Winifred Powers was born March 31, 1831 in Bealkelly, (Purdon), Ogonnelleo, County Clare, Ireland. The baptismal records do not start until 1832, so her godparents are unknown. She is found in the 1850 Census, age 18, living with Catherine (McNamara) Cox age 55 and her children; Patrick age 19, Mary 17, Edward 15 and Thomas age 10. There is also a Catherine Naughton, age 18 living with them, not sure if she is related.
On August 6, 1856 Winifred married Daniel Ryan at what was then known as St. Matthews Catholic Church (now Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church) in Chicopee, Massachusetts. This is the same church that Winifred's brother Richard Powers married Margaret Noonan the previous year on November 4, 1855. A church record could not be located for Daniel and Winifred, but their Civil Marriage record is as follows;
Massachusetts Marriage records Hampden Co, Chicopee, page 9; Winifred Powers daughter of Martin Powers married Daniel Ryan son of Michael Ryan on 8/6/1856 in Chicopee, Ma. Winifred age listed as 26, Daniel age listed as 29. Both born in Ireland. His occupation listed as Laborer. (In the 1860 Census William Blinkinsop is listed living in Chicopee age 40, occupation Catholic Clergy)
Daniel Ryan was born December 24, 1820 in Gouig, Castleconnell, County Limerick, Ireland, the son of Malachi Ryan and Catherine "Kate" Cleesa, who died the same day that Daniel was born, likely due to complications from the childbirth. Malachi remarried to Judith Bourke and had 8 other children, several of whom also later immigrated to the United States and some to New Zealand.
We know that Daniel and Winifred would soon move to settle in Wisconsin, the exact time is unknown, but their first child, daughter Ellen, was born on March 4, 1857 in Chicopee. Daniel is recorded to have purchased his tract of land in Outagamie County on April 7, 1858, which leaves a small window of 13 months during which time they made their move to Wisconsin.
Daniel and Winifred would have the following children all born in Buchanan township on the land which would become Kimberly and Combined Locks many years later;
Mary Ryan born February 24, 1858
Daniel James Ryan born February 12, 1862
Malachi Ryan born December 17, 1862
Anna Margaret Ryan born May 14, 1865
Thomas Henry Ryan born January 21, 1866
Winifred Ryan born February 22, 1868
Martin C. Ryan born May 13, 1872.
The hyperlinked names above will take you down on this page to the beginning of that child's history and descendants.
Now, there is also some speculation that a few of these children are actually the children of Daniel Ryan's brother Michael Ryan. Michael Ryan was killed in a mining accident in Sonora California on August 23, 1878. Daniel was supposedly appointed guardian of the children, but their ages as listed in the obituary do not closely match any of Daniel's children.
From the Tuolumne Independent Newspaper of August 24, 1878
About 10am yesterday a deplorable accident occurred at the New Albany Mine, (near Sonora, California) by which Michael Ryan, the well-known superintendent of the mine lost his life.
Joseph West, one of the men at work in the mine, states that Michael Ryan was at work in the mine, presumably doing something below the second level, when the accident occurred. Charles Stokes who was working on the 4th level gave the alarm, and Joseph West and another found the body laying across one of the timbers. Life was not then extinct, but before the body could be raised to the surface of the shaft, the deceased died. How it occurred exactly is not known. Whether he slipped or was struck with a bucket or not is a mystery.
The deceased was much respected by all who worked under him, and indeed by all that knew him as an honest, hard working man. He leaves a sister, Bridgit McNamara of Knights Ferry, Stanislaus County and a brother Timothy Ryan. Mr. Ryan has had one or two falls down this shaft before, once breaking his arm, but each time catching and saving himself. He was very venturesome and has been repeatedly warned by the miners to take care, especially as the timbers are slimy and very slippery. He always said that he was not afraid.
Michael Ryan leaves behind three children. They were Malachy Ryan 15 years of age, Patrick Ryan 13 years of age, and Johannah Ryan 11 years of age.
Daniel J Ryan
Malachi Ryan
Thomas Ryan
Martin Ryan
The following letter has been passed down from Winifred Powers Ryan's descendants. With a bit of research, we are able to identify a few of the persons mentioned in the letter. This is also one of the strongest pieces of "evidence" that Winifred's mother, Mary Cox, was the sister to Patrick Cox, who also settled in Holland town in the late 1850's. Winifred is listed in the 1850 Census in Chicopee, Massachusetts, age 18, living with Catharine Cox and her children. They would be her Aunt and cousins.
The letter writer would most likely be Katherine Cox, born about 1854 in Connecticut, daughter of Patrick Cox (born 1831, son of Patrick Cox born 1788) and Alice McDonald. This Patrick stayed on the East Coast and is found in the 1880 Census in Waterbury, Connecticut, listed as a Liquor Dealer with his daughter Katie (24) and son William (19)
Katherine doesn't mention the name of her husband in the letter and more research is needed to find her marriage record.
The Ella and Katie Ringrose mentioned in the letter would be Katherine "Katie" Ringrose born Berlin, Hartford County, Connecticut, and her sister Ellen Ringrose born about December 1854 in Greenville, Outagamie County, Wisconsin. These two sisters would have been 1st cousins, once removed of Winifred (Powers) Ryan. Their mother was Anne (Cox) Ringrose (1818-1904) and their father Maurice Ringrose (1820-1882). The Ringrose family farmed in Greenville in Outagamie County until about 1880 when they moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota and became one of the founding families of that town.
(For more on the COX and RINGROSE families, see the descendants of COX web pages.)
Daniel and Winifred's children had the following histories.
