William Ryan (March 8, 1840February 17, 1925) was an American banker and businessman who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1893 1895.
Biography Born in County Tipperary in Ireland (then a part of the U.K.) on March 8, 1840, Ryan immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Stanwich (now Greenwich, Connecticut) in 1844. He attended the local schools, worked on farms near Greenwich and taught school. In the spring of 1859, he went to the Rocky Mountains and engaged in prospecting and mining until 1861, when he settled in Port Chester, New York. Ryan was a successful farmer, merchant and banker.James Hilton Manning, Century of American Savings Banks, 1917, page 219New York Times, The Argus Almanac: A Political and Financial Annual, 1890, page 138
Political career A Democrat, he served in local office including school board member.John Thomas Scharf, History of Westchester County: New York, Volume 2, 1886, pages 708-709 He was Town Supervisor of Rye from 1883 to 1885.Westchester County Board of Legislators, Proceedings of the County Board of Legislators of Westchester County, N.Y., 1895, page 662 In 1886, he was appointed Undersheriff of Westchester County and he served until 1889.John Thomas Scharf, editor, History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 1, 1886, page 656Henry Townsend Smith, compiler, Manual of Westchester County, Past and Present: Civil List to Date, 1898, page 109 He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Westchester Co., 2nd D.) in 1891 and 1892.New York State Legislative Bill Drafting Commission, Laws of the State of New York, 1891, page viiiWilliam Richard Cutter, American Biography: A New Cyclopedia, Volume 22, 1925, page 327
Ryan was elected to the 53rd Congress, serving from March 4, 1893, to March 3, 1895.United States Congress, A Biographical Congressional Directory, 1913, page 349
Later career Ryan resumed his business interests after leaving Congress, including serving as President of the Port Chester Savings Bank and operating a Florida ranch that produced oranges.New York State Legislature, Legislative Documents, Volume 2, 1921, page 306 He also served as President of the Village of Port Chester.Port Chester Journal, De Witt H. Lyon New President, February 9, 1909James Hilton Manning, Century of American Savings Banks, page 219Port Chester Journal, Hon. William Ryan, January 1913
Death and burial Ryan died while visiting Crescent City, Florida on February 17, 1925.St. Petersburg Independent, Crescent City Visitor Dyes: Eyan, 85, Former Congressman from new York is Dead, February 19, 1925 He was interred in St. Mary's Cemetery in Greenwich.Thomas E. Spencer, Where They're Buried, 1998, page 250
References
External links