.
  22. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 318. Whitley F. Ryburn, 20y, sgl, b & resid Washington Co. VA, farmer, s/o William M. & Jane B. Ryburn AND Mary M. (Mollie) Ryan, 18y, sgl, b. Montgomery Co. VA, resid WCV, d/o W.G. & Mary Jane Ryan; 18 Aug. 1870.
  23. [S55] Carolyn C. Ryburn, "White G. Ryan-Mary Jane Barnet family group sheet". Author cites as source Birth and Death records of Montgomery Co. VA 1853-1868.
  24. [S1916] "Kentucky Death Records 1852-1953", subscription database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : entry for John Thomas Ryan, 30 Apr. 1924, death certificate 9717).
  25. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 2 Jul 2001. Carolyn cites as source: Haga Summers Co. WV Marriages 1871-1883 which states: Charles L. Ryan 20 b. Montgomery Co. s/o W.G. and Mary J. Ryan marr 6 April 1876 to Minerva A. Lilly, 20 b. Mercer Co. d/o Wm S. and Mary A. Lilly.