3.1 Ellen Ryan born March 4, 1857 in Chicopee, Hampden, MA.
Ellen was the only one of Daniel and Winifred’s children to be born in Massachusetts. She would have been just a few months old when her parents made the trip to relocate to Wisconsin. On November 18, 1891 she married Pearson Peter Cripps in a double wedding with her sister Annie Ryan in Buchanan. Peter Cripps was the son of John Cripps and Ann Cedrick born in Canada and at the time of his wedding residing in Duluth, Minnesota. Peter and Ellen lived in Duluth where Peter worked as a butcher. Ellen is found with her children in the 1910 Census living with her brother Malachi Ryan in Buchanan, Wisconsin and again in the 1920 census, still with her brother Malachi. Why her husband was not living with her is unknown, in both records it indicates she is married, not divorced.
Peter and Ellen had three children;
3.1.1. Pierson Cripps born about August 1891, and died as a youth on October 26, 1900.
3.1.2. Winifred Cripps born about February 4, 1894 in Duluth. MN. She would marry Benjamin Hartzheim on July 9, 1938 in Chicago. They did not have any children. Winifred was a school teacher, and about 1942, she contributed a short biography to the Outagamie Historical Society, entitled "A Teacher Starting Out."
A Teacher Starting Out
After graduating from Kaukauna High School in 1912, I attended Outagamie County Training School, also on the north side of Kaukauna. We were the first class in the new building. Upon graduation in 1913 I was qualified to teach a rural school. I had hoped to teach my home school and even though my uncle was on the school board, I was not accepted as I had no experience.
My first job was on the Oneida Indian Reservation. It was a new district and had no school building. One of the families has just added a room to their home and that was used as the school. I boarded with a white family across the road and their two children and three Indian children were my first pupils. Soon more came and I had twelve in all. This was all that could be accommodated around the small pot-bellied stove and my desk. The new building was ready for the next year, but now that I had experience I was hired in my home district.
After eight years I returned to the reservation to a State Graded School where I taught the seventh and eighth graders. I liked this position very much and never had any discipline problems. The hard part was getting to school. We lived on a farm near Combined Locks and my uncle and I would leave home at six o'clock on Monday morning to go by horse and buggy to the North side of Kaukauna to catch a streetcar to Green Bay. There I changed to a Green Bay and Western train which took me to the Oneida station. Baggage in hand, I walked the six miles to my school and arrived there by nine o'clock.
The few times I went home during the year I was permitted to leave on Friday noon so I could ride with the mailman to DePere. There I caught a streetcar to Kaukauna where my uncle met me.
Written by Winifred Cripps Hartzheim for The Outagamie County Historical Society (Circa 1941?)In 1982 Winifred attended the 70th reunion of the Kaukauna High School graduating class of 1912. She was honored that year as the oldest graduate in attendance. Benjamin Hartzheim died in Appleton on July 1, 1981. Winifred (Cripps) Hartzheim died at the age of 92 in Kaukauna, WI. in 1986.
3.1.3. Emma “Emily” Cripps born about June 12, 1896 in Duluth, MN. Emma is also listed as a school teacher in the 1920 Census. About 1926 she married John Lemmer and they moved to Escanaba, Michigan. Emma (Cripps) Lemmer died in Escanaba, MI. on September 12, 1962. Her obit lists her husband as a survivor, but it is unknown when he died.
Ellen (Ryan) Cripps died in Appleton of a cerebral hemorrhage on June 26, 1951. She is buried at St. Mary’s Catholic Church cemetery in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. It is unknown when or where her husband Peter Cripps died, although a possible date of 11/20/1944 in St. Louis county MN. has not yet been verified.
3.2 Mary Ryan born about 1860. Mary never married. She became a school teacher and all that is known about her is what was briefly mentioned in the biography of her father, Daniel Ryan in the book “History of Outagamie County” which was compiled by her brother Thomas H. Ryan. It mentions that she died on April 24, 1884, she would have been only 24 years of age. She is also briefly mentioned as "your daughter teaching school" in the letter written to Winifred Powers Ryan in 1882 pictured above.
3.3 Daniel James Ryan was born February 12, 1862 in Buchanan, Wisconsin.
A biography of Daniel J. Ryan was published in the book “History of Outagamie County” that was compiled by his brother Thomas H. Ryan in 1911. I will quote from the book here with the exception that I have added the birth dates of his children in parenthesis. It reads;
Daniel J. Ryan, chairman of the board of supervisors of Buchanan township and one of the leading citizens of his section, has been actively identified with the agricultural interests of Outagamie County for the past 15 years, and is now the owner of 109 acres of good farming land situated in sections 24 and 25 . Mr. Ryan was born Feb 12, 1862 in Outagamie County and is the son of Daniel and Winifred (Powers) Ryan, natives of Ireland who were married in Massachusetts and came to Wisconsin about 1858. They first settled on eighty acres of land, a part of which is included in Mr. Ryan's present property, at that time a wild tract of timber land, and Daniel Ryan began to clear this land, building a one story log house, 12x16 feet with two half windows and one door, the timber which he hewed himself. A few months later he purchased a team of oxen for which he built a small log stable, and shortly afterwards bought a cow, gradually adding to his stock of farm implements as he could afford them. About 1864, Mr. Ryan built the house in which Daniel J Ryan is now living, the first frame house in the township of Buchanan, and about the same time erected a frame barn, 32x50 feet, shingled with split shingles, some of which still remain in a good state of preservation. The lumber for these buildings was ripped by a small sawmill about two miles east of the Ryan homestead. In 1893 Daniel Ryan built a frame house on a piece of land adjoining the home farm, and there he lived his remaining years, passing away in Feb 1906, while his wife died Oct 16, 1903. Both are buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in So. Kaukauna. Although Daniel Ryan was very well known and an influential man in his community he devoted all his time to farming interests and never aspired for public preferment. Daniel J. Ryan, was the third of a family of eight children, and he remained at home with his parents until he was 22 years of age, at which time he went to the State of Washington, where for one year he worked for wages. He then went to California, and during the next 12 years he was engaged in raising wheat, rye and barley on 2500 acres of rented land. In 1897 he returned to Outagamie County, and since that time has resided on the old homestead in Buchanan township, a part of which he inherited and a part being purchased. He engages in general farming, markets dairy products, hogs, cattle and some poultry. He milks on an average of eleven cows a day and at present has a fine herd of grades, and he is also breeding Belgian horses. He is at present remodeling his house and barn, and had 80 acres under the plow, his property being fenced with barbed and woven wire. In political matters he is a Democrat, but in local matters is inclined to vote independently, and he is at present president of the board of supervisors of Buchanan township and has been a member of the school board for 9 years. He and his family are members of the Holy Angels Catholic church in Darboy.
