My Genealogy Hound

MARTIN F. RYAN, hardware-merchant, McKeesport, was born in that city, Aug. 21, 1854, a son of James F. and Mary (McCloskey) Ryan. His paternal grandfather, William Ryan, a native of County Clare, Ireland, emigrated to Canada in 1823, and in 1826 located in Pottsville, Pa., where he ran canal-boats to Philadelphia. His children were James F., William, a Catholic priest; Stephen V., bishop of the diocese of Buffalo, N. Y., and Kate, wife of Capt. Henry McCloskey. Of these James F. learned the tin trade and located in McKeesport in that business in 1848, to which he added hardware in 1853, and successfully continued up to 1875, when his eldest son, Martin F., became associated with him. In 1853 he (James F.) married Mary, daughter of Michael and Rose McCloskey, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and to them were born seven children: Martin F., Rose, Alice, Stephen, Willie, Katie and Maggie, the two last being dead. Among the first companies recruited in 1861 was Co. I, 63d P. V., by James F. Ryan, who became its captain, and in 1863 he was promoted to major of the regiment and held his commission until the expiration of the war. He was a prominent member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, and for fifteen years was marshal of St. Joseph’s Beneficial association. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of McKeesport, of which he was a stockholder and director for many years, and vice-president at the time of his death, April 19, 1887. He was for several years an active member of the council and of the school board, and served three terms as burgess, positively refusing a re-election for a fourth term. His funeral was the largest ever known in the city. His business is still continued under the firm name of James S. Ryan & Son, our subject being the manager.

Martin F. Ryan was educated at the public schools of this city, St. Joseph’s College, Buffalo, N. Y., and Duff’s Business College, Pittsburgh, Pa., graduating in 1873. He is a public-spirited citizen and prominent in many of McKeesport’s important interests. He has been secretary of the Library association since 1877; is secretary and treasurer of St. Joseph’s Cemetery association; vice-president of the McKeesport &Youghiogheny Bridge company; charter member and director of McKeesport & Duquesne Bridge company; treasurer of McKeesport Electric Light company, and McKeesport Driving Park association; director Enterprise Building and Loan association; president of Sir Godfrey Branch Catholic Knights of America, and chairman of the transportation committee, Board of Trade. He married, Jan. 24,1881, Emma H., daughter of Michael and Ann Skelley, of Latrobe, Pa., by whom he had five children: Marie, Hugh, Emma, James F. and Stella, the last two being dead. Mr. Ryan is a member of the Catholic Church, of which he is one of the advisory committee, and he is a democrat.