Colonel James
Ryan died at his home in Port Rowan, on Saturday evening in his
eighty-first year. He as born in Ireland and was the son of a British
soldier. In his childhood he was brought to Canada with his father's
regiment. He settled at St. Catherines and married Miss Ann North of
Gainsboro, in the County of Lincoln, on the 7th February, 1859. After
spending five or six year in St. Catherines the young couple moved to
Port Rowan, where they took up their permanent residence. Soon after
his arrival Mr. Ryan assisted at the organization of Walsingham Lodge
A. F. & A. M., of which he was a member until the hour of his
death.
He was a Lieutenant in the
original Volunteer Company of Port Rowan, and went with the company to
Paris, in 1866 and was there when the Fenians crossed the Niagara.
When he retired from military service he was a Major of the 89th
Battalion, and was given the rank of Colonel.
He was a member of the first
Board of Education organized here fifty years ago, and was on the
board continuously from that time till the day of death. He was the
first Clerk of the village of Port Rowan and held office until three
years ago.
His surviving children are.
Oscar, of Chicago; George E., of Port Rowan; Mrs. [Simes] of
Rochester; Mrs. McMillan of London, and Mrs. C. M. Foster, of Erie
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