In October 1887, Mr. Ryan was married to Miss Catherine Gleason, who was born June 29, 1865, the fifth of the family of ten children born to Dennis and Catherine (Shinners) Gleason, natives of Ireland, who spent their lives in the old country. Mrs. Ryan came to the United States at the age of 18 and they met and were married in California. They have 6 children: Daniel T, (born September 19, 1888 in LaGrange, Ca.) a telegraph operator in San Francisco; Catherine (born about September 1890 in Ca.) who graduated from the Kaukauna High School in 1907 since which time she has been engaged in school teaching; William D. (born about September 1892 in Ca.) a graduate of the Kaukauna High School class of 1909, now assisting his father on the home farm; Winifred M. (born about May 1894 in CA.) who graduated from the same institution in 1910 and is now living at home; Edward J, (born July 22, 1903 in Buchanan, WI.) a student in the schools and Mary E. (born July 11, 1909 in Buchanan, WI.) who is now two years old.
Daniel and Catherine lived in California during the first years of their marriage. In 1891 the Kaukauna Sun newspaper reported in their 11/13/1891 edition; "Daniel Ryan, who has been in California the last 7 years returned to his old home in Buchanan with his family about two weeks ago." However the above biography lists that they returned in 1897. Both children born during these years (William in 1892 and Winifred in 1894) are listed as born in California.
Daniel Ryan & Catherine Gleesen
Wedding 1887
Daniel and Catherine had 6 children;
3.3.1 Daniel Thomas Ryan was born on September 19, 1888 in La Grange, Stanislaus County, California. He would move to Wisconsin in 1897 with his parents. He got a job working for the railroads and became a Telegraph Operator. Sometime between 1910 and 1913 he moved to San Francisco, where he worked as a Telegraph Operator for North Western Pacific Railroad.
In San Francisco he met Elizabeth Hegarty, born on July 27, 1888 in San Francisco, California. They were married at the now famous Mission Delores Catholic Church on September 20, 1915. The resides a few blocks away at 685 14th St.
The above photograph of Daniel Thomas Ryan, his wife Elizabeth (Hegarty) Ryan and their first born child, Daniel Vincent Ryan (1916-1922) was probably taken in 1917. Daniel Vincent died of Diphtheria in San Francisco in 1922.
Daniel and Elizabeth had 4 children;
3.3.1.1 Daniel Vincent Ryan was born on November 23, 1916 in San Francisco and died from diphtheria in October of 1922. Francisco.
3.3.1.2 Thomas John Ryan was born on January 9, 1919 in San Francisco. On April 27, 1946 he married Mary Ann McDonald, born on May 13, 1925 in San Francisco.
Thomas Ryan was a photographer for the City and County of San Francisco, from which he retired. He also served in the 1st Battalion of the U. S. Army during World War II and was discharged in 1944.
Thomas and Mary Ann had four children; Diane, James, Janet and Thomas, all born in San Francisco.
Thomas John Ryan died on June 20, 1978 in Guerneville, California. Mary Ann (McDonald) Ryan died on March 18, 1997 in Windsor, California.
3.3.1.3 Paul William Ryan was born on April 13, 1927 in San Francisco. On August 6, 1949 he married Margaret Lyons, born in San Francisco.
Paul William Ryan died on June 16, 2000 in San Francisco. Margaret (Lyons) Ryan lives in California.
3.3.1.4 Frank Edward Ryan was born on July 24, 1928 in San Francisco. On May 3, 1952 he married Margaret Laube in San Francisco. They had one daughter, Carol Lynn Ryan, born in San Francisco. Carol is married to Richard L. Callas and they have two children. Frank and Margaret divorced and on August 15, 1966 he remarried Carol (MNU) Blessing, who had two children from her previous marriage.
Frank Ryan attended St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco, California. He was a retired member of the San Francisco Police Department. After he retired he went to work for Hewlett-Packard in security. He retired from there also. He lived Bodega, California and he was an active member of the Bodega Volunteer Fire Department. He also served in the U.S. Army.
Frank Edward Ryan died on May 5, 1997 in Kauai, Hawaii.
Daniel Thomas Ryan died on November 20, 1929 in San Francisco. Elizabeth (Hegarty) Ryan known to her family as "Auntie Wee" was blessed to live to 100, passing on October 31, 1988 in San Francisco.
3.3.2 Catherine Aurelia Ryan was born September 14, 1890 in Turlock, California.
She graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1907.
