James was born in about 1833 in Ireland. It appears that he came to the United States with his brother, John C. Ryan. John married my great-great-great aunt, Johanna Murphy in 1852. James married my great-great-great aunt, Mary Murphy (Johanna's sister) in Peoria, Illinois in 1854. I have not found either John or James in the 1850 Census, so they may have arrived about 1851.
James and Mary had a daughter, Maggie, on the 1st of October in 1856, then had daughter, Alice, on the 17th of March in 1858. On the 12th of September 1859 another daughter, Johanna, arrived.
The 1860 Kickapoo, Peoria, Illinois Census was taken on the 30th of June 1860. James, Mary and daughters, Maggie and Alice, are listed. Sadly, their infant daughter, Johanna, had died. The family were living with Mary's parents, James and Alice Murphy.
On the 22nd of August in 1862, James Ryan enlisted in the 108th IL Infantry Company C with his brother-in-law, William H. Murphy. James' rank was listed as musician. He was 5'6" tall, had light hair, grey eyes,and a fair complexion. The record also shows that James deserted on 1 October 1862.
James and Mary had a son, Edmund, born to them around 1863.
And that is the last that I know of James Ryan. Mary remarried around 1865 to James Corrigan. I suspect that James Ryan enlisted or joined another company and died in the Civil War, but I don't know that to be fact.
Of course, another mystery is: why was James Ryan listed as a musician? What instrument did he play? I sure would like to learn more about him!
Enlisted
22 August 1862 • Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois
Enlisted in 108th IL Infantry Company C with his brother-in-law, William H. Murphy. James deserted on 1 October 1862. Was listed as a musician.James and Mary Ryan had a son, Edmund, born to them in around 1863.
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