Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - RYAN, G. B

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Pioneer - RYAN, G. B.

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906

RYAN, G. B . The subject of this sketch is the proprietor of the largest dry goods house in Guelph, and one of the largest in Ontario, outside of the city of Toronto.

Mr. Ryan's family are of Welsh extraction, John, his grandfather, having come from Wales to Oakville, Ont., where he was one of the early pioneers. Augustus, his son, was b. Oakville in 1830, where he lived until early manhood.

George B. Ryan, son of Augustus Ryan, was educated at Georgetown, where he also learned the mercantile business. In 1875 Mr. Ryan embarked in the dry goods business at Orangeville, where he remained for six years. He then went to Barrie, where he carried on business for four years. In 1886 Mr. Ryan came to Guelph and purchased the dry goods business of the late John Hogg, who for some yeas carried on an extensive business, although he did hot occupy one-third of the store room now occupied by Mr. Ryan. The latter has combined three large stores where he carries a full line of dry good, carpets, millinery, gents' furnishings, clothing, boots and shoes, etc. In this establishment he gives employment to over 70 people. In 1888, in company with his brother J. C. Ryan, he established a dry goods store at Owen Sound, under the firm mane of Ryan Bros., where they do a large business and employ between forty and fifty hands. In 1898 Mr. Ryan established a dry goods store in Berlin, Ont., under the firm name of G. B. Ryan & Co., where he employs forty people. Besides being at the head of these large establishments mentioned, Mr. Ryan has been President of the Guelph Board of Trade since 1905. He is a Director of the Wellington Mutual Ins. Co.; Treasurer of the Guelph Radial Ry. Co., and is also an Alderman of the city of Guelph. He is a very public spirited man, and is deeply interested in everything pertaining to the building up of his adopted city of Guelph. In church matters he is also prominent. He was for many years Sabbath School Superintendent and is at present one of the Trustees of the Methodist church. He m. Miss Lavinda Keetch. Issue: Harold, Pearl, Norman P. and Jay. Mr. Ryan owns one of the finest residences in Guelph where he and his family reside.

From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906