Catherine Ryan entered the Dominican Order of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin and took her first vows in 1920. She took the name Sister M. Benedict. She was the first member of her order to get a PHD degree in Latin. She received this degree at Fordham University. At one time she was the assistant Provincial of her order. While she was on the Dominican Council she worked to get all the members on contract and paying into Social Security. This enabled the retired Sisters to draw benefits. One story about Catherine Ryan was back on the Kaukauna farm the kitchen cooking range was not used in the summer. One fall day, Catherine fired the stove up without realizing that the family cat was taking a nap in the oven. Catherine Ryan in 1915 traveled with her Aunt Winnefred to San Francisco to view the Panama Pacific Exposition. She graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1907. (From Paul Ryan's family history files)
A biography of Sister M Benedict can be found on the Religious Service page, courtesy of the Archives at St. Dominc Villa in Sinsinawa.
Sister M. Benedict died on May 4, 1981 at Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.
3.3.3 William Dennis Ryan was born on September 5, 1892 at LaGrange, California.
William Ryan graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1909. How could a civil engineer and former artillery officer be able to recite so many poems and classical quotations from memory? Because his grandmother, Winifred Ryan, could not read, so after every evening meal the family had to remain at the table for a reading until the dishes were done, and then the family prayed the Rosary. His wife, Eileen Powers, came from the Waterford branch rather than the County Clare Powers family. She was a teacher, first in a one room country school, and after graduating from the University of Wisconsin she taught High School Civics and Debating at Wausau, Fond du Lac, and Madison. She worked one summer session at Jane Adams' Hall House. She told of teaching in the one room country school right after graduating from High School. She was sent to live with a German Speaking family and said that she almost starved to death until she could speak a little German. (From Paul Ryan's Family history files)
On June 27, 1921 in Mauston, Wisconsin, William married Eileen Powers (Not related to the Powers family of Williams grandmother). Eileen was born September 21, 1894 in Mauston, Wisconsin. They lived in Mauston a few years, moved to Oconomowoc for a few years and then moved to Madison, Wisconsin around 1928, where they lived the rest of their lives.
William and Eileen had four children;
3.3.3.1 Kathleen Mary who was born in Mauston and is married to Francis Rice. They have 7 children and 11 grandchildren.
3.3.3.2 Thomas Edward was born in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and is married to Joan Williams. They have 7 children and 4 grandchildren.
3.3.3.3 Eileen Mary was born in Madison. She is married to John Shipinski. It is unknown if they have children.
3.3.3.4 Sheila Mary was born in Madison. She is married to Francis Eberhardt and they have 7 children and 13 grandchildren.
William D Ryan died on April 19, 1963 in Madison, Wisconsin. Eileen (Powers) Ryan died on April 8, 1991 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
3.3.4 Winifred M Ryan was born on May 16, 1894 in Modesto, California.
Winifred Ryan, Sister Marguerite, graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1910. Sister Marguerite taught at the Ryan School in Kaukauna for ten years prior to entering the convent. She earned a Master's Degree in Chemistry from the University of Illinois. Her contribution to fun on the farm was a reflex fist in the face to a sheeted "Ghost" who accosted her on her late return from the rural school. The next day there was an embarrassed neighbor with a black eye. She told of the time when she was a postulant at Sinsinawa she was caught a few times riding the horses bareback with her full habit on by the Mistress of Novices. She was always known to have a big smile on her face all the time. (From Paul Ryan's Family history files)
A biography of Sister Marguerite can be found on the Religious Service page, courtesy of the Archives at St. Dominic Villa in Sinsinawa.
Sister Marguerite Ryan died December 18, 1984 at St. Dominic's Villa at Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.
3.3.5 Edward John Ryan was born July 22, 1903 in Buchanan, Wisconsin. On October 16, 1934 in Kaukauna he married Margaret DeBrue. She was born on June 17, 1904 in Kaukauna, the daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Flynn) DeBrue.
Edward Ryan was involved in the paper making industry in Kaukauna. His wife Marge (Marguerite) graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1925 and the Outagamie County Teacher Training School in 1927. She taught school for 29 years at Riverview School in Black Creek, Little Chicago, Whispering Pines at Appleton, St. John's, Little Chute, and Holy Angels in Darboy. She and Edward were instrumental in the opening of Camp Winnecomac, a Girl Scout day camp, in 1954. (From Paul Ryan's family history files)
Edward and Margaret had three children;
3.3.5.1 Celine Ryan who was born in Kaukauna and is married to George Voris. They have 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
3.3.5.2. Donald Ryan who was born in Kaukauna and is married to Dorothy Wolfinger. They have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.
3.3.5.3 Patrick Ryan who was born in Kaukauna and is married to Jean McCormick. They have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
Edward John Ryan died on June 6, 1976 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Marguerite (DeBrue) Ryan died on March 24, 1990 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. They are both buried at St. mary's Church Cemetery in Kaukauna.
3.3.6 Mary Elizabeth Ryan was born on July 11, 1909 in Buchanan, Wisconsin. She married Patrick Leroy.
Patrick and Mary had two children;
3.3.6.1 Mary Patricia Leroy who is a Sister of The Holy Names. See more about Sister Mary Patricia on the Religious Service page.
3.3.6.2 Marguerite Ann Leroy, who was born in Los Angeles and is married to John Cashen. They have 3 children.
Mary (Ryan) Leroy died on January 14, 1969 in Los Angeles, California.
Catherine (Gleeson) Ryan died of pneumonia on February 7, 1920.
