The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-12-04
FIRST WOMAN CITIZEN.
Her Sturdy Lads and Clever Lasses
Become Prominent Citizens.
known IN the "Widow Ryan"-WasA
Clever Business Woman-ShOrt
Sketch of Her Life and What
Some of Her Children &C.
complished.
From .ne News. Indianapolis. Ind.

~ @NS"Sf 1870
Hundreds Of thousands of men Of foreign
birth have taken out papers declaring their
citizenship in Indiana since that State was
admitted into the Union in 1916 without
creating remark or comment. 1t was a dit
ferent matter, however, when along in the
forties the first woman of foreign birth APP
piled for and received papers of citizenship
after declaring in set form that she re-
nounced all allegiance to every prince or
pO&ntate on earth.
This FIRST womaI citizen" was an IRISH
widow who settled in southern Indiana with
her progeny Of sturdy lads and clever lasses
upon a farm which she had bought. She
had taken out naturalization papersi in order
to manage her property to better advantage,
and for the further purpose OF starting her
family as true Americans with a full under
standing of the advantages and responsible
ties of American citizenship.
The Widow Ryan" as she was known
in Davies County, Indiana, was a great
woman with a clever business head and left
behind her those who grew to be worthy
men and worthy women, and who have left
their impress upC ii the State.
One Of these sons James B.. Ryan became
treasurer of the State of Indiana, and a SON.
in-law, NJ. L. Brett, also held that high and
honorable position. Another son was the
late Lieut.. Col. Richard j. Ryan who was
probably the most brilliant and gifted orator
that Indiana ever produced, and who during
the war for the Union served his country in
the Thirty-tifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
better known as tine Irish Regiment"
Another son is Thomas F. Ryan who is
now 80 years old, and with a few intervals of
absence has been a resident of indianapolis
for fOrty-two years. Mr.. Ryan has been an
active business mar; all his life and has seen
more than one fortune come and go in the
vicissitudes of trade and sudden panic.
In the early fifties smitten by the gold
F1r--- h 800 L. II A. H. &
Panama to California, and he has always re-
tanned the free-heaTted, open and trusting
confidence that distinguished the gallant
pioneers o. the golden State. He has been
all over the far west engaged in mining and
trade operations in Oregon, Arizona and
Montana. From Nay, 1885 until August,
1881 he was the government agent at the
Seal Islands off the Alaska coast, a highly
responsible position.
For ten years or more" said Mr.. Ryan
IN conversation with a group OF gentlemen
at the Indianapolis Board of Trade, Il have
been extremely sensitive in my lower limbs.
to weather changes. If my legs had been
filled with quick silver | do not think they
could have responded more quickly or mors
dlsagreeably to climatic conditions.
during the past two years this infrmity
became much worse, and | began to be
alarmed, fearing paralysis. My legs were
cold and recently from my knees down were
llp cCilSbllDl- L III ain III SHUT
distances and would even then experience
great WEAKNESS. | became more and more
alarmed. | naturally thought of paralysis
or locomotor ataxia. The prospect was not
a pleasing one.
Il happened to meet my old friend Capt.
c. F. Shepard, of this city. He was chant
ing the praises of DR.. Williams Pink Pills
for Pale People and gave me his experience,
telling me that he had been brought by
using them from a bed where he lay help
less, his physician having declared him a
hopeless victim of locomotor ataXia, and was
now as active as any man of his age, not
even requiring the use of a cane. Upon his
Williams Pink Pills.
Il found positive relief, after taking a few
doses. The numbness in my limbs disap-
peared as if by magic and | can walk as far
as l like at a good rapid gait and without
WEAKNESS. This you may understand is n
great boon to a man who has been of an
active habit of life and who still likes to
depend to a great extent upon his legs to get
around in the world.
The pills also drove the rheumatism out
of my hip for | have not been bothered with
it since | began their use. / think | shall
of DR.. Williams Pink Pills for Pale
People"
DR.. Williams Pink Pills for Pale People
contain, in a condensed form, ali the ele-
ments necessary to give new life and rich
ness to the blood and restore shattered
nerves. They are also a specific for troubles
peculiar to females, such as suppreasions, ir-
regularities and all forms of weakness. They
build up the blood, and restore the glow of
health to pale and sallow cheeks. In men
they effect a radical cure in all cases arising
from mental worry, overwork or excuses of
whatever nature. These pills are sold in
boxes (never in loose bulk at 80 cents a box
or six boxes for $3.50, and may be had of all
druggists. or direct by mail from DR.. Will
liams' Medicine Company, Schenectady,
N V