The Ryland Family of Lafayette County, Missouri

The life of Xenophon Ryland presents many unusual and remarkable features. He was born on the old homestead, known as "Forest Hill," near Lexington, Missouri, June 1, 1844, and was the son of Judge John F. and Elizabeth (Buford) Ryland. His early education was at the ''old log house in the field." Later he entered Masonic College, which unfortunately closed its doors in his fifteenth year. Subsequently he read Latin and Greek under the direction of Rev. G. K. Dunlop, of the Episcopal church and who was afterwards bishop of New Mexico. The Civil war intervened. When his father, Judge John F. Ryland, and his brother. Judge John E. Ryland, were made prisoners by the Confederate forces in 1861 on account of their prominence as Union men and their loyalty to the government of the United States, Xenophon Ryland went to the fort at Lexington and was engaged in raising a company of volunteers for the United States service. He was with Colonel Mulligan at the surrender of Lexington to General Price in 1861. When the

Enrolled Uniform Militia was organized in 1862 he was a member of Capt. John F. Euebug's company, of which he was soon made first lieutenant at eighteen years of age, and served as such in Company D, Seventy-first Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, from August to December, 1862. In 1863 he was made first lieutenant of Company C, in the Fifth Provisional Regiment of the Enrolled Missouri Militia, in which he served until the company was disbanded. He was also captain of a company of citizens organized in Lexington for the preservation of order during those troublous years. The Civil war interrupted his studies, and after reading law in his father's office in 1863, at nineteen years of age he was admitted to the bar. In 1880 he was Democratic elector for the seventh congressional district and cast his vote for Hancock and English, Democratic nominees. In 1882 he was appointed by Governor Thomas T. Crittenden judge of the probate court of Lafayette county. He was selected to fill out the unexpired term and was again elected to the office, holding same until January 1, 1891.

Shortly after he united with the Presbyterian church at Lexington, Missouri, he having joined in early years the Baptist church, of which his mother was a member. Judge Ryland was elected deacon, serving in that capacity till October, 1872, when he was elected elder, and after ordination filled that office until November 10, 1892.

During the year 1890 the synod of Missouri of the "Southern Presbyterian church," popularly so called, became aroused on the subject of evangelistic work and appointed a committee, of which Judge Ryland was a member, to raise funds to prosecute the work. Most of this labor devolved upon him. Without compensation, he carried it to a successful conclusion, which resulted in the appointment of six presbyterian evangelists and one synodical evangelist, and Judge Ryland was added to the force as chairman of the executive committee to raise funds to continue the work and, being a good singer, to accompany one of the evangelists.

Just at this juncture came to Judge Ryland a crisis in his life, such as does not often happen to the lot of man. The circumstances, the hesitation, the deliberation and final decision are well worth pondering, for they are a key to the character of the man. After the state election of 1890, his name was brought prominently before the people for the office of governor of the state of Missouri. Widely known and popular, the proposed candidacy presented most promising features. Judge Ryland, at the age of twenty-nine years, had presided as grand high priest over the grand chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Missouri in 1873 and in 1876 was grand master of the grand lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Missouri. The governorship of Missouri is something which appeals to the ambition of her sons. But the church, through the synodical committee, likewise made her call for his services, which meant the abandonment of his legal and professional as well as any political ambition he might have. He those to accept, at forty-seven years of age, the call of the church. In January, 1891, he entered into the work of an evangelist and on November 10, 1892, at Lexington, Missouri, was ordained to the full work of the ministry as an evangelist by the presbytery of Lafayette. He remained in this work, with the whole state as his field of labor, till January 1, 1899, when the evangelistic work in Missouri closed for him. He was, early in 1899, called by the synod of Arkansas to organize the evangelistic work of that body. He entered upon the work March 17, 1899, and, without changing his residence, conducted this cause in the neighboring synod until April 1, 1902, when he was recalled to the work in Missouri. After six months' work he took charge of and supplied the small churches of Gower and Walnut Grove, in Upper Missouri presbytery, which work he relinquished to accept the pastorate of the church at Higginsville, Missouri. He was installed as pastor of this church the 9th day of January, 1904, having entered upon the work in December, 1903, and which he now continues, serving the people who have known him from boyhood. He has been honored by his church. He was moderator of the presbytery of Lafayette; moderator of the synod of Missouri and Arkansas; he has represented his presbytery three times as commissioner in the general assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States, in St. Louis in 1875, Memphis in 1896 and at Birmingham, Alabama, in 1907. He also was a delegate of the general assembly from the synod of Missouri to the Pan-Presbyterian Council which met at Toronto, Canada. Judge Ryland was united in marriage to Carrie Forster Fora, January 31, 1866. To this union there was born a family of eight children, seven of whom are living, some in Missouri and some in Utah, Nebraska and Idaho. He was married a second time January 22, 1907, to Effie Lee Mason. Judge Ryland, as he is still called, though a preacher of the gospel, has always resided at Lexington, Missouri, until 1904, when, as a pastor of the church to which he was called, he removed to Higginsville, Missouri, which is now his home. Though not in years, he is in office the senior past grand high priest of the grand chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Missouri, and the senior past grand master of the grand lodge Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Missouri.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CAIUS TACITUS RYLAND, M. D.