Daniel J. Ryan also died of pneumonia at his home on March 13, 1923. They are both buried at St. Mary’s Catholic Church cemetery in Kaukauna.
In the book "The Streets of Kaukauna" it mentions Ryan St. as named after Daniel J. Ryan the 1st president of the village of Combined Locks and a supervisor to the Outagamie County Board.
3.4 Emanuel Malachi Ryan was born December 17, 1862 in
Buchanan, Wisconsin. Malachi never married. He lived
at home most of his life, eventually taking charge of his father’s farm.
He was
born in the town of Buchanan, Wisconsin and lived there as a farmer most of his life. As
Combined Locks Village President, he was a member of the Outagamie County Board of
Supervisors from 1925 until 1933. He was a former member of the County Agricultural
Committee, he was one of five persons honored in 1931 by the University of Wisconsin for
outstanding work in agricultural and home making fields. He received a Certificate of
Recognition at the University's Farm and Home Week. He was a member of the Knights of
Columbus, Kaukauna and the Holy Name Society at St. Mary's Church, Kaukauna.
He had little formal education, but he was honored by the University of Wisconsin
because of his contribution to the brewing industry. He developed a cold resistant
strain of barley and took a prize at the Columbian Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri.
For 6 weeks each winter he would come to his nephew, William Ryan's house in Madison for
a short course at the University. He always enjoyed Amos and Andy on the radio while
there. He lived in Kaukauna with his sister Miss Winnifred Ryan. (From Paul Ryan's
family history files)
To see and read more about Malachi Ryan's honor from the University of Wisconsin, follow this link.
This portrait of Malachi Ryan hangs in the Agriculture Building at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
"When I was a Hired Man"
written by Stan Kauth
for the Outagamie County Historical Society (circa 1941?)
He worked for Malachi Ryan.
WHEN I WAS A HIRED MAN By Stan Kauth
"...for many years I caddied over the hills and terrain where we had played as kids and worked as hired men."
During vacation from high school my older brother, Bernard, and I worked for Malachi Ryan, an outstanding farmer in Outagamie County. In fact, he was awarded special recognition by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and local- students attending the University at Madison would tell of seeing his picture in Babcock Hall. I recall hearing that he was the first to introduce alfalfa in this area, as prior to that timothy was the chief hay crop.
Malachi was an interesting Irish bachelor farmer whose parents had settled here as early as 1857. I'm sure they bought the hilliest land in the county and I recall how we had to pitch all the hay with forks while neighbors were using hay-loaders.
We would arrive at the farm at seven o'clock in the morning after fortifying ourselves with a good breakfast our mother prepared for us before our three-quarters of a mile walk. Malachi ran a disciplined, well-organized operation. At mid-morning his sister, Winifred, would find us with cold lemonade and snacks. We returned to the house for dinner at 11:30 and later enjoyed a half-hour rest listening to the radio for news, weather report and baseball. An older sister, Ellen Cripps, was always ready with a detailed account of the game, but Malachi had only time for the score. Then it was back to the hills and fields again until supper time. By the time we walked home we were "knocked out" and slept until awakened to breakfast and the routine of another day.
Threshing was a more exciting time when the Wiedenhaupt crew (mostly family) moved in and spent two or three days threshing and enjoying the bountiful table of good food. It makes me feel nostalgic to write about it and recall that Malachi offered me my first bottle of cold beer to enjoy with the rest of the crew. Malachi never indulged and was temperate in many habits. He never swore or used profanity, but did have a bit of Irish vernacular to fit the occasion.
One day while we were loading manure a delegation of local merchants and potential golfers, along with Mr. Killick. a golf pro, came to discuss the purchase of seventy acres of the Ryan farm to landscape for a nine-hole golf Course. It became a fact and for many years I caddied over the hills and terrain where we had played as kids and worked as hired men.
The Depression came, the Kaukauna Golf Club failed, and Mr. Ryan got the land back. Several ran it and I leased it for the years '39 and '40. My younger brother, Paul, was the greens-keeper. The draft took us in early '41 and eventually the fairways and greens reverted to Cow pasture. Malachi was President of Combined Locks Village for many years and I recall how the young boys from the village would play a game of "Heads and Tails" with him. A bounty of fifteen cents was paid for crows but gophers brought only a nickel. The kids would come with the tails one day and two days later their brothers or cohorts would appear with the heads. Malachi would look at them a little askance, but would go along with them.
I can see him yet, so erect, a twinkle in his eye and a fast jaunty walk. He was quite a guy.
Malachi Ryan died on December 7, 1942, his death certificate lists flu, chronic endiocarditis and hepatitis as the causes for death. He is buried in St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery in Kaukauna.
3.5 Annie Ryan was born May 14, 1865. She is listed living with her parents in both the 1870 and 1880 census. How, when or where she and her sister Ellen met their future husbands is unknown. Outagamie County marriage records list that on November 18, 1891 she married James Harney in a double wedding with her sister Ellen Ryan in Buchanan. James was the son of John and Catharine “Kate” (Long) Harney, a laborer who was born in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland, but was residing at that time in Duluth, Minnesota.
This article appeared in the local newspaper;
James and Anna would settle in an area just outside of Cloquet, MN., called Thomson township. Years later, part of this township would be named after James Harney and can easily be found on the maps today as Harney, MN.
