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The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., January 2, 1904, page 1
Includes portrait

THE LATE PATRICK RYAN

     On the 28th day of December, 1903, Patrick Ryan, one of the oldest pioneers of Klickitat county, passed away; and in response to many inquiries, a very good likeness of him appears above.
     Mr. Ryan was born in the state of Connecticut and in early life moved to the west, and in 1863 settled in Klickitat county. In those days it was a stockman's country. The bunchgrass was luxuriant and the land was filled with countless cattle and horses. There were few white men anywhere in Klickitat, perhaps not over a hundred all told, and these were engaged as stockman or herders. Mr. Ryan took up a home out on Spring Creek: and at one time owned the Green place, on which the Blockhouse stands. This was a wooden fort, built by the military authorities for the protection of the whites against the treacherous Indians. This fort or blockhouse is still standing but rapidly going to decay. Mr. Ryan had many and varied encounters with the siwashes for some time after his arrival; but in a few years the Indians quieted down, owing to the fast arriving hosts of white settlers.
     Mr. Ryan passed through several of the big campaigns against the Indians by the government's volunteer troops. No man was better versed in the early of history of Klickitat and neighboring sections of our state then he, and it was a pleasure in recent years to listen to his reminiscences of the days of '63.
     A few years ago, owing to the infirmities of rheumatism, he and family left the Spring Creek farm and moved to Goldendale, where he died. On another page verses and memoriam, by the family of the late Mr. Ryan, are published.


The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., January 2, 1904, page 1

PATRICK RYAN

     Patrick Ryan in Dead! On the 28th day of December, 1903, he crossed over the dark river to the great beyond, at the age of 66 years. He had been a very sick man for several months past, and his death was not entirely unexpected.
     Mr. Ryan was born in the state of Connecticut and in early life moved to the West; and in 1863 settled in Klickitat county, where he has since resided. In those early days it was a stockman's country. The bunch grass was luxuriant and the land was filled with countless cattle and horses. There were few white men anywhere in Klickitat, perhaps not over a hundred all told, and these were engaged as stockman or herders. Mr. Ryan took up a home out on Spring Creek; and at one time owned the Green place, we believe, on which the blockhouse stands. This is a wooden fort, built by the military authorities for the protection of the whites against the treacherous Indians. This fort or blockhouse is still standing, but rapidly going to decay. Mr. Ryan had many and varied encounters with the siwashes for some time after his arrival; but in a few years the Indians quieted down, owing to the fast arriving hosts of white settlers.
     Mr. Ryan passed through several of the big campaigns against the Indians by the government's volunteer troops. No man was better versed in the early of history of Klickitat and neighboring sections of our state then he, and it was a pleasure in recent years to listen to his reminiscences of the days of '63.
     A few years ago, owing to the infirmities of rheumatism, he and family left the Spring Creek farm and moved to Goldendale, since which time they had engaged in conducting a restaurant. Besides a wife, formerly Miss Sweeney, he leaves behind two children, a son and daughter to mourn his demise. The funeral was held from the home, on Wednesday, Dec. 30th, Father Verwhilgen, of Vancouver conducting the ceremonies, after which the body was taken to the Catholic cemetery, near this city for interment.
     Mr. Ryan was a loyal and devoted Catholic; liberal to his church; liberal to every worthy cause; a good neighbor and a kind husband. For many weeks and months past his wife had done everything in her power to aid and assist the suffering man, working night and day a great part of the time. This, too, in conjunction with running the restaurant, and attending to the many daily household duties; and with little assistance at any time from the outside. A more devoted and faithful wife cannot be found in Klickitat.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer