The Home at 151 East Third St

In 1866, Ryan married Emeline (Lina) Tinsman, the daughter of one of Williamsport’s most successful Lumberman Pioneers, Garrett Tinsman. They were married in the Tinsman homestead on East Third Street. A few years later, in1869, Ryan purchased the property next to the Tinsman home. He and his wife Lina built a spacious three story French Second Empire style mansion that still stands today at 151 East Third Street. They raised three children and the couple would live there until Ryan’s death in 1918. When Ryan’s father-in-law Garrett Tinsman died in 1888, Ryan had an enclosed bridgeway built between the Tinsman and Ryan homes so the Ryans could attend to Mrs. Tinsman. In those days that section of East Third Street was lined with many grand homes and was part of what is now being referred to as “The Original Millionaires Row” in the “Old City.” Today only a few of the original Victorian structures remain east of Mulberry Street.

A Brick and Mortar Businessman

It might be best to describe John R. T. Ryan as a brick and mortar, venture capitalist.

While many of his business associates were speculative investors in his many enterprises, few were more than minor investors who may or may not have brought some level of expertise to his enterprises. Ryan’s true talent was demonstrated in his ability to create and organize enterprises that set ideas and commerce in motion. He built the brick and mortar businesses that provided the local economy with goods and services. He created employment for the local residents, while generating wealth for himself and promoting overall prosperity for the community.

The Lycoming Electric Company and “The War of Currents”

One example of his many businesses is the story of the Lycoming Electric Company. Local historians have attributed the successful application of electricity in Williamsport to the well-known local businessman Hiram R. Rhoads. It is without a doubt that Mr. Rhoads was intimately involved in the successful establishment of electric lighting in our city. However, the role that John R.T. Ryan played in comparison to Hiram Rhoads is complicated, and their collaboration in that venture was not without controversy. In 1882 the Edison Electric Company came to Williamsport. Under the direction of E.A. Rowley, The Edison Electric Company had established a power plant with a modest power grid downtown. At first the Edison “Direct Current” system served a handful of businesses, industrial plants, and a few residences east of Market Street. It is well documented that the Edison Electric Company of Williamsport was not a profitable enterprise and struggled for many years due to the inherent limitations and higher costs using the “Direct Current” system.

By the mid 1880’s, the Edison and Westinghouse Companies were embroiled in what became known as “The War of Currents,” an epic battle between Thomas Edison’s “Direct Current” and George Westinghouse’s “Alternating Current” systems. The many battles of this war were fought in cities all across the United States, and Williamsport was no exception. The inherent economic advantages of Westinghouse’s “Alternating Current“ system would ultimately lead to its success and dominance in our city and nationwide.

In August of 1889, the City Select Council had awarded a contract to two individuals, R.C. Garhart and Hiram R. Rhoads to provide, 175 electric arc street lights throughout the city. Interestingly, these two gentlemen had no apparent organization to fulfill the requirements of the contract. By September, John R. T. Ryan had organized the Lycoming Electric Company,

with he and his brother in-law Garrett D. Tinsman being the majority investors and directors. Ryan served as president and Hiram Rhoads as Secretary. City officials objected immediately to Garhart and Rhoads assigning their city contract to The Lycoming Electric Company.  A court action ensued against Ryan, Garhart, and Rhoads. The action was unsuccessful and the project moved forward. Ryan and his partners had prevailed and by December, utilizing the Westinghouse “Alternating Current” system, the streets were illuminated with electric light.

It’s reasonable to conclude that Ryan and Rhoads had previously made plans to collaborate in this venture. To undertake such a complex task in a few short months would seem impossible.

If it truly happened as documented, then what Ryan and Rhoads had accomplished was even more impressive. We may never know the details, but we do know that Ryan was the principle organizer of the enterprise that brought the endeavor to fruition.

In 1894, city officials raised allegations that Ryan’s company hadn’t provided the required capacity of lighting and was therefore in default of the contract. An engineer from Westinghouse of Pittsburgh was dispatched to Williamsport. His investigation confirmed that the Lycoming Electric system was providing the proper illumination that the contract had specified. For a second time, Ryan’s company had prevailed.

“White vs Ryan” and The Lycoming Improvement Company

By 1894, city officials began opening competitive bidding for the existing and future power and lighting requirements throughout the city. Ryan and his associates were also major investors in the Williamsport Passenger Railway Company as well as the East End Passenger Railway Company. Both railway systems were electrified and powered by the Lycoming Electric Company. There were several additional railway systems established in the city as well, increasing competition and lowering profits.

In 1894, along with some investors, J. Henry Cochran, well known as both a political and financial power in Williamsport at that time, organized the Lycoming Improvement Company.

The Lycoming Improvement Company’s focus was to purchase as much infrastructure in the city as possible, consolidate services, and eliminate competition. They solicited to purchase the stocks of the Lycoming Electric Company, Edison Electric Company, Williamsport Railway Company, East End Railway Company, Williamsport Steam Works, and Williamsport Water Company, among others.

With the encouragement of Hiram Rhoads, Ryan and a majority of his partners agreed to sell their shares. Before the transaction was completed, Hiram Rhoads died unexpectedly; still, Ryan went through with the sale. A few of the partners objected to the deal, one being Henry White. Feeling that they were left out of the negotiations, they filed a suit against Ryan and the other directors. The “White vs Ryan” suite was widely publicized. After weeks of legal arguments and many newspapers articles covering every word of testimony, the court found in favor of Ryan and his partners and the case was dismissed. The Lycoming Improvement Company would later become the foundation of our present day River Valley Transit System, and one of the many consolidated electric companies that became Pennsylvania Power and Light Company in the early part of the 20th century.

The Eagles Mere Land Syndicate

If you have ever spent a day in Eagles Mere, PA and enjoyed the beauty of the unspoiled lake shore, its cottages, and serene atmosphere, you have something in common with (and a reason to thank) John R.T. Ryan. If you visit the Eagles Mere Museum one day, you will find on display the first stock certificate of the Eagles Mere Land Company owned, and signed by the company president, John R.T. Ryan.

In 1892, John R.T Ryan and three other men, Robert Allen of Williamsport, James Gamble of Hughesville, and Benjamin Welch of Philadelphia, formed the Eagles Mere Land Syndicate. They purchased the property surrounding the lake at Eagles Mere and planned a resort community for the enjoyment of local cottagers and visitors from the big northeast cities. Ryan was, by all accounts, an avid outdoorsman and spent a considerable amount of his free time at his cottage in Eagles Mere enjoying the lake and the surrounding woodlands.

Ryan’s role in the formation of what became the Eagles Mere Land Company was significant, according to the well-known Lycoming County Historian, John F. Meginness. 

In his own words from the “History of Lycoming County published 1892,” Meginness stated:

“Mr. Ryan was one of the prime movers in the purchase of Eagles Mere, and it is largely through his untiring efforts that it became a successful summer resort.”

Ryan was a principle in building the infrastructure of Eagles Mere as well. He was an investor and officer in the Eagles Mere Electric Company, Eagles Mere Water Company, and the Eagles Mere Railroad, bringing visitors to the popular resort town. 

Ryan, being one of the early cottagers at the lake, saw his home nearly destroyed twice within a few years by tornadoes. Both times he did not hesitate to rebuild. After his death it was nearly destroyed again by fire in 1921. Ryan’s cottage disappeared from the landscape of Eagles Mere a few decades later.

Success and Happy Times

By the 1890’s, Ryan’s many successes had brought him substantial wealth. His children were nearly all grown and educated. In 1894, his eldest daughter Florence had married Dr. Patrick Sarsfield Donnellen, a very well-known and accomplished physician in Philadelphia. There was an elegant wedding at their home on East Third Street. A newspaper article described the wedding, detailing extravagant decorations and identifying many guests and dignitaries from Europe and across the country. Lavish wedding gifts, including a stately home in Philadelphia were also mentioned.

Ryan’s son, Garrett Tinsman Ryan, graduated from Princeton in the early 1890’s and worked for his father in their mining operations at the Kettle Creek Coal and Iron Mine in Bitumen, PA. In 1898 Garrett was appointed as Vice Consul to Uruguay. He and his wife soon moved to South America. Ryan’s namesake, his grandson John Roselle Tucker (R.T.) Ryan II, was born in Uruguay in the same year.

A Family Plagued by Tragedy

Tragedy soon struck the Ryan family. In 1899, an unexpected and unchecked epidemic of the Black Plague ravaged Uruguay, quarantining the country and blocking any means of transportation outbound. When the quarantine was lifted, Ryan’s family traveled to Uruguay to retrieve the then, very ill Garett, along with his family. His affliction was not documented but he was in such frail health that he and his family soon after moved to Arizona. He later died there in 1907 at the early age of 35. Garrett’s body was returned to Williamsport and a funeral was held at the family home on East Third Street.

In 1905, Florence’s husband Dr. Donnellan became gravely ill and was forced to abandon his position and practice. They moved to the west coast and settled in Coronado, California. In 1912, while attending to the poor health of her husband, Florence contracted, and succumbed to pneumonia. Her husband died a few years later as well. Their funerals were also held at the home on East Third Street.

