William H. Ryan

Who was 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. He attended the grade and high schools. He engaged in the retail shoe business and later in the general insurance and bonding business.

Ryan was elected to the board of supervisors of Erie County in 1894. He was reelected in 1897, and served as chairman in 1898.

Ryan was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth and to the four succeeding Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination 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 also engaged in banking. He served as member of the grade crossing and terminal commission 1919-1939. He served as member of the Allegany State Park Commission 1930-1939. He died in Buffalo, New York, November 18, 1939. He was interred in Mount Calvary Cemetery, at Pine Hill, near Buffalo, New York.