New Britain herald., 1919-05-10

Plainville today mourns the death | of it's oldest railroad man, William | J. Ryan, whom death elaine at his ] home on West Main street shortly : after 9 o'clock last evening. Death 1 was due to various ailments from
 which MT, Ryan had been sick but 1 a short time.
 The deceased was born in New Britain and was 54 years old. His ; early life was spent Tn the neiebbor- ing city after which he moved with his family to Farmingto where the family has lived ever since To be- l come a railroad man was the anlbi- tion of each male member of the
 family, and, as such, William started out carly in life.
 Over 30 years of his life had been spent with the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad company and always in this locality. He is one Of the few men who ever worked for a railroad company who never worked on more than one division. MT. Ryan always labOred on the Northampton dlV1sion, known to railroad men as the canal road. Through the pro- cesses of development the veteran went. First as brakeman he started " and lastly as conductor. His success was quickly attained and he was known by all railroad mon as a. hard and consistent worker and an ex ample of a ''real'' railroadcr For the ma jority of the 90 years with the company, he had held the. responsible position of conductor. It was always his luck to draw a canal run and thus he was known intimately and well by everyone from New Haven 10 Northampton. The ''local' freights both north and south used to be run by 'BilI' Ryan, as he was faVoritely called by his cO-Workers. Many men were under his tutOra ge, all of whom made good in the railroad game in later years. As a reward for his many services he was given the po- sition of Conductor of tho sWitcher in the local freight yard. This allowed him to maintain his homo in this town and to lead a quiet life. He had this position for over three years and held it at the trmc of his death
 He was a favorite among the younger mcn of the road because he was so easy 10 approach and always willing to give them the fuil benefit of his knowledge. He was also we'll known by the heads Of the local fac tories. having had charge of the
 "placing" of cars at the local fac tory yards. His familiar figure upon
 the top of a freight car will be missed
 by all railroad men. His command
 ing voice when .kicking" car into position at the freight house will also be missed. Tn fact Conductor Ryan will be missed for a long time in Plainville where he was a well liked cha ra cter. Besides his wife, he leaves a son, John, also a railroad man: a sister. Mary. of Farming gt on, his parents. now among the oldest | residents of the town of Farmingto on,
 and two brothers, James. foreman of
 the section. gang in Pennington, and 1 George chief train. dispatcher in | Hartford. The funeral will be held 1 Monday morning from the Church of i Our Lady of Mercy at 9 o'clock. l Burial will be in Unionvil1e.
 Mourn Death of R. C. Usher, Jr. 1 c. Usher, Jr, at the New Britain 1 hospital yesterday morning was re- l ceived as a shock in this town as most i of the people were unaware that he | was sick. He was 39 years old and was born in this town. He was edu-
 cated in the local schools and after l leaving High school attended Maine | University. He studied eIeotrica 1
 engineering and was connected m l that capacity, with the Trumbull i Electric company for. over 10 years. l ateJV he had bppD. pD1OIoVnd