I have some papers for the Ryan family, early settlers of Fresno. Hope this helps someone.

Jeremiah Ryan was born in Ireland in 1836, ex-confederate soldier from Texas, moved to Fresno in 1873. The notes state that he married Catherine Neary in Texas prior to the Civil War although the birthdates of the children are somewhat later.

Jerry and Kate had 10 children:
Johanna b. 1873, died infancy
Peter, died 1897
William H. died 1918
Jerry Ryan Jr.
Morris
Charles
Louis Florian Ryan, b. Fresno, 1882, d. Fresno 1947 married Lilian Kane of Carlin Nevada, had 2 children, Mary Laurentia (b. 1908, d. 1992, no descendants) and Louis K.
Mrs. M. Y. Hinkle of San Francisco (Aunt Jo, the beauty, cocktail created for her at the Waldorf Astoria when she visited NY c. 1895)
Mrs. E (? might be Z or L) W. Gradner of San Francisco


From someone's genealogy notes: "The beginning of Fresno, May 10, 1872. The Central Pacific Railroad formally located the town of Fresno. The earliest religious service in what is now Fresno is dated Oct 21, 1873. It is the Baptismal entry of Johanna Ryan, daughter of Jerry Ryan and hs wife, Kate Neary Ryan. "

The following sounds like an obituary: "Jerry Ryan, ex-confederate soldier, railroad and hotel man, came to this city 35 years ago from Texas where he settled soon after coming to this country from Ireland. Born in Ireland August 15, 1836, 73 years ago and settled in Houston Texas where he was married just prior to the Civil War. Serving with Seventh Texas Cavalry of Rangers, captured at Shiloh. After the war, moved to Oregon. later in 1873 he came to Fresno. Ryan was first section foreman for the Southern Pacific in this locality and by his industry and shrewdness soon accumulated enough money to start him in the hotel business. Was very successful in this, made such wise investments in real estate that he became one of Fresno's wealthiest citizens."

Taken from a possible obituary: "Mrs. Catherine Ryan died March 15, 1906, about age 65 when she died. She was the mother of ten children, firstborn died in infancy, another, Peter died 9 years ago (1897?) and other children still living: William H. Ryan, Jerry Ryan Jr., Morris Ryan, Charles Ryan, and Louis Ryan, all of Fresno, Mrs. M. Y. Hinkle (Josephine?) and Mrs. E. (? could be Z or L) W. Gradner of San Francisco.

Letter from Grace Ryan, providing info from Sutro Library in San Francisco about the Irish immigration of the Ryan family:
"On April 17, 1847, the Undine sailed from Limerick to NY. Among the passengers were: John Ryan, 32, farmer, Mary Ryan, 30, spouse, Jeremiah, 12, Bridget, 10, John, 5, and Honora, infant." On a recent trip to Ireland, Grace had learned that the Ryans originally settled in Cork, then moved north to Tipperary.

Jeremiah was in the Confederate Army and may have had a son, Jeremiah Jr, known as Dutch.