John Edward Ryea
John is the fourth known child of Peter Ryea and Mary Gero (dit Young), a family that grew to have at least eight Boys - Lewis, Peter, John, Andrew, Etienne (Aiken), Frank, Henry, and Joseph and two Girls Julia and Mathilda.
His Ryea family is still in Fairfield, Franklin County Vt in the 1870 Census, and he is listed as 5 years old and the second child they have that was born in Vermont. His older siblings, Lewis, Julia and Peter were all born in Canada as were his parents. Peter is listed as 28 and Mary 26. Both parents are marked as cannot read, cannot write.
By 1880, the family is living in Richford, Franklin County, VT. All the children are living with their folks – Peter is listed as 42, Mary as 30. John is listed as 14, and all but the smallest children are listed as cannot read and cannot write. Their last name is given as Ryer, but that could be the result of careless writing of the census taker. Peter the father along with Louis, Peter Jr, and John are all listed as Laborers.
On September 8, 1888, John Royea, a laborer, 22 years old marries Etta Smith, 21 in Berkshire, VT. His given place of birth is St. Albans, VT, son of Mary Geraw and Peter Royea. Etta is 21, born in Barre, Vt and the daughter of William Smith and Marrion Wells.
John and Etta settle in Franklin County, VT and begin their own family. Berney is born in March of 1889 but dies in August of 1890. Marion is born in October of 1890, Edward in August of 1893 and then Lula on Oct 1895. Lula sadly dies less than a year old. Lillian is born in January of 1897, and Cyrus in Jun of 1899. Cyrus also dies before being a year old.
In the 1900 Census, John is listed with his family in Berkshire, Franklin County Vermont in a rented home. His birthday is listed as July of 1865, 34 years old, married 11 years, a Farm Laborer who cannot read or write but he can speak English. His wife Etta is 32, born in September of 1867, with 6 children born but only 3 living - Marian, Edward and Lillian. She is also listed as being able to read and wrote and speak English.
Next door on the 1900 census is listed his parents, Peter 64 and Mary 60. No month or year is given for their births, which seems to indicate that they did not know when they were born. They were married for 45 years, and mary had had 12 children but only 10 alive at that time. Peter is listed as immigrating in 1849, and had naturalized but records confirming these facts have ever been found. Peter and Mary are listed as not able to read or write, but can speak English. Joseph, Frank and Henry with his family are all living with them.
Later in 1900, Etta and John Have a daughter Lena who lives for 2 years and then dies of Tuberculosis. John’s Brother Henry also dies in 1902 of the same disease. On the 28th of August in 1904, Etta Smith (37) and John Ryea (40) have a son, Clifford Ray Ryea, their 9th child and my great-grandfather. Ethel is born in September of 1906 and Frank in June of 1909.
In 1910 on the Bakersfield, Vt Census, John is 45, married 22 years, Rents a farm, is listed as a famer, cannot read or write. Etta is 42, and has had 11 children, 6 of which are living. She can read and write. Their daughter Marion and her husband Frank Dunham were living with them as well as Edward, Lillian, Cliffford, Ethel and Frank.
In 1912, Johns father, and then his mother both pass away. They had been living with their daughter Julia, who was married to Andrew Playful, in Franklin, Franklin, County, VT. In July of 1916, their son Frank dies of Pneumonia. Clifford Ryea was only twelve when this happens, but recalls it with sorrow more than 70 years later when I asked him about his family.
When World War One begins John and Etta’s son Edward enlists in the army and 1917 finds him in Virginia waiting for his transport overseas. A small item in the Burlington Free Press in 1918 states Edward is injured but gives no real indication how seriously. Edward returns from the war, alive but missing his arm. In 1920 he marries Bessie Bartlett.
In 1920 John and Mary are still living in Bakersfield, Franklin County Vermont with Edward, Ethel and Clifford in their home. In 1923 Clifford leaves Vt for NY. In his later years he would say he “left VT to marry a rich girl”.
In 1925 he married Isabel Osborn and in 1926 had a son, also named Clifford and in 1929 they are blessed with a daughter Lucy Etta. They lived in Pawling, NY their entire married life. Clifford married again after Isabel died, living then in Putnam county, NY.
By 1930 John aged 64 and Etta aged 63 are living home alone, still in Bakersfield. John is listed as unable to read or write, apparently, he never gained those skills throughout his life. In 1940, They are listed as living next to their son Edward, his wife Bessie, and their son Frederick. Etta is listed as completing grade 8, and next to John is says 0, no school attended. However this time, John is shown as owning his home, worth $400.00. He is 74 and she is 72.
When John dies of a heart condition in 1942, his birth is listed as July 3 1965 with Parents Peter Ryea and Mary Geraw. His wife Etta Smith Ryea lives another 8 years, dying in September of 1950. She was described many years later by her granddaughter Lucy as being a gruff woman who smoked a corncob pipe. They are buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Bakersfield, VT.
Their Children:
Berney Ralph Ryea, 1889-1890
Berney Ralph Ryea, 1889-1890
Lula Gene Ryea, 1895-1896
Cyrus R. Ryea, 1899-1900
Lena Ryea, 1900-1902
Frank Marshall Ryea, 1909-1916