Biographical Sketch of

Rev. Timothy J. Ryan

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 644 - 645


Rev. Timothy Joseph Ryan, a Catholic priest in charge of St. Joseph's Church of Berlin, was born in Killaloe, 
County Clare,  Ireland, July 21, 1860, and is a son of Patrick and Mary (Fitzgibbon) Ryan, who were natives of 
the same county.  Our subject received a classical and literary education at Ennis College, and took a regular 
theological course in the famous missionary college, All Hollows of Drumcondra, near Dublin, where he spent 
seven years in study, and was ordained in August, 1883.  He then came to America, and was assigned to duty in 
Marinette, Wis.  After serving ten months at that place in charge of a large congregation, he was transferred 
to Winneconne and Omro, having charge of those two churches at the same time.  In January, 1885, he was assigned 
to Berlin in charge of St. Joseph's Church where he has continued to serve until the present time, covering a 
period of five years.
 
Father Ryan is an energetic, enterprising clergyman, and has made substantial improvements in the church property 
in his care.  While at Winneconne he was instrumental in building a fine wooden church, 60 x 40 feet, the ceiling 
of which was twenty feet in height, in place of a church which was destroyed by a storm just before his advent 
in that community.  He also built the priest's house in Berlin for the St. Joseph's Church, a comfortable 
habitation, and has made other substantial improvements.  By invitation of the committee on arrangements, Father 
Ryan prepared and delivered an oration at the Centennial celebration held in Berlin April 30, 1889, in the presence 
of an assembled audience of people, on the subject of "George Washington 100 years ago."  The address, which was 
patriotic and eloquent, touched a sympathetic cord in the hearts of his hearers, and showed a deep veneration on 
the part of the speaker for the noblest character in American history, and a warm and earnest devotion to the 
broad principles of human liberty on which the Government of the United States is founded.






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