James and Annie had eight children;
3.5.1 John Harney born 8/20/1892 in Duluth, MN. He is listed living with his parents in
Thomson township in Carlton County, MN. the 1900, 1910 and 1920 census records. In 1930,
he is listed in the census records living in Plymouth in Hennepin County, MN. aged 38,
married at age 22. His spouse Edith is also listed as age 38. James is listed as a
laborer at the Coal Company. There are no children listed and Edith is noted as having
no living children. According to Harney Family history, John James Harney was a captain
in the army in WWI, served in the trenches in France, and when they fought Pancho Villa
on the Mexican Border. However, in the midst of battle he got appendicitis and was
shipped by train to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to the army hospital to recover, where he met
a nurse named Edith Peterson, whom he married about 1915.
Edith (Peterson) Harney died of hypertension and a cerebral hemorrhage on May 20, 1940. Her death certificate lists her parents as Hans Peterson and Dora Everson, both of whom were born in Norway. Edith is listed as born in Sioux City, Iowa on April 30, 1887. Sometime after 1940 John would marry Laura Maude Watson who died four years before him on Nov. 11, 1981. John Harney died in Brainerd, Minnesota on June 11, 1985. His death certificate lists the cause of death as CVA and notes his burial was to be at Calvary Cemetery in Duluth.
3.5.2 Malachi Lawrence Harney was born in Thomson, Carlton County, Minnesota on June 11, 1895. He served in the Marine Corps during World War I.
After the war, sometime around 1920, Malachi married Galdys Podratz. She was born on July 28, 1897 in Hanley Falls, Minnesota, the daughter of Charles and Susan Podratz. Malachi and Gladys did not have any children.
The following is a description of Malachi from Paul Ryan's family history files;
Mr. Malachi Lawrence Harney, Assistant Chief Coordinator of Treasury Enforcement Agencies and Assistant to the Commissioner of Narcotics, was born June 11, 1895, in Duluth, Minnesota. After receiving his early education in the public schools in Scanlon and Cloquet, Minnesota, he matriculated in the University of Minnesota College of Agriculture, from which he was graduated with a B.S. Degree. Before beginning his government career, he served as scientific instructor in 1917 in the high school in Hill City, Minnesota, and in 1919-1920 with the high school in Superior, Minnesota, in the same capacity, combining the duties of athletic coach. June 12, 1920 he accepted an appointment as an agent of the prohibition unit of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He was detailed to the field force in Minnesota and headed that organization until September 1927. He then received a transfer to the Intelligence Unit of the same bureau in Chicago. He served as Administrator of the Bureau of Prohibition in St. Paul, Minnesota, from July 1927 to February 1932. He served as administrator in Chicago, Illinois from February 1932 to July 1933. He returned to St. Paul in August 1933 as investigator for the Alcohol Beverage Unit and continued in this role until February 1934. He then resumed his Special Agent status with the Intelligence Unit. He was called September 16, 1936 to serve as the Assistant to the Commissioner of Narcotics. In addition to the duties of this post, he also serves as Assistant Chief Coordinator of Treasury Enforcement Agencies, having been appointed in December, 1941. Mr. Harney saw service in World Was I with the Marine Corps. He was an accomplished Boxer during his college days. In 1935 he served in the Secret Service guarding President Roosevelt. (From Paul Ryan's family history files)
The photograph above appeared in the Smithsonian Magazine
The man in the hat in the lower left hand corner is Secret Service Agent Malachi Harney.
Gladys (Podratz) Harney died on November 22, 1977 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Malachi Lawrence Harney died on February 24, 1984 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. they are both buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in South Minneapolis, Minnesota.
3.5.3 Thomas Edward Harney was born in Thomson, Carlton County, Minnesota on February 5, 1897.
After the war, Thomas went back to school at the State Teachers College in Superior, Wisconsin, and then his Master of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame. On September 27, 1924 he married Mary Agnes Healy in Fargo, North Dakota. She was born on August 28, 1898 in North Dakota. By 1930 they were living with their first two children in Rochester, Monroe County, New York, where Thomas was employed as a professor at the Roman Catholic College.
1942 Unknown Newspaper article;
Appointed Superintendent of Public School for Dunkirk, NY.
Former Cloquet man is educator in New York State
Thomas E. Harney, son of Mrs. and Harney, 23rd third Street, Cloquet, has been appointed superintendent of public schools at Dunkirk, New York. Mr. Harney is a well-known former resident of Cloquet, having received his elementary and high-school education here, and has many friends in the community who will be interested in his appointment to the position. Following are comments on Mr. Harney's appointment as taken from an article in the Buffalo New York Evening News: eight years of college and university training and 20 years of administration and supervisory experience in the field of education fit Mr. Harney for the position. A native of Duluth, he is married and father of three children. He lives on Main Street, Clarence. Following graduation from Superior State teachers College, Mr. Harney trained at the Naval Aviation School, Great Lakes Illinois. Upon completion of the course he declined an instructor-ship in favor of active duty at the U.S. Naval Air Base, Paulliac, France. After the war he was director of civilian rehabilitation in the detached service U.S. Navy, at Lille, France. He was a principal of a Carlton Elementary School and the Ada high-school before assuming the directorate of the Department of Education at Nazareth College, Rochester. Since 1931 he has been a director of education at Canisius College. Mr. Harney received his bachelor of arts degree in education from the State Teachers College at Superior Wisconsin, and his master of arts degree from the University of Notre Dame. While completing his master's thesis, he was a part-time instructor. He also directed summer sessions at Springfield Illinois Junior College, sisters of the St. Joseph motherhouse, Pittsburgh N.Y., and Mount Carmel College in Niagara Falls Ontario. He did graduate work at the University of Rochester, Syracuse University and University of Buffalo, where he is a candidate for a director's for a doctor's degree in education. Mr. Harney is the author of numerous magazine and technical journal articles, and two of his educational workbooks have been published. He was awarded one of 12 Notre Dame graduate school scholarships offered in nationwide competitive examination. Mr. Harney served as vice president of Buffalo chapter of progressive education association and is a member of the American Legion .