The medical profession of Lafayette county has an able representative in the person of Dr. Caius Tacitus Ryland, who has won a place in the front rank of medical men in this part of the state by his indomitable energy and perseverance, having spared no pains in the preparation for his chosen calling, and while laboring to advance himself he has not neglected his general duties of citizenship, but has always been found ready to assist in furthering any movement looking to the general good of his county and state, and he has so lived as to keep untarnished the honored escutcheon of the family name.

Doctor Ryland was born April 20, 1874, in Lexington, Missouri, the son of Judge John E. and Nancy (Palmer) Ryland, and he enjoyed the advantages of a good education, having been graduated from the Lexington high school in 1893, later attended the Wentworth Military Academy for two years. Deciding upon a medical course, he entered Beaumont Hospital Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in 1897, he had one year at St. Mary's Infirmary in St. Louis. Thus well equipped for his life work, he opened an office in Lexington in 1898 and has enjoyed a large and growing practice ever since, and takes a high rank among the medical men of the state, being not only a profound student of this great science and keeping abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to the same, but he is also well equipped temperamentally and wins and retains, without effort, the confidence and esteem of all classes.

Fraternally, the Doctor has attained the Royal Arch degree in the Masonic order, and he is popular in this and social circles.

Doctor Ryland was married on September 2, 1903, to Bettie Belle Perrie, of Mayview, this county, a lady of refinement, and the daughter of a prominent family there, Dr. John Perrie and wife. She was born September 25,

Owing to the prominence of the Doctor's family, considerable space will be devoted to some of its members, especially his distinguished father, Judge John Edwin Ryland, who was for many years one of the leading members of the bar of northern Missouri. He was born in Howard county, this state, July 8, 1830, the son of John Furguson and Martha (Barnett) Ryland, and in 1831 he was brought by his parents from Howard to Lafayette county, and he spent almost his entire life in Lafayette county and vicinity, and died at his residence in Lexington, December 15, 1905, when past seventy-five years of age. He was educated in the schools of Lexington, principally in the old Masonic College, from which he was graduated on July 2, 1852. That year and the next he taught school in Kansas City, Missouri, after which he returned to Lexington and became first assistant in the primary department of the Masonic College, which position he held until October, 1855, when he was elected principal of that department, the duties of which office he performed for two and one-half years.

Having chosen the legal profession, for which his calm, peaceful and dignified manhood, literary attainments, judicial mind, early training and association so eminently fitted him, Mr. Ryland commenced the study of law under the supervision of his father, Missouri's distinguished jurist, Judge John Furguson Ryland, and was admitted to the bar in 1857, He was associated in the practice of law with his father under the firm name of Ryland & Son, until the death of his father, in 1873, at which time he entered into partnership with his brother, Xenophon Ryland, under the firm name of Ryland & Ryland. He was enrolled in the Missouri Militia in 1862 and served more than a year in the Seventy-first Regiment with the rank of major. During the year 1862 he was elected to the office of circuit attorney for the sixth judicial circuit of Missouri, which position he filled with much credit and satisfaction until 1865. In 1863 he was elected a member of the board of education of Lexington, and served as such for ten consecutive years. He was also a member of the city council of Lexington in 1866, and in 1868 was chosen mayor of the city of Lexington, serving one term and declining re-election. In 1876 Judge Ryland was chosen as Democratic presidential elector for the eleventh district, and cast his vote for Samuel J. Tilden. He was throughout life a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, active and zealous in the councils of his party. At the general election in 1880 he was elected judge of the criminal court of the sixth judicial circuit and county of Johnson, and was twice re-elected without opposition, holding the office for eighteen consecutive years. His judicial record was characterized by a determination to permit no one, however humble, to submit to injustice. Like his father, he was a warm friend of the younger members of the bar. The universal esteem in which he was held as a judge, demonstrated by the repeated re-elections without opposition, speaks louder than language of the faithful, conscientious and satisfactory manner in which he discharged his trust. He always kept a Bible in court by which witnesses were sworn. He had no patience with petty violations of the Sunday and liquor laws, neither had he any patience with mob violence. He was a charitable man and many acts of kindness might be related of him.

