Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical.
Charles Blanchard, Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884. 

MORGAN COUNTY
ADAMS TOWNSHIP
PAGE 317

WILLIAM A. RYAN, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Campbell County,
Tenn., September 26, 1825, and is the second child in a family of six children
born to John and Elizabeth (Dagley) Ryan, both of whom were natives of Tenn-
essee, and were of Irish and Holland  descent respectively.  John Ryan was 
educated and married in his native Tennessee, where he was for many years
engaged in agricultural pursuits.  In the spring of 1833, he sold the farm in Tenn-
essee, and, with his wife and family, started for Indiana, but died on the way
at New Albany, where he was buried, and where he had resided for some 
eighteen months.  He was a member of no church, but belonged to the Masonic
fraternity.  After Mr. Ryan's death, in August, 1835, the family removed to 
Owen County, Ind., where they were enaged in farming for some four or
five years.  They then came to Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind.  Here
the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Ryan occurred October 3, 1849, in her forty-fifth
year.  From early life she was a devoted and consistent member of the 
Missionary Baptist Church.  William A. Ryan, the subject of our sketch,
received such an education as could be obtained at the subscription schools
taught in the primitive log schoolhouses of the Indiana frontier.  He was em-
ployed at home with his mother until twenty-three years old.  He then settled
on a partially improved farm in Adams Township, Morgan County, which
had been deeded him and wife by his father-in-law.  He also entered and
bought wild land in what is now Ashland Township, same county, which
he improved and subsequently sold.  In 1870, he bought a partially improved
farm half mile north of Eminence, in Adams Township, Morgan County, upon
which he now resides, which is one of the best improved farms in the town-
ship.  He continued to add to his real possessions until he was the owner of
some 840 acres of well-improved land, a part of which he has since deeded
to his children.  He was married, October 29, 1848, to Miss Louisa J. 
Walters, a native of Owen County, Ind.  Nine children blessed their union, 
eight of whom--four sons and four daughters--are yet living.  Mrs. Louisa
J. Ryan departed this life October 22, 1883.  She was and had been from
childhood a devoted and consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Mr. Ryan also is and has been from early life a member of the same church,
having been a Deacon in the same for many years.  He is also a member of
Eminence Lodge, No. 317, I. O. O. F., in which lodge he has passed all the
chairs, being a member of the Grand Lodge of the State.  In politics, he is
a Republican, and is one of the early settlers, prominent farmers, and respect-
ed citizens of the township and county.

Data Entry Volunteer:  Diana Flynn 

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