According to the Richmond, Indiana Wayne County Courthouse records John Ryan was born May 5, 1812 in town (or townland or township) of Kelly, County of Kilkinney, Ireland. He emmigrated in 1832 arriving in the United States on June 5. 1832.  He applied for citizenship September 6, 1836. In August of 1838 he was formally granted citizenship and (possibly on the same week-end) he married Sarah Ann Moore, with Justice of the Peace John C. Kibbey presiding.  The date of the wedding was Aug. 21, 1838 as was recorded in the Wayne County Indiana Courthouse.

John was an iron moulder by trade. Sarah Ann Moore was born in 1820 in North Carolina. Her parents were John & Sarah (Nelson) Moore.   The following children were all born in Richmond, Indiana: Elizabeth Ann, born 1840; Mary Ellen, born 1841; John A. born Oct.27, 1845; Sarah Catherine,born Feb.29, 1848; Julia A., born June 29, 1851; Margaret M., born Aug.31, 1853; and William M. born March 31, 1856.  John (Sr.) might have "confabulated" about his age in order to join the Indiana 36th Volunteer Infantry Regiment Company F on September 1, 1861.  His age is listed as 44 but court records shows that he was 49. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall, gray eyes and dark complexion. He mustered in October 23, 1861, at Richmond, Indiana, where the new regiment (36th Indiana Volunteer Infantry) was being formed.  For bravery at the battle of shiloh, he was promoted to corporal July 4, 1862.

A detailed study of John and Sarah and their family is on line if the reader is interested and has not reviewed their history.

John wrote three letters to his family from the battlefield during his service during the Civil War. It is plain from the letters John wrote home that he was not feeling well during the early months of 1862. It is clear from his letter (post Shiloh) that he was well enough to be in the fighting and that he demonstrated bravery.  His condition, however, must have gradually worsened thereafter; as the record shows that he died of typhoid fever on November 25, 1862 in Louisville, Ky., He is buried there in Cave Hill Military Cemetery Section B Grave 1209.

CLICK HERE to see the three letters John wrote home from the battlefield after the battle of Shiloh.

CLICK HERE to see more details (from official U.S. Government records) regarding John and his unit's participation in the Civil war.
 

CLICK HERE

to see some AWESOME photos of Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, including John Ryan's grave stone.  This page will also be used to "track" the progress of plans to "renew" John's gravestone.

CLICK HERE to see a complete summary of John's unit's action during the Civil War.

On August 20, 1879 Sarah (Moore) Ryan applied for a Civil War Widow's Pension of $8 per month until she died Feb. 24, 1905. She is buried in Earlham Cemetery Section 2 lot 77, Richmond, Indiana. Her children received $2 per month pension benefit until age 16 commencing July 25, 1866 till Jan. 28, 1867 for Julia, Aug. 30, 1869 for Margaret, and March 30, 1872 for William.

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