A Shot Across the Bow

After the death of their children, Ryan and his wife Lina traveled the world on several lengthy voyages, often, taking their grandson John R.T. Ryan II. One of their last voyages was marred by danger when returning home on the S.S. Kaiser Wilhelm II. Described in a newspaper article titled “A Shot Across the Bow,” their ship happened to pass through British waters on the day Great Britain declared war on Germany in 1914. According to the accounts of Ryan and other passengers, their ship was fired upon by British forces and narrowly escaped.

A Man of Faith, Modesty, and Charity

Ryan in his 70’s had endured the insufferable loss of two children. Being a long time member of the First Presbyterian Church near his home on the corner of Mulberry and Third Streets, he dedicated most of his time and energies to his Christian faith. Many years before, he had served on the building committee for the construction of the present day church. 

He became friends with a rather famous evangelist, author, and explorer, Dr. William Edgar Geil of Doylestown, PA. Their letters of correspondence are part of a historic collection at the Doylestown Historic Society.

Ryan and his wife Lina were trustees in several charitable organizations as well, including the YMCA, The Industrial Home for Boys, and The American Red Cross. Ryan was a long time member of The Loyal Legion and The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). He also served several years on the Williamsport Common Council.

While researching Mr. Ryan, it has been difficult to find much about him personally, but there are a few clues that have left an impression of his personal modesty. The first indication was when the city was illuminated by his Lycoming Electric Company on December 2, 1889. There was a grand parade through the streets with many residents and dignitaries accompanied by the Fisk Military Band. They walked to the homes of each of the prominent directors of the company to acknowledge and thank them publicly. They stopped at each home and serenaded them until they came out to speak. Their last stop was to thank Ryan at his home. The crowd serenaded him, but Ryan didn’t appear. Instead he asked a representative to apologize to the crowd and thank them on his behalf, since he could not speak “due to illness, or it perhaps out of modesty. “

A second clue was when a flood devastated downtown Williamsport in 1889. Ryan owned many store front buildings that were flooded and his tenant’s businesses were badly affected. Ryan privately told his tenants that their rent would be free that month to help them recover and get back into operation. A newspaper reporter heard about his generosity but Ryan declined to comment.

The reporter wrote this brief article:    From the Gazette & Bulletin July 9, 1889

Donated a Month’s Rent.

“Mr. John R.T. Ryan is one of those gentlemen who do not press their names to the front in an act of benevolence, but this reporter, when he gets hold of anything of the kind, deems it his duty to not withhold it from the public. Mr. Ryan is the owner of a number of storerooms, and to the tenants of these rooms he has donated a month’s rent on account of the flood.”

Consistent with several other similar accounts, it appears that Ryan believed that acts of charity and benevolence where to be done privately and without personal recognition.

Irony for a Forgotten Man

Of the many things uncovered about John R.T. Ryan’s life, one detail in particular is rather ironic. It would interest the reader to know that in 1907 the Lycoming County Historical Society was founded and of the original charter members listed, one was John Roselle Tucker (R.T.) Ryan. 

His Passing

John R.T. Ryan passed away in a Philadelphia hospital on March 20th, 1918 from heart complications. His body was returned to Williamsport and his funeral was held in his home, like his two children’s who passed before him, the home that he and his wife Lina built nearly a half century before. In 1919, Lina Ryan sold the family home and moved to West 4th Street with their only surviving daughter, Mary. 

Unlike other successful men of Williamsport who made their fortunes and moved on to other opportunities and places, John R.T. Ryan spent the balance of his life from 1866 to his death in 1918, in the city of Williamsport.

Ryan’s Contribution

It is very difficult to summarize the life and accomplishments of a man like John R.T. Ryan on a few pages. One could write an article on any one of his many enterprises, or of his many personal experiences.

In preparing this article, it has been enlightening to discover how many others, who, like Ryan, were part of the daily commercial life of our city. They may not have attained much popularity or recognition for their efforts, but they played an important role in the development of our community. They were men of optimism and action, who, when recognizing a good idea or opportunity, didn’t hesitate to risk and venture into a new enterprise. It was a time when nearly everything a resident of Williamsport could purchase was made at the many local businesses by their fellow citizens.

Williamsport, in Ryan’s era, was a center of manufacturing and commerce. It attracted large numbers of people who settled here because there was an opportunity to find jobs and raise their families, jobs that were created by the very enterprises that these men established. Many of us are the descendants of the people who came to our city seeking those opportunities. Perhaps, the greatest accomplishment of John R.T. Ryan wasn’t his many enterprises, his great fortune, or his charity, but it was his contribution to creating the opportunities for prosperity that consequently benefited the citizens of Williamsport.