Thomas and Mary had three children;
3.5.3.1 Mary Catharine Harney was born on January 13, 1926 in Fargo, North Dakota. She married Edward J Donahoe on February 5, 1949 at Madison, Wisconsin.
Edward and Mary Donahoe had children;
John Donahoe,
Michael Donahoe,
Catherine Donahoe,
Patricia Donahoe,
Margaret Donahoe,
Judith Donahoe,
Virginia Donahoe,
Mary Catharine (Harney) Donahoe died on February 9, 1964 in Superior, Wisconsin and is buried there.
3.5.3.2 Thomas E. Jr. was born in Fargo, North Dakota. He married Rosemary Messina in 1951 in Dunkirk, NY. They have two children;
Thomas E Harney, Jr.
Mary C Harney, married to Paul D Miller.
3.5.3.3 Margaret Ann Harney was born in Buffalo, New York. She married Anthony Pagano in 1959 in Dunkirk, NY.
They have three children;
James M Pagano, married to Margaret Smith and they have three children; Jonathan, Kenneth and Christopher.
Jeffrey A Pagano
Michael T Pagano, married to Heather R McCown and they have one child; Hadleigh.
Thomas Harney is the author of three books on Canisius College;
1971 A History of Canisius College: 1870-1879 The First Nine Years
242 pages Hardcover, Copyright 1971 by Thomas E. Harney, Vantage Press Inc., 120 West 31st St. New York, NY. 10001
1981 A History of Canisius College 1883-1913: Under the New York State Regents' Charter on Washington St. Buffalo, Published in Hardcover by Exposition Press (June, 1981) Author: Thomas E. Harney
1988 History of Canisius College Published in Hardcover by Vantage Press (July, 1988) Author: Thomas E. Harney, PBKC LD791.C52 H3 Vol. : Harney, Thomas E., AMDG: a history of Canisius College, volume III / Thomas E. Harney. [1st ed.] New York: Vantage Press, [1988]. 239 p. illus. 22 cm. Includes bibliographical references. Canisius College- History.
Thomas Edward Harney died in Dunedin, Florida on May 13, 1989. Mary (Healy) Harney died Fargo, North Dakota in August of 1974 just 10 days after their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
3.5.4 James Harney was born in Thomson, Carlton County, Minnesota on November 14, 1899. He married Geraldine Flynn about 1925. They had two children;
3.5.4.1 James Patrick Harney was born on April 27, 1930 in Duluth, MN. He had several marriages. With his first wife he had four children; Virginia, Bridget, James and Dennis.
James P Harney died on Dec 22, 2004 in San Diego, CA.
3.5.4.2 Lawrence Timothy "Tim" Harney was born in Duluth, MN. He married Virginia Cayou and they have several children whose names are not all known, but include
Kathleen M Harney born in Duluth and married to Richard Fichtner and they have three children; Brandon, Derek and Garrett.
Kevin G Harney born in Duluth.
Timothy J Harney born in Duluth and is married to Stephanie Sorenson and they have two children; Jordan and Jontesha.
Mary A Harney born in Duluth and is married to Charles A Tolo and they have one child; Marijah.
Daniel T Harney born in Duluth.
James Harney died in the line of duty as a Prohibition Officer on July 24, 1932.
To read the various newspaper articles regarding James Harney's murder, follow this link.
Geraldine (Flynn) Harney died just a few years later in 1935. Their two children were raised by relatives.
3.5.5 Anna Stella Harney was born in Thomson, Carlton County, Minnesota on July 28, 1902.
Anna Harney was only 9 years old when she died on July 31, 1910 in Thompson, MN.
3.5.6 Leo Francis Harney was born in Thomson, Carlton County, Minnesota on January 9, 1904. He married Bertha Matilde Johnson on November 5, 1927 in Duluth, MN. Bertha was born on January 22, 1905 in Forbes, MN., the daughter of Severon Johnson.
Leo and Bertha had 3 children;
3.5.6.1 Marion Harney was born in Duluth, MN. In 1951 she married Harry E Newbury III and they have two children;
Paige Newbury , who is married to Gerald Fagnan and has three children; Erica, Kirsten and Aaron.
Dirck Newbury , who is married to Charisse Hampton and has two children; Marion and Jason.
3.5.6.2 Marjorie Ann Harney was born on January 6, 1932 in Duluth, MN. She married John McCleary on ?. John was born on July 21, 1930.
John and Marjorie had two children;
Lance McCleary who is married and has one son, Patrick.
Patrick McCleary who is married to Lori.
John McCleary died on July 17, 2000 in Park Forest, IL.
Marjorie (Harney) McCleary died on November 8, 2002 in Park Forest, IL.
3.5.6.3 John Leo Harney was born in Duluth, MN. He is married to Sharon Redlinger and they have four children;
Jana Harney who is married to Scott Johnson and they have two children; Kennedy and Margan.
Michael Harney
Sue Ann (Kyisook) Harney
Paul Francis Harney
Leo F Harney died on July 29, 1997 in Cloquet, MN.
Bertha (Johnson) Harney died on January 30, 1980 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
3.5.7 Catharine Harney was born in Thomson, Carlton County, Minnesota on December 11, 1905. She married Jacob "Jake" Osbolt about 1939. Jake was born on June 12, 1889 in Logatec, Yugoslavia.
Catharine (Harney) Osbolt died on January 11, 1993 in Hot Springs, AR.
