Friday's Photo/Thomas Ryan Of Manchester, NY

Thomas J. Ryan 1861-1940

     This is my first cousin three times removed if I'm reading the chart correctly.  Thomas was born in Walworth, NY, coincidentally the town I now reside in and he passed away in Manchester, NY -- coincidentally, the town I grew up in.  I'm not sure why, but I really love this photo of him; it was sent to me by my cousin John in Vegas, and I use it here with his kind permission.

    Thomas was the fourth of twelve children born to Irish immigrants Andrew Ryan, (brother of my great-great-grandmother Anna), and Bridget Hogan.  His father Andrew was born in Goldengarden Tipperary, and his mother Bridget probably in or near Knockavilla  Tipperary.  For much of their lives in America  Thomas' parents lived in Perinton, NY on Ryan Road.

      Thomas married Mary Josephine Lyons in about 1884 and the couple had seven children, all born in Perinton.  Around 1902 they moved to Manchester where several of his direct descendants still live  today. Thomas worked as a farmer and later in the large railroad yards in Manchester.  His death certificate says he died of myocarditis, a fairly uncommon ailment marked by inflammation of the heart muscle, and caused by a virus or auto-immune response as in rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.