Stephen Ryan, Norwich, NY, Political Appointment 1909

Stephen Ryan of Norwich, Chenango Co., NY

Appointed Special State Inspector of Good Roads

Utica Saturday Globe, January 1909

 

Stephen Ryan

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  As a reward for his loyalty to Mr. Hearst during the recent State campaign, Stephen Ryan, of Norwich, has been appointed special road inspector in the State engineer and surveyor's department, under its new chief, Francis W. Skene.  The position pays $9 a day and all expenses.  It was formerly held by Frank D. Lyon, of Broome county.  In his official capacity Mr. Ryan will have charge of the inspection of good roads throughout the State and of roads in all townships worked under the money system.  He will be assisted by a corps of employees known as good road inspectors. These inspectors are under civil service and cannot be removed except for cause.

 

Mr. Ryan's political star has risen rather rapidly during the last few months.  He was one of the first Chenango county Democrats to "come out" for Hearst, and his influence was largely responsible for Chenango county sending  a Hearst delegation to the Buffalo convention.  Mr. Ryan was made State committeeman from his district, succeeding the late Elliot Danforth.  He took a prominent part in the campaign, being stationed in New York city as chairman of the Committee on Organization of his party. After election he was named a member of the committee chosen by State Chairman Connors to investigate the charges against State Committeeman McCarren, of Brooklyn.  His appointment to an important State office follows as a natural sequence.  His name figures with almost daily prominence in the political columns of the New York and Buffalo papers, and there is little doubt that he has a bright political future before him should the Democratic party remain in power. 

 

Previous to coming to Norwich to live Mr. Ryan was a prominent citizen of South Otselic, which town owes much of its present prosperity to his foresight and vigorous effort.  He was postmaster of South Otselic during President Cleveland's second term and for three years under President McKinley.

 

Mr. Ryan is a member of the Norwich Club, Chenango County Society of New York; the Elks, commander of S.R. Per Lee Camp, Sons of Veterans; on the staff of State Commander Naples, of the S. of V., and was for five years State deputy grand master of the A.O.U.W.

_______________________________________

 

Obituary

DeRuyter Gleaner, January 12, 1928

 

 

Stephen Ryan

1861 - 1927

(Photo from Binghamton Press, January 6, 1928)

 

Stephen Ryan, widely known in Democratic politics and for years the leader of his party in Chenango county, died at Crouse-Irving hospital, Syracuse [Onondaga Co., NY], Jan. 5th, following a stroke of paralysis.  He was 68 years of age.  The deceased was born in Homer [Cortland Co., NY] and for years the family resided at South Otselic where Mr. Ryan was engaged in the clothing business.  He was also postmaster at South Otselic.  In 1909 with his family he moved to Norwich and for a time was engaged in the insurance business.  He was chairman of the Democratic county committee for many years.  Mr. Ryan held appointments in the state highway department and various other jobs at Albany and elsewhere.  In 1918 the family moved to Syracuse.  At about that time he was connected with the revenue department in Washington, and in the customs house in New York city.  In recent years he had been engaged in income tax work, having had charge of this work for a prominent Syracuse law firm, and still later engaged in the work alone. For the past two or three years he had not been especially active, due to the fact that he was not enjoying good health.  Mr. Ryan is survived by his wife and the following sons and daughters, Miss Cassie and Miss Grace Ryan of Syracuse, Mrs. Clarence Gaines of Sherburne, Clair Ryan of Syracuse, Marion Ryan of New York, Harold Ryan of Norwich and Stephen Ryan Jr., of Syracuse, also a  brother, Patrick Ryan and a sister, Mrs. Hyde of Syracuse.  Funeral services were conducted Saturday and the body taken to Norwich for interment in St. Paul's cemetery. The Rev. Francis May of St. Paul's church assisted at the grave.