Jacob "Jake: Osbolt died on June 15, 1980 in Hot Springs, AR.
3.5.8 Martin Philip Harney was born in Thomson, Carlton County, Minnesota.
Martin and Rosella had 3 children;
3.5.8.1 Catherine "Kay" Harney who was born in ? and is married to ? Tierney.
3.5.8.2 James Martin Harney was born on November 18, 1934 in Cloquet, Minnesota. He married Phyliss ? and they have two children; Roy and Corrine.
James Martin Harney died on July 27, 2000 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
3.5.8.3 David Harney was born in Cloquet, Minnesota. He is married to Rosalee.
In May of 2004, David Harney took a bicycle tour of Ireland. You can see the details and photographs at this web page - http://www.bikex.net/ireland/
Then in September, 2004 he took a bicycle tour of France! Those details and photos are at - http://www.bikex.net/france04
David and Rosalee participated in the COWS - Couples on Wheels bike ride in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. (Follow this link to see the picture and newspaper article)
The children of James and Anna with their spouses in about 1970
September 1981 Park Rapids, MN.
L-R; Martin P Harney, Leo F Harney, Thomas E Harney
James Harney died of Leukemia on August 19, 1939 in Duluth, Minnesota.
Anna (Ryan) Harney died of Arteriosclerosis on March 6, 1954 in Duluth, Minnesota.
3.6 Thomas Henry Ryan was born January 21, 1866. Almost all records list his birth date as in 1867. His baptismal record can be found in the St. John Little Chute Catholic Church records and clearly records his birth on Jan 21 in 1866 and baptized on Feb 3, 1866. His baptismal sponsors were Michael and Margaruite Ryan. Michael Ryan is most likely his uncle Michael who lived in California and would die in a mining accident in 1878.
Thomas would grow up to become
one of the most prominent citizens of Outagamie County. In the book “History of
Outagamie County”, which he authored, his own biography reads,
“Thomas H. Ryan, Judge of the Municipal Court at Appleton, was born in the town of
Buchanan in this county, January 21, 1867. Daniel and Winifred (Powers) Ryan his
parents, were natives of Ireland, born in County Limerick and County Clare, respectively
and both came to the United States about the year 1848 and were married in Massachusetts
two years later. (Note- which is wrong they were married in 1856) After seven years they
came to Outagamie County Wisconsin and bought unimproved Government land in the town of
Buchanan. To the original purchase of eighty acres Mr. Ryan added at different times
until he had acquired 300 acres. He died Feb 24, 1907, preceded by his wife on October
16, 1903. They were parents of four sons and four daughters and reared their children in
the same faith which they belonged, Roman Catholic. Their children were: Ellen, the wife
of Peter Cripps, of Kaukauna; Mary , deceased; Daniel J. residing on the old homestead
and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors; Malachi, a resident of Buchanan ; Anna , who
married James Harney and has her home in Duluth. ; Thomas H. ; Winifred, who resides
with her brother Malachi: and Dr. M.C. Ryan of Oklahoma. Mr. Ryan was a man of
pronounced characteristics, possessed of a level business head, strictly temperate in
his habits, an abstainer from the use of tobacco, a consistent member of the Catholic
Church and of Sunday observance, never aspired for official position, kindly as a father
and neighbor and a man of unblemished reputation. Thomas H. Ryan was educated at the
Ryan high school, Appleton, and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts from
the University of Wisconsin in 1891. He took the law course in the State University from
which he was graduated June 16, 1892, and succeeding which he began practicing his
profession at Appleton, first in partnership with A.B. Whitman and later alone. He was
city attorney from 1897 to 1907 and was then elected Judge of the Municipal Court in
which official position he has since served. The principal recreation of Judge Ryan is
in the looking after his farm and engaging in literary pursuits. He is a Catholic in
religion , a Democrat in politics and socially is identified with the Knights of
Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. October 27, 1897 he married Elizabeth
Cuthbert and to this union three daughters and two sons have been born.”
This is the photograph of Thomas Ryan that was published in the "History of Outagamie County"
3.7 Winifred Ryan was born February 22, 1869. Winifred Ryan never married. She lived for
many years with her brother Malachi, working as a housekeeper. Winifred Ryan died at the
age of 90 on June 11, 1959 of arteriosclerosis, her address was listed as 405 W. Seventh
St, Kaukauna. She is buried in St. Mary’s Catholic Church cemetery in Kaukauna.
In this picture on the left below, the three Ryan sisters are from left to right; Anna (Ryan) Harney (1865-1954), Ellen (Ryan) Cripps ( 1857-1951) and Winifred Ryan (1868-1959). The picture on the right is Ellen (Ryan) Cripps probably around 1890.
3.8 Martin C. Ryan was born May 30, 1872 in Buchanan, Wisconsin. Martin went to school and became a dentist. On June 26, 1900 he married Annie “Nan” Donohue at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kaukauna. Annie was born January 9, 1879 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the daughter of Michael Donohue and Mary Duggan. Martin was mentioned in the local papers quite a bit as “Dr. M.C. Ryan”, as he and his family moved about. Martin and Annie first lived in Kaukauna, then in 1901 moving to Milwaukee where he completed his education. By 1904 they lived in Marion, Wisconsin, then in 1906 moving to Coffeeville, Kansas. In the 1920 Census they are found in Devol, Oklahoma. Martin and Annie had 6 children that we know of; Clement, Lucile, Martin Jr. Earl, Carl and Virginia.
The picture on the left of Martin and "Nan" (Donahue) Ryan was probably taken in 1902 or '03, as Martin Jr. was born in 1904.
