James J.Ryan

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

Mr. RYAN is one of the sons of the Emerald Isle who has found in the New World the opportunities that have enabled him to rise from a lowly position in the financial world to one of considerable prominence, as he now, occupies a leading place in the business circles of the city in which he resides. He was born in Ireland in 1853, a son of Thomas and Mary (CUNNINGHAM) RYAN, who came to America in 1856 with their family of three children, and settled in Madison, New Jersey, where the father remained until his death. He was a gardener by occupation and followed that pursuit until called to his final rest, in 1891.

James J. RYAN was the sixth in order of birth in a family of eight children and was reared to manhood under the parental roof, acquiring his education in the old Madison Academy. When his school days were ended he went to New York city and learned engineering, which pursuit he followed for sixteen years. In 1872 he was made manager of the Kensington Department house and in 1879 assumed charge of the pavilion at Sharon Springs, where he continued until 1887, when he returned to Madison and engaged in the cultivation of roses, which had become one of the leading industries of this section of the state. He met with success in this undertaking and after carrying on the enterprise with profit for some time he embarked in the plumbing, steam-fitting and gas-fitting business. He has every facility and improved piece of mechanism for doing first-class work along these lines and has put in the plumbing in some of the finest residences in Madison.

Mr. RYAN is quite prominent in society circles, both fraternal and other wise, and for three consecutive terms has served as secretary of the Rose Growers' Association, an organization for advancing the interests of rose culture. He is vice-president of the Catholic Benevolent League and vice president of the Young Men's Catholic Club. In his political views he is a strong Democrat and in 1895 was nominated on the ticket of his party for city alderman, but through a political manoeuver he was defeated.

In 1881 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. RYAN and Miss Anna LENEHAN, a native of Ireland and a daughter of Thomas LENEHAN, who is still living on his farm in county Roscommon, Ireland. Mrs. RYAN is a cousin of John MC GUIRE, who was surveyor of the port of New York during President Cleveland's second administration, and is also a cousin of C. J. MC GUIRE, a prominent physician of New York city. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. RYAN:

Joseph, who died in infancy; and
Mary and
Margaret.

This biography was scanned and contributed by Catherine Smith DeMayo.

This page was last modified on: 01 January, 2014