Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-08-05
EVOLUTION OF THE BICYCLE.
John M. Ryan of This City the Pioneer
Rider of America.

ID Va
Rider of America.
Comparatively few riders of the two
wheeled steed in this city or state know
how the first machine was introduced
into the country. A DEMOCRAT repre-
sentative hunting around for news yes
day happened to meet John M. Ryan,
the carriage builder, and from him
CLEANED an interesting story of the evo
luton of the bicycle.
In the year 1864 a Frenchman, about
25 years of age, came to this country
from Paris, bringing with him one of
the two wheeled machines at that time
called velocipedes. He reached New
Haven and secured board with Mrs j.
Carroll, living on East street, between
st John and Greene streets. He had
but little money and few friends. He
exhibited his machine to the students of
Yale college and tried to induce them to
of velocipedes. He failed in this and
finally returned to Paris, leaving his
machine with Mrs Carroll as security
for board bill of $18. She kept the
machine although she considered it of
less value than a wheelbarrow.
Thomas and James Carroll, sons of
Mrs Carroll, were employed at that time
by John M. Ryan of this city, who was
foreman for Kean & Lyons at their
4
and Wallace streets, working for Mr.
Ryan for seventeen years. Mr. Ryan be-
came proficient rider of the velocipede
and attracted the attention of a young
man named Whittier, student at Yale
college. He became interested in the
machine and wrote about it to his
father, who resided on Broadway, N. Y.
and was at that time one of the most
noted carriage dealers in the country.
10 oil sv,f4 Aol ~
the machine and in a short time they
were being turned out by the hundred.
1t was at this time that Lyman Harri-
sons brother Henry, son in-law of l..
@. White of this city, at present a resi-
dent of Meriden, built the first rink in
America, on Franklin street, New Ha-
ven, where Peck Brothers are now
located. In this rink John M. Ryan
rode an exhibition race on the original
machine. Later he rode against seven
competitors for a silver pitcher, which
was awarded to him by the judges
Frank Prescott, a prominent druggist
and William Chapman, feed and flour
dealer. In the meantime Mr. Whittier
! made negotiations for the purchase OF
the original machine. Mr. Ryan an6
Daniel Kellehey, a son-in-law of Mrs
Carroll, and Attorney Stoddard, who is
now Judge Stoddard, finally sold hin
= the velocipede with all rights in the
, manufacture. Mrs Carroll had held the
machine for one year as security fol
board, and the original owner having
} left the country gave her clear title
Whittier was estimated to be worth
over 100000. The sale was completed
for the sum of $500. 1t proved to b,
, a misfortune to Whittier, for the suit
he was obliged to institute against in
Engagements on the machine ruined him
and at last accounts he was employed al
: salesman in a carriage repository il
Brooklyn.
l One year and half after the young
, Frenchman had left this country tn
! wheels were being manufactured il
! large numbers on the corner of Parl
and Crown streets. Kinks then com
menced to be built throughout tn
country, Newark, N. j., Hartford an,
). other places following New Haven.
Mrs Carroll, who sold the machine t.
l Mr. whittier, was an industrious widow
! with a family of nine children. Sh
: still lives in New Haven. She is tn
mother of William Carroll, who has beel
connected with the New Haven Registe
for the past fifteen years.
With each succeeding year improve
o ments were made in the 'wheels" unit
to-day the racers are as fast as the bes
y trottIng horses.