The Ryon family is of a north of Ireland stock. The first ancestor in this country came before the revolution to Connecticut. In 1790 we find in the federal census, four families at New London, of which the heads were James, Irena, William and Rebecca Ryon.

(I) Roswell Ryon, born in 1780, probably in New London, of the family mentioned, settled first in Litchfield county, Conn. He removed to Hammond, N.Y. in 1810, and followed farming there the rest of his days. He died Oct. 29, 1857, and was buried at Ogdensburg, N.Y.
He married Eliza Smith, who was related to Governor Jonathan Trumbull ("Brother Jonathan," as he was called in the literature of his day). She was born in 1779 and died Feb. 25, 1858.
Children:
daughter, died young.
Roswell S.
George P., mentioned below.

(II) George P., son of Roswell Ryon, was born in Iswegatchie, N.Y. April 29, 1812, and died Sept. 6, 1893. He was educated in the public schools of Ogdensburg and learned the trade of capenter. He became one of the foremost builders and contractors of his day. Among other notable buildings he had the contract for the opera house at Ogdensburg. He continued active in business to the time of his death.
In politics he was a Repbulican; in religion, he was, like many generations of his ancestors, a Presbyterian.
He married Elizabeth Lum, of Ogdensburg, born Feb. 3, 1816, died June 23, 1883.
Children:
1. Charles L.
2. George L., mentioned below.
3. Frank S.

(III) George L., son of George P. Ryon, was born in Ogdensburg in 1850 and has always lived in the house in which he was born. He attended the public schools of his native town, and at the age of fifteen enlisted in the Union army during the civil war. He served three years in company G, Sixteenth regiment, regular army, and was clerk at headquarters in the department of the South, most of the time during his service, though, he ranked as a musician. He became quartermaster's sergeant and had charge of the records. After the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to Ogdenbsburg and entered the employ of the firm of Skillings, Whitney & Barnes, first as private secretary to William L. Proctor, the manager, later becoming bookkeeper and cashier of the concern, and finally assistant treasurer, the office he now fills. This firm does a large business in wholesale lumber. Mr Ryon is also a director of the Campbell-McLauren Company (limited) of Montreal, dealers in lubmer; also interested in the Cavnedish Lumber Company (limited) of Wakefield, Ontario; also the Strong Lumber Company of Canada. He is secretary and treasurer of the Marine Transportation Company of Ogdensburg, and one of the managers of the Town House Commissioners. He is on the board of trustees of the Ogdensburg cemetery corporation.
In politics he is a Republican of influence; in religion a Presbyterian.
He married (first) in 1871, Grace E., who died in 1873, daughter of James and Mary Hill; (second) in 1881, Frances E., daughter of Hollis and Hannah Davis, of Ogdensburg.
He had one son by the first wife, Walter Gohring, born in Ogdensburg in 1873; now assistant physician at the state hospital at Ogdensburg; married Isabel, daughter of William Hall of Ogdensburg; children: William Hall, George Ludlow and Walter Gohring Jr.

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