In addition to the manifold duties devolved upon him, Judge Ryland was for years closely identified with the educational interests of both county and state. In addition to ten years' service as a member of the board of education of the city of Lexington, he was a member of the board of regents of the State Normal School at Warrensburg for a number of years, and trustee of Central College at Fayette, Howard county, Missouri. Mainly through his personal efforts the old Masonic College and its appurtenances were donated to Central Female College, a Southern Methodist institution at Lexington, of which college he was one of the original organizers and in which he served as curator until his death. He was also at the time of his death trustee in the Scarritt Bible Training School at Kansas City.

Judge Ryland was made a Mason in 1852, by Heroine Lodge, No. 104, at Kansas City, and later served as junior grand warden and deputy grand master of the Masonic fraternity of the state. In 1900 he was chosen as president of the Old Men's Club of Lafayette county, and filled the position three years. For more than half a century he was an active, earnest and zealous member and official of the Methodist Episcopal church South, at Lexington, in which church he made profession of faith in the Christ, January 20, 1850, and held membership in the church until his death.

Judge Ryland was married December 10, 1860, to Nancy Pettice Palmer, a lady of beautiful Christian character, who, with the following six children, survives: Isaac Palmer, a prominent attorney of Kansas City, Missouri; Martha Clintona Griswold, of New York City; Edwin Piggott, a prominent minister in the Methodist Episcopal church South, at Los Angeles, California; Lillian Ryland Wallace, of Lexington, Missouri; Caius Tacitus, the immediate subject of this sketch; and John Reid, a successful business man of Montgomery, Alabama.

In the death of Judge John E. Ryland the state of Missouri lost one of its most estimable citizens; the bench and bar an able, fearless, conscientious, justice-loving and merciful jurist; the educational interests an active and earnest co-laborer; the church a devout, zealous, sincere Christian; the family a kind, unselfish, devoted husband and father.

The biographical record could not be consistently closed without proper tribute to Judge John E. Ryland's distinguished father. Judge John Furguson Ryland, who, at the time of his death, mentioned in a preceding paragraph, at his home in Lexington, in his seventy-sixth year, was the oldest member of the Lafayette county bar, and was conceded to be one of the most able, eminent, learned and honorable members of the Missouri bar. Throughout a long and arduous life, few men in this vicinity have occupied

SO high and impregnable a position in the estimation of their fellow men as he. The birth of this well-remembered jurist occurred on November 2, 1797, in Essex county, Virginia, and he was the oldest son of Joseph and Rosannah (Motley) Ryland. He grew to maturity and was educated in the Old Dominion, and emigrated with the family in 181 1 to Madison county, Kentucky. During the same year his father died, leaving the widow and seven children, the charge of the family falling upon the oldest boy, John Furguson, who bravely did his duty in this respect. He began life by teaching school in Madison and Jessamine counties, at the same time studying law, learned Latin and ancient history at Forest Hill Academy under the noted linguist, Samuel Wilson, later read law under Judge Hardin, and was licensed to practice in Kentucky, but in 1819 he emigrated to Missouri, and entered upon the practice of his profession at Old Franklin, Howard county. He was one of the organizers of the Jackson county bar, in March, 1827, and 'm July, 1833, when judge of the fifth judicial circuit in Pettis county, the bar association of that county was organized. He finally became one of the supreme judges of the state, and made a great record on the bench, his clear, graceful, forcible opinions being characteristic of the able lawyer and judge, classical scholar and logician, as many examples could be cited. He moved from Old Franklin to Fayette, where he resided until 1831, when he moved to Lexington, where he passed the remainder of his life. He enjoyed a large practice, and in 1832 Governor Miller appointed him judge of the sixth judicial circuit of Missouri, which embraced Chariton, Carroll, Ray, Clay, Lafayette and other counties. He was appointed judge of the supreme court of Missouri in March, 1849, by Governor King, a station which he adorned by his scholarly attainments, liberal culture and masterful intellect until 1857, greatly to the satisfaction of the people and members of the bar, — in fact, he was a universal favorite. He was not only an able and learned jurist, but a man of highest sense of honor, with noble and generous impulses.

Politically, he was a Democrat, and was active and prominent in the councils of his party. After the close of the war he was a member of the twenty-fourth General Assembly of Missouri, in which he further distinguished himself. He was a prominent Mason for years, having served as grand master, and was one of the founders and early patrons of the old Masonic College at Lexington. He was a devout Christian, and a worker in the Old School Presbyterian church.

