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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Portrait and Biographical Album of
Huron County, Michigan
Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884

           [383]

           JAMES RYAN, proprietor of the Port Austin Hotel, and also of the
        White Ash Grove breeding farm, was born May 1, 1835, in County
        Tipperary, Ireland, and is the son of JOHN and MARY RYAN. He was
        seven years old when his parents emigrated from the Green Isle to
        Canada, where the father bought a farm, near the city of Ottawa.
        Not long after they removed to a farm in Huron County, Ont.
           MR. RYAN was thoroughly trained in agricultural knowledge, and
        when he was 17 years old became the proprietor of 100 acres of
        land, which was in a natural state and covered with heavy timber.
        On this he operated until he had cleared 66 acres and erected
        thereon good buildings, set out orchards and put the farm in a
        promising condition.
           He left Canada in the fall of 1861 and came to Port Austin,
        where he purchased the piece of ground now constituting the site of
        the hotel. He erected a small building for the purpose of hotel-
        keeping, in which he transacted business until 1868, the year of
        the construction of the Port Austin House. The former structure is
        still in existence and is occupied by a tenant.
           MR. RYAN was the proprietor of a stage route between Port Huron
        and Bay City 11 years, and from Port Austin to Bad Axe four years.
        His hotel is ample for the accommodation of his patrons, and is
        supplied with all the appurtenances requisite for the welfare of
        its guests. A good livery is attached, and a free carriage runs to
        all trains and boats. He owns a considerable amount of village
        property, including a barn and granary and two lots situated
        opposite his stables, and a lot west of the hotel, containing a
        dwelling and a blacksmith shop. He owns, also, four lots in another
        direction, and a house and lot in Grindstone City, and he manages a
        meat market at Port Austin.
           The White Ash Grove breeding farm includes 340 acres of land,
        all enclosed and cultivated, and it constitutes in every sense a
        model farm. Besides this, MR. RYAN owns 560 acres in Huron and
        Tuscola Counties. His herds and flocks comprise thoroughbreds and
        grades of the finest kind. He owns an average of 75 head of Durham
        cattle, and Southdown and Cotswold sheep. His horses are Hamble-
        tonians, Clydesdales and Mambrinos, and his hogs are pure
        Berkshires.
           MR. RYAN was married in Biddulph, Huron Co., Ont., Feb. 10,
        1857, to ELIZABETH McCORMACK, and they are the parents of 10
        children.  MARY A. is the wife of ELI FULLER, jeweller at Port
        Austin; JOHN, book-keeper for his father, is Supervisor of Port
        Austin Township, and was elected Clerk of Huron County at the
        recent election (1884) on the Democratic ticket; was graduated at
        Goldsmith's Business College at Detroit, Sept. 14, 1883; VALENTINE,
        JANE, JULIA, JAMES W., MARGARET, SUSAN, ELLEN and GERTRUDE.
           The publishers of this work take pleasure in presenting a
        portrait of MR. RYAN, accompanying this biographical sketch.

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