John Thomas Ryan1,2

b. 18 January 1854, d. 30 April 1924
FatherWhite G. Ryan1,3 b. 14 Jul 1815, d. 31 May 1897
MotherMary Jane Barnett1,3 b. abt 1820, d. bet 17 Apr 1856 - Oct 1856
Birth18 Jan 1854 John Thomas Ryan was born on 18 Jan 1854 in Montgomery County, Virginia, according to Montgomery County birth records and the 1850-1880 census enumerations. However his death certificate (informant Paulina Ryan) lists the location as W. Virginia.1,3 
Moth-Death1856  John was about 2 years old when his mother died. 
Cens-186011 Sep 1860  His father remarried the same year and at some point prior to 1860 moved the family to Mercer County, Virginia.4 
Childhood  With the outbreak of the Civil War Mercer County and its neighboring counties in western Virginia broke away to remain with the union as the state of West Virginia. John's family moved back to Montgomery County, Virginia where John's father served in the home guard. John's brother Edward died fighting in the Confederate Army in 1864. 
Cens-18701870  Following the war John lived with his brother Boman in Glade Spring township, Washington County, Virginia.5 
Marriage11 Sep 1873 He married Malissa Martha McConnell Scott, daughter of Robert Scott and Martha Scott, on 11 Sep 1873 in Johnson County, Tennessee.6 
Cens-18807 Jun 1880  In 1880 John and Malissa lived in Abingdon (Washington County) where John farmed. Two daughters, Mary, age 6, and Carrie E., age 1, were also part of the household.7 
Land-Buy26 Jan 1891  On 26 Jan 1891 John bought 217 acres situated eight miles southeast of Abingdon near the turnpike road. The land had been previously owned by Robert Scott, deceased. John's place of residence was given as Montgomery County, Virginia.8 
Land-Sell16 Jul 1895  Four years later John and Malissa sold the land for $2,830. On this record they were described as "of Washington County, Virginia."9 
Marriage He married Paulina Jane Baker.10 
  At some point prior to 1900 John appears to have started a second family. Malissa was recorded living in Montgomery County in 1900 with the couple's youngest child, John, who was born in 1890 [1889 per family records]. Malissa listed herself as married. 
Cens-190019 Jun 1900 However, John was enumerated living in Johnson County, Tennessee, with Paulina and 8 year old Willie E. Ryan. John and Paulina stated they had been married 8 years. They were all living with Paulina's mother, stepfather and brother. Both John and Paulina's brother were employed as railroad engineers.11 
Cens-191018 Apr 1910 By 1910 John and Paulina had moved to Knox County, Kentucky where John worked as a bartender in a saloon. He and Paulina both stated they had been married 19 years and that this was their first marriage. Eighteen year old "Elsie" was also present.12 
Death30 Apr 1924 John died of heart disease on 30 Apr 1924 in Corbin, Knox County, Kentucky, at age 70.3 
Burial He was buried at Pinehill Cemetery in Corbin.3 

Research Comment:

The exact circumstances surrounding John's apparent second marriage are unclear. John and Paulina appeared together as husband and wife on the 1900 census and stated that they had been married 8 years. There was a child, born in July 1891, recorded as their daughter. However, the Washington County land records recorded John purchasing land from the estate of Malissa's deceased father in January 1891. And a later deed dated July 1895 recorded "John T. and Malissa M. Ryan his wife" selling the same land.

This does not appear to be a case of 2 John Ryans. John's 1924 Kentucky death certificate (see below) accurately lists his parents; the informant was Paulina Ryan. Following John's death Paulina lived with Elsie who was herself divorced and the mother of 2 children. Paulina died in 1938; her death certificate stated that she was the widow of J.T. Ryan; the informant was Elsie Newels.10

Related Links and Images:

John's death certificate3

Family

Malissa Martha McConnell Scott b. 24 Jun 1852, d. 18 Jun 1922
Children
Last Edited14 Mar 2010

Citations

  1. [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.
  2. [S861] Sandra Law, "Ryans," e-mail to D. Powell, 14 Apr. 2004. Mrs. Law's husband is the grandnephew of John Thomas Ryan.
  3. [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).
  4. [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.
  5. [S635] B. G. Ryan household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring Township, p. 75 (stamped), dwelling 298, family 303, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 149 of 426. 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.
  6. [S870] Carolyn Ryburn, "Ryans," e-mail to D. Powell, 19 Feb. 2008. Carolyn cites abstracted marriage records of Johnson Co., TN.
  7. [S162] John T. Ryan household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon District, ED 93, page 11 (30C stamped), dwelling 96, family 96, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 11 of 32. John T. Ryan, farmer, 26; Malissa M., 27, wife; Mary M., 6, dau; Carrie E., 1, dau; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  8. [S910] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 46: 471.
  9. [S911] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 55: 150. John T. Ryan and Malissa M. Ryan, his wife to Thomas, Ira J. and Timothy Debusk for $2,830.
  10. [S1916] "Kentucky Death Records 1852-1953", subscription database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : entry for Paulina Jane Ryan, 25 Apr. 1938, death certificate 9819).
  11. [S1917] Thomas Lundy household, 1900 U.S. cens., Johnson Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., Civil District 5, ED 99, sheet 12A (p. 269 stamped), dwelling 203, family 207, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2008, image 6 of 22. Enumerated in home: Paulina J. Ryan, 31, s. daughter, b. May 1869, marr 8 yrs, mother of 1 child who is living, b. VA; John T. Ryan, s-in-law, 45, b. Feb. 1854, marr 8 yrs, b. VA, father b. Ireland, mother b. VA; Willie E., gdaughter, 8, b. Jul 1891, b. VA, parents b. VA.
  12. [S1918] John T. Ryan household, 1910 U.S. cens., Knox Co., Kentucky, pop. sched., Corbin, ED 111, sheet 7B, dwelling 142, family 142, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2008, image 14 of 18. Household includes: John T. Ryan, 55, marr #1, marr 19yrs, b. VA, father b. Ire-English, mother b. VA, bartender in saloon; Paulina J., wife, 40, marr #1, marr 19 yrs, mother of 1 child who is living, b. VA, father b. VA, mother b. NC; Elsie W., dau, 18, b. VA, parents b. VA, printer in printing office.
  13. [S147] Virginia Old Birth Index, p. 62. Mary L. Ryan, born to John T. and M.M. Ryan, Jul 26, 1874 in Washington Co.
  14. [S368] Robert W. Ryan, Ohio state death Certificate no. 034955 (1957). Robert died 17 May 1957 at 3101 Scioto Trail, Portsmouth, Ohio of pneumonia and an abdominal aneurysm. He also suffered from generalized arterioslerosis. Additional information provided by Mrs. Robert W. Ryan for Rbt: b. Jan 30, 1881 in Abingdon VA to John T. Ryan (Robert was originally typed in but then crossed out) and Malissa Scott. He worked as a railroad conductor [date of birth is in error].
  15. [S2270] Betty Fogarty, "Washington County," e-mail to D. Powell, 21 March 2009. Betty is the daughter of Mattie (Shaver) Jordan and the granddaughter of Elizabeth Shaver.