William H. Ryan


William Henry Ryan was a U.S. Representative from New York.
Born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Ryan moved to Buffalo, New York, with his parents in 1866, where he attended the local schools. He engaged in the retail shoe business and later in the general insurance and bonding business.
In 1894, Ryan was elected to the board of supervisors of Erie County at the age of 34. He was reelected in 1897, and served as chairman in 1898.
That same year, Ryan was elected as a Democrat to the 56th United States Congress, where he served from March 4, 1899 to March 3, 1909. He ran unsuccessfully for renomination to his incumbent seat in 1908.
He served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1904, and 1924.
He resumed the insurance and bonding business in Buffalo, New York, and engaged for a time in banking. He served as a member of the grade crossing and terminal commission ; and as member of the Allegany State Park Commission.
He died in Buffalo, New York on November 18, 1939. He was interred in Mount Calvary Cemetery, at Pine Hill, near Buffalo, New York.