Judge Ryland was first married to Martha M. Barnett, of Madison county, Kentucky, who died in 1833, of which marriage there were born six children. Afterwards he married Elizabeth G. Buford, of Lafayette county, Missouri, and to this union twelve children were born.

Possessed of a remarkable memory, he was one of the finest historians of his day. He was a finished scholar, profound jurist, able advocate, eloquent orator, incorruptible judge, polite and polished gentleman. In all the relations of life, as citizen, husband, father, Mason and friend, he was true to his duties and obligations and was esteemed, honored and beloved by all with whom he was associated. He filled well his stewardship in life, died the death of the Christian, and his memory should be cherished and his virtues emulated.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

M. C. RYLAND, livery, sale and feed stable, P. O. Odessa; son of John F. and Gabriella Ryland, was born in this state and county, in 1847. The greater part of his life was spent in farming. During the past six years he has been engaged in the grain business, in connection with his other occupation. In 1867 he married Miss Virginia Beall, of Lafayette county. They have three children: Elizabeth, Bell, and John Samuel. In 1878 Mr. Ryland came to Odessa and embarked in the livery business, which has occupied his attention the greater part of the time since. In 1879 he was elected city assessor, which office he filled acceptably to all concerned. Mr. R.

has been identified with the interests of the county from his birth and has watched the development of her abundant resources with a great deal of pleasure, contributing largely to the same.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOSEPH A. RYLAND, blacksmith, Odessa. The subject of this sketch was born in Lafayette county, Mo., April 19, 1856. He is the son of John F. and Gabrielle Ryland. At the age of sixteen he learned the blacksmith trade at Lexington, this county, which occupation he has since followed with but slight intermissions. He was married in October 1876 to Miss Rebecca Beall, a native of this county, by whom he has two children, Samuel C. and Mary Bell. In the fall of 1879 Mr. Ryland moved to Odessa and engaged in his trade. In March, 1881, he entered into partnership with Mr. Bumgamer, the firm being style Bumgarner & Ryland. Mr. R. is a man of energy and enterprise, skilled in his occupation, and not only possesses the confidence of his neighbors, but their patronage as well.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Among the representative farmers of Lafayette county is Legrand Ryland, who is the owner of an excellent farm in the vicinity of Corder, and is carrying on the various departments of his enterprise with that discretion and energy which are sure to find their natural sequel in definite success, having always been a hard worker, a good manager and a man of economical habits. Being fortunately situated in a thriving farming community, it is no wonder he stands today in the front rank of agriculturists of this favored locality.

Mr. Ryland was born in Lexington, Missouri, May 25, 1868, and is the son of S. B. and Maggie (Buford) Ryland. both natives of Lafayette county, His paternal grandparents were John E. and Gabrielia (Buford) Ryland, and the maternal grandparents were Legrand and Esibilia (Mallory) Buford. He was a very extensive land and slave owner in Dover township, this county, and a part of his old place is now owned by Legrand Ryland, of this review.

S. B. Ryland was reared and educated in Lexington, and at the commencement of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army, and he served with much credit until the term of his enlistment expired. In his early life he was a farmer, later entered the railroad service, and still later was employed in the livestock business in Kansas City. Politically he was a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church. He and his wife were the parents of two children.

Legrand Ryland was educated in the Lexington schools and when fourteen years of age he went to Kansas City. He became messenger boy for the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company; he later spent three years in the stock yards as driver and speculator; then for one year was in the freight house of the Santa Fe railroad. In 1888 he entered the passenger service and remained there until the spring of 1908, very faithfully discharging his duties and giving his employers entire satisfaction. He entered the service of the Santa Fe road as coach cleaner, and by faithfully performing his duties he gradually rose until he had charge of all passenger equipment, a very responsible position, but he performed his labors with much credit to himself. While in the stock yards in 1885 and 1886 he also dealt in real estate. Desiring the quieter life in the country, Mr. Ryland purchased, some time ago, his brother's interest in the home place. He has cleared considerable land here and put out a splendid apple orchard, also made many other substantial improvements. He has a well kept farm and a very desirable place from every viewpoint.

Mr. Ryland was married, in May, 1889, to Mary Herr, of Kansas City, a lady of culture and education and the daughter of a fine old family. To this union two children have been born, Ada M. and Frank Legrand.

Mr. Ryland is a member of the Baptist church, while his wife holds membership with the Lutherans. Politically, he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Carmen's Union. He is a man of genial address and makes and retains friends easily.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.