The James Ryans of Cushing, Oklahoma
Several of Bartholomew Ryan's brothers left the Iowa farmlands for new farms and opportunities in Cushing, Oklahoma. One of the brothers, Dennis, stayed a few years; but later returned to Waukon where he died in 1907 (see last will & testament). Some of his children remained in Cushing, Oklahoma; some continued to farm around Waukon; however, his wife and the remaining children ultimately resided in Rolla, Missouri.
James Ryan, another of Batt Ryan's brothers settled permanently in Cushing, Oklahoma. In previous references (on our site), it showed that he owned a hotel in Waukon, Iowa, which was built by James and his brother Batt. In the late 1880s, he was nominated to run as Sheriff on the Democratic ticket, which turned out to be a very "dirty campaign" against his character (totally unfounded, but it may have contributed to his decision to leave Iowa). (see James Ryan, Jr. Archives).
Below is the cemetery listing for the descendants of the Ryans who continued to live around Cushing, Oklahoma. Bridget, who died in 1930, was also a sister to Elizabeth (Liza) Ryan. Liza Ryan was the wife of Batt Ryan. Both women were the children of Edward and Margaret Hill of Allamakee County, Iowa - more correctly, they lived near the small hamlet of Harpers Ferry. See Other Ryans of Cushing for additional information of the GREAT RYAN MIGRATION.
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We will be requesting many of the obituaries so that we can see what has happened with this family since leaving Iowa. In the meantime, we have had this obituary for some time, and it shows that family members have continued to live in Payne County, Oklahoma.
| GRACE RYAN APEL | ||||
| From "The News Derrick Journal," Drumright, Oklahoma, October 10, 1984 | ||||
| Funeral services were held today (Wednesday) at 10:30 a.m. for Grace Ryan Apel, 80, who died early Monday in Hillcrest Hospital, Tulsa. She was the mother of James E. Ryan, Okmulgee attorney. | ||||
| Father Martin C. Morgan conducted the services in St. Mary's Church. Burial was in St. Leo's Cemetery southwest of Drumright. | ||||
| Apel was born November 11, 1903, in Wanette, Oklahoma, the daughter of Joseph E. and Lula Melott. Her father was once a deputy United States marshall. | ||||
| She came to Drumright in 1916 at the peak of the oil boom and lived here the remainder of her life. She was married September 6, 1925, to James P. Ryan, who came to the oilfield when it opened in 1912. He preceded her in death March 20, 1975. She was married in February 1978 to Frank Apel who preceded her in death in April, 1979. | ||||
| She was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliary and was state president 1946-47. | ||||
| Other than her son, James E. Ryan, she is survived by a sister, Ruth L. Newsom of Stillwater and three grandchildren. | ||||
| Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Smith Funeral Home. | ||||