The O'Dea Families

     Winiford (Winnie) Ryan was born on October 18, 1821 in Lisdonnolly in the Parish of Moyne and Templetuohy, County Tipperary. Sponsors were Thomas ??? and Ellen Leary.¹ She was the daughter of John Ryan and Mary Browne. Winiford (Winnie) Ryan married John Ryan, son of Cornelius Ryan and Hanora Donnell, circa 1850. John and Winifred may have been married in New York before traveling west to Illinois. Winiford (Winnie) Ryan and John Ryan were separated between 1865 and 1870 in Stark County, Illinois. Note that Winiford is living with her brother, William, in 1870. Winiford (Winnie) Ryan re-married John Ryan, son of Cornelius Ryan and Hanora Donnell, on November 7, 1878 in Valley Township, Stark County, Illinois. Sponsors for the wedding were Hannah Ryan and Edward Colgan. Note that this civil record indicates that this is John's third marriage and Winnefred's second. Also, and importantly, that John's parents were John Ryan and Hanna McDonnald (Donnell) of Tipperary and that Winifred's were John Ryan and Mary Brown of Tipperary. Although this civil marriage appears to be one of reconciliation, the couple having separated sometime between 1865 and 1870, it is interesting in that 1) it gives Winifred's age as 46 (when it was actually 57) and 2) that it lists her as a widow. However, since there is no doubt that this Winifred Ryan is the same Winifred Ryan who married John sometime around 1853, listing herself as a widow may have curtailed any embarassing questions in the County Clerk's office about the temporary separation.^2,3 Winiford (Winnie) Ryan died on March 9, 1889 in Stark County, Illinois, at age 67. She was buried in St. Patrick Cemetery, Marshall County, Illinois. Neither John's nor Winifred's burial records appear in online resources like Find-a-Grave. However, during a visit to the cemetery, it was observed that John and Winifred are not buried next to one another. They have identical (and quite large) memorials, but the are placed about 80 feet apart. Winifred's is located next to William Ryan, her brother.